As you bite into that quintessential summer treat of gooiness, you may be wondering, “who first thought of making a s’more, and can I shake their hand?” We’re here to shed some light on the origin and history of the messiest of all desserts.
As we all know, the s’more is made by sandwiching a perfectly toasted marshmallow and a square of milk chocolate between two layers of graham cracker. There are many variations to this standard, and there are countless ways to roast (or set fire to) your marshmallow, but the basic recipe remains unchallenged.
But how did the s’more begin and how did it become such an unfailing part of bonfires and campouts across the country?
A Sticky Trail Through History
The exact origins of the s’more are as sticky as the marshmallow itself; but they may have been inspired by two popular 1910’s treats: the Mallomar and the Moonpie. The Mallomar was a graham cracker topped with marshmallow and dipped in chocolate, and was produced by Nabisco beginning in 1913. The MoonPie was a similar snack—two graham crackers with marshmallow filling, all dipped in chocolate–hitting the market in 1917.
Marshmallows themselves have quite a history, evolving from a whipped version of the sap of a white swamp plant (that plant naturally being called althaea officinalis–or march mallow) into the gelatin/sugar/air concoction we know today. By the 1890’s, manufactured marshmallows were part of Americana, and marshmallow roasting get-togethers were quite the fad.
Combine the average American’s familiarity with the roasted-to-perfection marshmallow with the idea of Mallomars and MoonPies as inspiration, and it isn’t a far leap to what we know as S’mores.
Originally called “Some Mores”, the first time we see a written recipe for this treat is by none other than the Girl Scouts. It first appears in the camping and scouting guide called Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts, published in 1927. Ingredient number one? 8 sticks.
Today, the three s’mores ingredients are the first thing you see in every grocery store or gas station entrance during the summer, and they’re always on the program for summer bonfire nights. The flavor has even become the unofficial flavor of summer.
As Vogue magazine observed, “In recent years, the sweet s’mores flavor has gone mainstream: There are s’mores-flavored Oreos (as well as S’moreos), M&M’s, ice cream, and even cocktails. It’s probably safe to say that the taste of s’mores is the summer equivalent of fall’s ubiquitous pumpkin spice.” We aren’t complaining; we all just want s’more!
If you’re looking for the best equipment to make your own sticky summer treat, check out firebuggz.com. From fire fishing poles to cone cookers and snackleboxes, you’ll find everything you need for a truly sweet summer right online!
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