For many people, making S'mores at a campfire with family and friends is a cherished summer/fall memory. Patience is the key to uniformly toasted marshmallows with soft gooey centers that serve to melt the chocolate when squished between sweet graham crackers. These Nutella S'mores bars are the perfect treat to recreate the warmth and carefree fun of summer nights all through the winter. Plus, they hit all the perfect notes for Valentine's Day!
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| A Love2Chow Chocolate Hazelnut (Nutella) S'More Bar |
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| Topped with Hershey's chocolate after removing from the oven |
Campfire S'mores
I did not learn about S'mores until after I had graduated from college. Camping did not figure prominently in my childhood, as I grew up roller skating the silky smooth sidewalks of Los Angeles county. I was introduced to S'mores during a visit with my sister in North Carolina, but at the time, I was more impressed with the pulled pork barbecue with its cider vinegar sauce, and did not think too much of marshmallows.
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| Toasted marshmallows, part of a Hershey, bottom graham cracker - awaiting the top cracker |
The combination of Hershey's bar, graham crackers and toasted marshmallows took on a new meaning after I enjoyed one made with a perfectly toasted pair of marshmallows, the thin golden crust barely holding together the molten, oozy, drooping inner marshmallow -- hot enough to melt chocolate. My husband, a connoisseur of everything sugary and sweet, had perfected slow marshmallow toasting in little oven-like spaces away from the flame.
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| Browning marshmallows are starting to droop as the insides warm up |
So the kids grew up making S'mores over a campfire, and sometimes over the hot coals left after we were done grilling burgers.
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| Smashed between graham crackers, the marshmallow melts the chocolate next to it |
Got marshmallows, but no chocolate? We found ourselves in that situation on a kayak camping trip. A nice fat pretzel stick can be used to remove the hot marshmallows from the toasting stick, and adds a surprisingly satisfying salty crunch that complements the gooey toasted marshmallows.
