Make s'mores over a bonfire

A s’more is a toasted marshmallow squeezed between two graham crackers with a piece of chocolate, and it is best eaten right away, a little too hot, with sticky fingers. Here is how to make s’mores, over a fire or without one. You don’t need a camping trip to make them. A backyard fire pit, a campsite or a friend’s bonfire will do.

Check where fires are allowed

Before you plan anything, make sure you can have a fire where you’re going. Rules differ by place and season, and in dry weather many areas ban open fires. Look up the local rules, ask the campsite or your host, and do not light a fire if there’s a ban or if it’s very windy. A park or campground with designated fire rings is usually the simplest choice.

What you need

• Marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate. A plain milk chocolate bar, broken into squares, is the classic.
• Long roasting sticks or metal skewers. Metal gets hot, so use a pair of gloves or choose ones with a wooden handle.
• A bucket of water, or a hose within reach, and a shovel or a stick to stir the ashes.
• A plate or tray for the ingredients, and napkins or wipes for your hands.

Build and manage the fire

Make a small fire inside a fire pit or ring, away from tents, trees, dry grass and anything that can burn. You want a bed of glowing coals rather than big flames. That takes some time, so build the fire a while before you want to eat.

Keep everyone’s hands, sleeves and hair away from the flames. Keep young children close but not too close, and never leave the fire alone. Hair, scarves and loose knitwear catch easily, so tie hair back and keep bulky layers out of the way.

Toast the marshmallow

1. Push a marshmallow onto the end of your stick.
2. Hold it a few inches above the glowing coals, not in the flames.
3. Turn it slowly and evenly. It takes a couple of minutes to turn golden and swollen.
4. Pull it back when it’s the colour you like and it has started to slump.

Everyone has a style. Some people like a pale marshmallow that’s gooey in the middle, and some like a charred one. A marshmallow that catches fire is not a disaster. Blow it out and carry on, but let it cool, because melted sugar is very hot and can burn your mouth.

Build the s’more

1. Break a graham cracker in half.
2. Put a square or two of chocolate on one half.
3. Slide the hot marshmallow onto the chocolate, still on the stick.
4. Top with the other cracker and squeeze gently while you pull the stick out.
5. Wait ten seconds, then eat.

Variations

• Peanut butter cup instead of a plain chocolate square
• Dark chocolate with a pinch of flaky salt
• A thin slice of apple or pear in the middle
• Shortbread or chocolate wafer cookies instead of graham crackers
• A cookie, for a double-sized s’more
• Caramel or a spoonful of nut butter

If you don’t have a fire

You can make s’mores without any fire at all:

• In the oven: Put graham crackers on a tray, add chocolate and a marshmallow, and bake at a moderate oven heat until the marshmallow puffs and melts, which is usually a few minutes.
• Under the broiler: It’s faster, but the marshmallow can go from gold to black quickly, so don’t walk away.
• In the microwave: Put one assembled s’more on a plate for a few seconds, until the marshmallow expands.

Put the fire out

Don’t leave until the fire is completely out. Pour water over it slowly, stir the ashes and add more water until the hissing stops and nothing is warm to the touch. Never bury hot coals, because they can stay hot for hours. Pack up your trash, too, including any marshmallow bags.

If something goes wrong

• The marshmallow falls off the stick. It’s too hot or too soft. Push it on further, or hold it higher.
• The chocolate stays hard. Use a thinner bar, break it into small pieces, or warm it on the cracker near the fire.
• The marshmallow is raw inside and burnt outside. The fire is too hot. Wait for the coals to burn down, and toast slowly.

Make it a fall evening

Bring blankets, a thermos of hot cider and a few friends. It also fits easily into a camping weekend. Put your phone away for an hour, watch the sparks, and keep a marshmallow for the person who’s still telling the story.