Say Goodbye to Old Fashioned S'mores
If you’re planning camping trips this summer, there’s a good chance that graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows will be on your food shopping list. And if not, it should be. After all, when spending a weekend under the stars and you have a sweet tooth, nothing beats a S’more’s sweetness (and gooiness). Now, there’s nothing wrong with following the traditional S’mores recipe. But why hold yourself back when you have grocery aisles full of variations? So the next time you plan on roasting marshmallows over a fire, make the night unforgettable with a S’mores charcuterie board!
S'mores Charcuterie Boards Are a Summer Game Changer
Oh yes, serving trays aren’t just for cheese and crackers! S’mores charcuterie boards take roasting marshmallows to the next level and let you create endless flavor combinations. So, whether you’re hitting the trails, hosting a summer dinner party, or even a wedding venue, S’mores charcuterie incorporates the fun and nostalgia of smores with a Pinterest-worthy spread. If you’re looking for inspiration, I have you covered! Today I’ll cover some of my favorite products to add that will create endless irresistible S’mores combinations. I also have some product recommendations to take your S’mores night to the next level!
S'mores Charcuterie Inspiration
When building a S’mores charcuterie board, let your imagination take the wheel and become the Willy Wonka of camping! S’mores become decadent finger sandwiches when you break the mold of the traditional trio and add cookies, treats, and spreadable options to your board. S’mores charcuterie boards are easy to assemble, but guests will be blown away by the table presentation and options presented to them. Best of all, all of the suggested ingredients in this article are shelf stable, so you can have a dessert you don’t need to worry about chilling.
S'mores Crackers and Cookies
Aside from a toasted marshmallow, the “bread” of a S’more is one of the most essential ingredients. And while no S’mores charcuterie board would be complete without graham crackers, they’re the tip of the options iceberg. I look for cookies or sweeter crackers with a snap or crunch, but it’s not a requirement. There are dozens of options you can add, including:
- Chocolate chip cookies are perfect for creating S’mores. The texture creates an irresistible crunch, and the size is ideal for marshmallows. Because the cookies have chocolate chips, leave a piece of the chocolate bar out or make it a double chocolate S’more.
- Fudge-striped shortbread cookies are my favorite option on this list to add to S’mores charcuterie. They create a balance in the S’more that’s buttery, crumbly, and chocolatey, with marshmallows pillowed between.
- Gingersnaps offer a gorgeous crisp when you bite into a S’more, and the flavor pairs well with marshmallows and chocolate, especially darker varieties.
- Mini rice cakes are gluten-free and are great options for a lower-calorie and carb S’more!
- Oatmeal raisin cookies can add a touch of cinnamon and sweetness to your S’more. However, you may want to place them on the opposite side of the chocolate cookies on your S’mores charcuterie board unless you want to wake up floating on an air mattress in the lake.
- Snickerdoodles can also add a touch of cinnamon to your S’more without raisins or chocolate. It’s a simpler flavor that doesn’t overpower and allows you to experiment with different types of chocolate.
- Thin mint cookies create flavor bombs any girl scout would be proud of. The same rule of not adding chocolate applies to chocolate cookies, but you can make them double chocolate with an extra piece.
- Vanilla wafers probably aren’t an option that will cross your mind when building a S’mores charcuterie board, as they look too small. You can’t squish the marshmallow as much as with other options in this section. But trust the process and add them to your board! The result will be a bite-size S’more that looks like a thick stuffed French macaron, and you can still add a piece of chocolate.
The Chocolate Possibilities are Endless!
The types of chocolate you can add to your S’mores charcuterie board and even more diverse than the “bread” options. You can create dozens of S’mores combinations with plain and flavored chocolate bars, flavored peanut butter cups, and peppermint patties! And even if you stick to plain chocolate bars, don’t forget to explore different chocolate options! White chocolate can create a sweeter S’more, while dark chocolate has a more bitter flavor. Milk chocolate is the classic choice that makes a sweeter dessert. Some ideas include:
- For those in the New England area, Hannaford’s Taste of Inspirations® chocolate bars pack gourmet places at an affordable price. The Brazilian Sea Salt and 85% Cacao bars are my favorite TOI chocolates.
