How to Make a Perfect S'more

Anyone can make basic s'mores, the old camping favorite composed of graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate bars. But to turn that snack into a culinary work of art requires a delicate touch and a few helpful hints.

Things You'll Need

• Large marshmallows
• Stick
• Campfire
• Chocolate covered graham crackers or fudge covered cookies
• Graham crackers
• Chocolate chip cookies
• Striped chocolate cookies
• Sugar cookies
• Peanut Butter
• Mint chocolate
• Fruit
• Peanut butter cups
• Jelly

Instructions

Roast the Marshmallow

1. Slide 2 large marshmallows on a long campfire grilling stick, a skewer or a regular stick. Use only fresh marshmallows. They should be soft and pillowy. Stale marshmallows are stiff, and they don't puff up as big during roasting.

2. Hold the marshmallows several inches over the yellow or orange flame of the fire. Or hold the marshmallows 12 inches above the blue flame, the hottest part of the fire. Repeatedly turn the marshmallows until golden brown.

3. Hover your marshmallows directly over the fire if you like your s'mores charred crisp. Some people prefer the outer layer crispy and the inner layer melted almost to a liquid.

4. Use chocolate covered graham crackers or fudge covered cookies to sandwich the roasted marshmallows.

Choose the Shell

1. Use the standard graham cracker broken into two squares, or get creative and start with one of the options in the following steps.

2. Try two chocolate chip cookies as the outer shells, and skip the chocolate bar, or add the chocolate bar for an extra chocolaty s'more.

3. Put your roasted marshmallow and chocolate between two sugar cookies for another alternative.

4. Skip the chocolate layer in the middle by using chocolate striped cookies. They usually have a hole in the center, and when you squish a perfectly roasted marshmallow some will ooze out the top and bottom for an added treat.

Add Your Favorites

1. Spread peanut butter on one or both squares of graham cracker before squishing the marshmallow and chocolate bar between them. Try adding your favorite flavor jelly for a peanut butter and jelly s'more.

2. Use mint chocolate bars instead of plain chocolate. Chocolate covered pretzels sandwiched with marshmallow is another tasty alternative.

3. Add sliced bananas, strawberries, pineapple or any other fruit. Put one thinly sliced layer of fruit on a graham cracker and add the roasted marshmallow, chocolate and top it with another cracker.

4. Put a peanut butter cup with your marshmallow in the middle of the two crackers for a warm chocolate, marshmallow and peanut butter delight.

Tips & Warnings

• Use white chocolate instead of milk chocolate.

• Be careful with hot marshmallows. They can stick to skin and burn quickly.