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National S'mores Day lands this Sunday, August 10 — and while nobody's arguing with the original graham-chocolate-marshmallow stack, it's also the easiest dessert in America to upgrade. Change one layer and you've invented a new s'more.
Here are seven upgrades, from thirty-second tweaks to full weekend projects.
Upgrade the Chocolate Layer
The chocolate square is where concentrated flavor oils shine. Chocolate and water don't mix — water-based extracts will seize melted chocolate — so this is strictly oil-soluble territory.
1. Mint chocolate s'mores. Melt a bar of good chocolate, stir in a few drops of peppermint flavoring oil, re-set it in a thin slab, and break it into squares. The melty result tastes like a campfire Thin Mint.
2. Orange-chocolate s'mores. The same trick with orange flavoring oil turns your stack into a chocolate-orange truffle. A little goes a long way — start with 2–3 drops per cup of melted chocolate and taste.
3. Cherry cordial s'mores. A drop or two of cherry flavoring oil in dark chocolate, plus a toasted marshmallow, lands surprisingly close to a chocolate-covered cherry. For more pairings, see our guide to the best flavoring oils for chocolate.
Upgrade the Marshmallow
4. Homemade marshmallows. This is the upgrade people remember. With 275-bloom gelatin, sugar and a stand mixer, homemade marshmallows are a one-hour project that toasts better than anything store-bought — crisp shell, molten middle. Our step-by-step marshmallow guide has the full method.
5. Strawberry marshmallows. Flavor the mallow batch itself — marshmallow is a water-based candy, so water-soluble extracts whip right in. Strawberry marshmallow plus dark chocolate is a chocolate-dipped-strawberry s'more. A drop of natural pink coloring makes it look the part, too.
Upgrade the Graham
6. Cinnamon-toast grahams. Brush graham crackers with melted butter blended with a drop of cinnamon flavoring oil, then warm them on the grill for thirty seconds. The butter carries the oil-soluble cinnamon beautifully.
7. The "campfire banana split": banana slices, a square of orange creamsicle-spiked chocolate and a toasted marshmallow. Kids assemble; adults hover near the tray.
No Campfire? No Problem
A broiler, air fryer or kitchen torch toasts marshmallows just fine — broil assembled s'mores on a sheet pan for 60–90 seconds and watch closely. However you toast, dose flavor oils conservatively: start with a few drops, taste, and adjust. Concentrated oils are much stronger than supermarket extracts.
If the s'mores bar is a hit, keep the momentum going — our gummy flavoring collection and gummy-making guide make a great next family project before summer ends.
FAQ
Can I add extract to melted chocolate for s'mores?
Only oil-soluble flavoring. Water-based extracts will cause melted chocolate to seize into a grainy mass. Oil-soluble flavor oils stir in smoothly.
How do I flavor homemade marshmallows?
Add water-soluble extract during the final minute of whipping — start with ⅛–¼ teaspoon per batch and adjust. Marshmallow is water-based, so extracts disperse evenly.
What's the best way to toast marshmallows indoors?
The broiler: assemble s'mores open-faced on a sheet pan and broil 60–90 seconds until golden. A kitchen torch gives more control for a crowd.