- Hershey’s chocolate bars are perhaps the most iconic chocolate used in S’mores, and there are plenty of options to use in your board creation, including chocolate and almond!
- Lindt chocolate bars are made locally in New Hampshire and are a favorite chocolatier of mine. Lindt Excellence bars have many irresistible flavors, including dark chocolate, caramel, sea salt, intense orange, hazelnut, and chili!
- Peppermint Patties add the flavor duo of peppermint and chocolate! The flavor can be strong and is best paired with graham crackers or another more subtly flavored cookie or cracker.
- Reese’s® Dark Peanut Butter Cup Thins can boost your S’more charcuterie board with a peanut butter and chocolate duo. While I’m partial to the dark chocolate thins, you can choose any type of Reese’s. However, I recommend avoiding the King size, as it can take over the S’more and not melt much.
- Russel Stover® Joy Bites are a lower-sugar option made with stevia extract instead of added sugars. The flavors include plain and salted caramel, almond, milk chocolate, and peanut butter!
Additional S'mores Charcuterie Toppings
You can also add spreadable options to your S’mores charcuterie board for flavor boosts. You can also add a jar of marshmallow fluff in case someone may want a quick S’more without needing to roast a marshmallow. It may not be as fun, but hey, no judgment here! Some other great options include:
- Caramel Sauce provides a sweet and salty flavor that compliments marshmallows and chocolate perfectly.
- Hazelnut spreads add a chocolate and nutty flavor that can take your s’more to a new level! Hazelnut spread is one of my favorite toppings to use on the vanilla wafers.
- Peanut butter is a classic addition that will give any S’mores lover a piece of heaven with every bite. Yes, there are options that have peanut butter above, but really. Is too much peanut butter ever a bad thing?
Smore's Charcuterie Assembly Tips
It can feel daunting if you haven’t assembled a charcuterie board before. When looking at a blank board, you may wonder where to start. The best place to start is either from the middle and work out to the edges or from one side and work across the board. And to be honest, you’ll probably start from scratch a few times throughout the layout process. I’ve made dozens of boards over the years, and it’s not uncommon for me to start over and play with the design. I do have a few tips to help your design, including:
- Use small bowls or plates within the design of your board to help contain ingredients. It can also help to break up your design, make it easier to move items, and prevent juices from olives or pickles from spreading.
- Avoid grouping similar colors for a visually stunning design, even if that means using an item in multiple spots on your board. This will also allow people to spread out across the board for more common items, like graham crackers.
- Create a design that feels organic and flows within a board. I used to work in a seafood department and we would create new case designs each day. That’s where many of my charcuterie design inspirations come from because we needed to create displays that felt fresh and made your eyes want to wander. Avoid using only straight lines in your design, and create arches, circles, and wavy elements. Think of the ingredients as a school of fish that want to disperse in different directions. It may sound silly, but give it a try!
Suggested Products for S'mores Charcuterie Boards
- While you can’t control the weather, a rainy day doesn’t mean you can’t have a fire-roasted marshmallow. ROUNDFIRE’s concrete tabletop firepits can be used safely indoors (under careful supervision). The flame can last over an hour and is created with bio-ethanol fuel. The design will also give any table a jaw-dropping effect!
- For the outdoors, Solo Stove’s Mesa Tabletop Fire Pit creates a flame naturally using either pellets or wood. While it does come with a larger price tag of $99 (at the time of publishing this article), you won’t need to spend money on fuel refills. Plus, wood creates a cleaner burn you can feel comfortable roasting marshmallows over.
- Say goodbye to pieces of bark in your marshmallow, packing arms-length sticks and charred ends with CARPATHEN’s Campfire Sticks! They feature stainless steel telescoping rods extending up to 34 inches and comfortable wooden handles. They even have a thumb wheel that can effortlessly rotate marshmallows for an even roast. Protective prong covers and a storage bag are included to keep the roasting sticks safe between uses.
