Up Your S'mores Game: 4 S'mores Recipes To Try On Your Next Camping Trip

It's nearly impossible to think about camping without thinking about the classic s'more. 

The melted chocolate bar, toasted golden-brown marshmallow, and crunchy graham cracker has kept this campfire classic close to our hearts for generations.

Trip after trip, campers sit around the campfire collecting the ingredients and setting them out readily, so they'd be ready once the toasted marshmallow was done. It's a camping ritual kids (and adults) don't dare to miss out on.

There's no doubt s'mores are one of the most popular camp menu items. They're simple and easy to pack up, and a solid sweet treat to end the day. 

S'mores have been around since the late 1920s -- the first documented recipe found in a Girl Scout Guide (campingcooks.com). And if you've been making s'mores the same all these years, it's high time that you up your s'mores game on your next camping trip. 

Tips To Make The Perfect S'more

The perfect s'more is more than just a marshmallow, chocolate and graham cracker. It's all in the toast of the marshmallow. 

It's true, we all like our marshmallows done differently. But there's nothing like the gooey filling of a perfectly toasted 'mallow. Here are a few tips to make your marshmallows perfect: 

1. Toast, Don't Burn

If you light your marshmallow on fire too early, it'll be a burnt mess on the outside, but still cold and dense on the inside. If you like your marshmallows extra-toasty, wait to light it on fire until the insides are nice and warm. 

Usually, the marshmallows will expand and turn a light golden brown. 

2. Employ The Rotisserie Method

To have the most control over your roasted marshmallow, slowly rotate it above the coals rather than directly above a flame, like a rotisserie (today.com). The heat radiating off the coals is enough to give you the perfect golden-brown toast on your marshmallow. 

Not only will your marshmallow be perfectly toasted, it should also start to expand. This is the hot air expanding the tiny holes inside the marshmallow, which helps you know that the inside has been fully warmed.

This phase takes some time, so go slow and be patient! 

3. Get Creative! 

With only three ingredients, your options are endless to upgrade this sweet camping treat. Think outside the box and try adding a fourth ingredient to your s'mores! You may be surprised to find your favorite flavor combination! 

Need s'more inspiration? Check out our favorite flavor combinations for this fall! 

4 S'more Recipes To Upgrade Your Next Campfire

Salted Caramel S'mores

Salted caramel is one of the most iconic fall flavors and a must-have treat for your fall campfire! Even better? This month's The Camp Life box came with the exact ingredient you need to make a great salted caramel s'more. Here's what to pack: 

• Honey Graham Crackers (included in the box)
• Dark Chocolate Bar from Olive & Sinclair (Included in The Camp Life Box)
• Salted Caramel Marshmallows from Fireside Mallow (Included in The Camp Life Box)
• Caramel Syrup 
• Sea Salt 

Directions: Simply toast your salted caramel marshmallows over the coals of your campfire. Assemble your s'more together, layering: graham cracker, chocolate, salted caramel marshmallow, a drizzle of caramel syrup, and a sprinkle of sea salt. Top with the final graham cracker and enjoy! 

Chocolate-Peanut Butter S'mo-verload

Peanut butter and chocolate is an iconic duo that nearly everyone enjoys. The flavors work together to create a sweet and salty combination that we just can't seem to deny (not that we'd want to!). For all peanut butter lovers, here's what to pack: 

• Chocolate Graham Crackers
• Large Marshmallows
• Peanut Butter Cups
• Peanut Butter

Directions: On one chocolate graham cracker, spread peanut butter. On another chocolate graham cracker, place your milk peanut butter cup. Toast your marshmallow over the coals of your campfire until it's golden brown. Assemble your s'more and enjoy! For extra gooey-goodness, let your marshmallow melt the peanut butter cup a little before you eat!

Apple Cider S'mores

Nothing quite says fall quite like the smell of apple spice! But have you ever thought about adding that flavor to your s'more? We're here to tell you that you're missing out. Grab some apple pie filling and enjoy these goodies on your next trip. Here's what to pack: 

• Honey Graham Crackers
• Large Marshmallows
• Apple Pie Filling (canned or homemade)
• Pumpkin Pie Spice
• Caramel Syrup

Directions: Lay out your graham crackers and scoop a small amount of apple from your apple pie filling onto your graham. Sprinkle a dash of pumpkin pie spice onto the apple pie filling with a drizzle of caramel syrup. Toast your marshmallow over the coals until golden brown (or however you like it). Add the marshmallow to your s'more and top with another graham cracker. Let the marshmallow warm the apple pie filling and enjoy! 

Maple Bacon S'mores

The flavor combination of maple and bacon has risen to the top in the past few years, so we can't help but throw these ingredients in the mix and indulge our taste buds! We don't doubt this s'more will quickly become your favorite and you'll keep coming back to it. Here's what  to pack: 

• Honey Graham Crackers 
• Large Marshmallows

• Dark Chocolate Bar from Olive & Sinclair (Included in The Camp Life Box)
• Pure maple syrup
• Bacon - made ahead of time, if you prefer to do less work! 

Directions: Set out your graham crackers layered with chocolate and bacon. Toast your marshmallow until it's warm and slightly golden on the outside. Drizzle your marshmallow with pure maple syrup, and place it back over the coals to let the sugars in the maple syrup caramelize. This will create a crunchy coating around your mallow. Once the sugars have caramelized on your marshmallow, place it on your s'more, drizzle just a bit more maple syrup over the top of the marshmallow and top with another graham. Enjoy the sweet and savory goodness! 

 Have you tried any of our fall favorite s'mores recipes? Let us know! Share your favorites in the comment section below!