Toast Your Own S'mores Recipe

Prepare your toasting area: ensure the campfire, fire pit, or tabletop s'mores maker is stable and has a steady, moderate flame or hot coals. Keep a bucket of water or fire extinguisher nearby. If using wooden skewers, soak them 10–15 minutes beforehand to reduce risk of charring.

Arrange a clean work surface with graham crackers, chocolate pieces, marshmallows, and any optional add-ins within easy reach so people don’t have to move around the fire while holding skewers.

Skewer the marshmallow

Push one large marshmallow onto the end of each skewer. Leave some skewer length behind the marshmallow for a secure hold and to keep your hand away from the heat.

Find the right heat

Hold the marshmallow a few inches from the flame or just above the hot coals. Avoid plunging it directly into the flame to prevent rapid charring. Rotate the skewer slowly and steadily for even heating.

Toast to preference

For golden-brown exterior: hold the marshmallow 4–6 inches from flame and rotate continuously for 1½–3 minutes until an even golden-brown crust forms. For marshmallow soft and gooey without much color: hold slightly farther and warm 1–2 minutes. For charred exterior (campfire-style): move closer to flame for quick 10–20 second bursts while rotating, then pull back to melt interior (total 1–2 minutes).

Tip: If the marshmallow catches fire, blow it out quickly and continue to rotate to achieve even melting; or briefly dip the flaming portion into water and continue toasting once cooled slightly.

Prep crackers and chocolate

Place 8 graham cracker squares on the work surface. If desired, spread about 1 teaspoon peanut butter or softened butter on 4 of the cracker squares. Place one piece of chocolate on each of those cracker bases so it’s ready to melt from the hot marshmallow.

Place marshmallow on chocolate

Once a marshmallow reaches your preferred toast level, carefully slide it off the skewer onto a chocolate-topped cracker. Use a fork or the edge of another cracker to help if the skewer is hot.

Top and press

Immediately place a second graham cracker on top of the hot marshmallow and press gently to spread the marshmallow and melt the chocolate. Hold for 5–10 seconds so the heat transfers and the chocolate softens.

Optional finishes: drizzle with a little salted caramel sauce, add banana slices, or sprinkle a pinch (about 1/8 tsp) of flaky sea salt on the chocolate before topping for contrast.

Serve: Let sit for 30–60 seconds to cool slightly, then enjoy. Repeat until all s'mores are made.

Extinguish or properly manage your fire source according to local guidelines. Allow skewers to cool before handling; if wooden skewers are charred discard them. Wipe the work surface and pack out any trash.