25 August 2016 smores

Gourmet S’More Recipes for National Toasted Marshmallow Day

This week, in honor of National Toasted Marshmallow Day, at Old World Stoneworks we’re lighting our outdoor fireplaces despite the summer heat. While Congress hasn’t made NTMD a legal holiday yet, the National Confectioners Association is working on spreading the marshmallow joy.

Marshmallow History

Marshmallows didn’t start out pure white and uniform. Sometime around 2000 BC, Ancient Egyptians formulated the great-granddaddy of modern marshmallows from mallow plant sap, nuts and honey. Supposedly this delightful treat was only enjoyed by pharaohs and Egyptian gods.

In 1800s France, marshmallows finally became available to the masses. Candy makers whipped up marshmallow sap, sugar and egg whites. This combo became so popular they had to invent marshmallow molds for quicker production. Medical doctors even promoted marshmallows as a medicinal candy to treat coughs, sore throats and for healing wounds. This proves our theory that s’mores are good for you! The French soon replaced the mallow root with gelatin. Which made the candy more stable, but was bad news for vegetarians.

The first known mention of s’mores is a recipe in the 1927 book, Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts. Obviously the name comes from the campfire cry, “Give me some more! And some more!”

In 1954, Alex Doumak patented his extrusion process for making marshmallows. By routing the marshmallow ingredients through tubes, it became quick and inexpensive to make perfectly uniform marshmallows. Nowadays, marshmallows are most closely identified with campfires and holiday recipes. American consumers purchase a whopping 90 million pounds of marshmallows every year.

If you really love marshmallows, consider visiting Ligonier, Indiana, for its 25th annual marshmallow festival this Labor Day weekend.

Traditional S’Mores

traditional s'mores

As most people know, the standard components of a s’more are graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows. You might have childhood – or more recent – memories of eating a standard s’more with ordinary brands like Hershey’s chocolate and Nabisco graham crackers. And while these are truly delicious, some sophisticated adults are experimenting with gourmet s’more ingredients. Just check out Pinterest if you don’t believe us. Let’s break down the components to see how to update your standard s’more.

Graham Crackers

Are you making s’mores for gluten-free folks, or those who value organic products? You’re only one trip to the health food store away from the perfect cracker. Or maybe you want a graham cracker that’s more cinnamon than honey. Trader Joe’s thick cinnamon grahams are delicious, and free of high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils. If you have a bit of Martha Stewart in you, maybe you even want to make your own graham crackers from scratch.

But don’t limit yourself. It’s okay to think outside the graham cracker box when building a s’more. Instead of grahams, how about using peanut butter or chocolate chip cookies to hold in your filling?

Chocolate

Substituting dark chocolate for milk chocolate will immediately up the sophistication level of your s’more. If you really want to impress your campfire guests, pick a locally-made, artisan chocolate. For example, Mahogany Chocolate in Lubbock sources sustainable cacao beans from Belize and the Caribbean to turn into small batches of bars. Tejas Chocolate Craftory in Tomball, Texas fire roasts its cacao beans in a hand-made clay brick oven, then ages it for weeks to develop its flavor. Using this type of chocolate elevates s’mores to a dessert for your most upscale backyard events.

Roast your marshmallows under the stars over a fire pit or contact Old World Stoneworks to create a true masterpiece like this custom Cambridge Mantel:

outdoor fireplace mantel

Marshmallow

Despite Alex Doumak’s extruder victory, some devoted foodies are returning to small batch, non-uniform marshmallow making. San Antonio’s Mia Mallows makes gourmet flavored marshmallows. We think their chocolate, strawberry or especially Bavarian cream sounds like a dreamy addition to our s’mores. Vegetarians coming to your party? Stock up on gelatin-free marshmallows, such as Dandies, Sweet & Sara, or Trader Joe’s new, low-cost vegan marshmallow.

marshmallow

Caption: Homemade marshmallows

A Few Fun Combinations

Now we’re going to get really creative. Trigger warning: Some s’more traditionalists might find these substitutions a little too out there. But if you’re feeling adventurous, read on.

  • Add Nutella and banana to your ordinary s’more.
  • Substitute peanut butter cookies for graham crackers, add caramel sauce and bittersweet chocolate.
  • Use mint chocolate for a grasshopper s’more.
  • Sub lemon or lime curd for chocolate, and you have a lemon meringue or key lime s’more.
  • Make a strawberry shortcake s’more by subbing biscuits for grahams and adding strawberries. Chocolate optional.
  • Sub Brie cheese for marshmallow, and add broiled peach slices. Divine!
  • Use white chocolate and add pineapple.

Whatever s’mores you choose to make in honor of National Toasted Marshmallow day, we at Old World Stoneworks know it will be time well spent with your family gathered round the fireplace.