Homemade S'mores

For us, Memorial Day always marks the start of long summer days here in the desert. It feels like the sun is constantly up. Relentless in its constant heat, as the rays shine down on us 5am to 8pm. We rush to the backyard in the early morning, munching on toast and sipping on coffee, eager to enjoy the cool early morning. I water the lemon tree, jazmin, lavender and Texas sage as the kids slide down a soaped-up slip and slide and claim that the water table in an island for their pet dragons. Around 11am we have to retreat back to the cool of our house. But, once the sun starts to set pink in the sky, my little family will head back outside to savor the sunset and a cool breeze. This is the perfect time bring out the projector, pull up a few lawn chairs, start a fire and toast some homemade marshmallows.

What better way to mark the season than with a simple, timeless treat like homemade s’mores? There is a reason s’mores feel so sacred, they aren’t just a snack they’re a ceremony. A fire crackling under a twilight sky, sticky fingers, giggles, and the glow of golden marshmallows. But you don’t need a campsite to enjoy them. This summer bringing s’mores home. Whether your family is gathered around a fire pit, lighting up the grill, or even using the broiler in your kitchen, homemade s'mores will always be delicious.

Ingredients:

For the Marshmallows

1 cup water, divided

3 tablespoons of gelatin

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup maple syrup or honey 

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tablespoon vanilla 

Zest of 1 orange (optional)

2 tablespoon powder sugar

1 tablespoon corn starch

For the Gram Crackers

84g (1/4 cup) honey

57g (4 tablespoons) butter, room temperature

2 tablespoons molasses, or more honey

230g (1 3/4 cups) whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

Pinch of salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

2-3 tablespoons milk

Method:

In the bowl of your stand mixer add 1/2 cup of cold water and the gelatin packets. Set that aside and allow the gelatin to bloom. Next in a saucepan, add the sugar, honey, salt and a 1/2 cup of water and allow to simmer on medium-high and stir the mixture for the first minute only, keeping a close eye that it doesn't boil over (*stirring later in the process may contribute to the sugar mixture boiling over). Cook until the mixture reaches 240 degrees Fahrenheit (the "soft ball" stage). This should take approximately 12-15 minutes.

Next turn on your mixer and while it is on, slowly drizzle the sugar syrup on the side of the bowl. Be very careful not to touch the sugar syrup. Once all the sugar is added, and it looks light, fluffy, and marshmallow like add the vanilla extract and orange zest and mix for a few seconds. Lastly, lightly grease the sides of a 9x9" pan and sift a generous amount of cornstarch and powdered sugar on the bottom and sides to keep the marshmallows from sticking. Pour the marshmallows out, spreading it as evenly as possible. Allow the marshmallows to set for at least eight hours or overnight. Once the marshmallows are all set, turn them out onto a cutting board and cut into bouncy squares. 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

For the gram crackers, place all the ingredients in the stand mixer and mix until well combined. Add only enough milk to bring the dough together. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and roll it out. Use a cookie cutter to cut the gram crackers out, or you can just cut the whole sheet into squares if you like. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until just slightly brown around the edges. Allow them to cool on a rack.

At first, I was worried that my marshmallows would be too soft, melt off the skewer and end up sizzling at the bottom of the fire. But that didn't happen. Instead, they were perfect! These homemade marshmallows roasted superbly, turning a golden brown and wonderfully melty on the chocolate and homemade gram cracker. Somehow our nine-year-old son ate four s'mores! Chocolate and orange is one of our favorite combos but you can leave the orange zest out if it's not your thing.

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Here’s to sticky fingers, smoky hair, and the soft hush of desert evenings! There is no better time than the beginning of summer to try out homemade s'mores! If you want to stay in the loop and never miss another blog post, subscribe to my email list today!

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