If you're lucky, you went camping this summer. You cooled your tired feet in a bubbling stream, went to sleep with a knockout view of the stars, and woke up with your hair smelling like woodsmoke. There may or may not have been ghost stories and sing-alongs. We hope there was a guitar. One thing's for certain: There were s'mores. Can you even rightfully call something a camping trip if it doesn't include the holy trinity of graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate? No. No, you can't.
More: Everything tastes better in the great outdoors -- especially these 9 recipes.
For all of you who didn't make it on a wilderness adventure, don't let the joy of eating a s'more in the summertime pass you by. You can still achieve sticky, sugary, crunchy, chocolate-y bliss -- and you don't even need a campfire to make it happen. Though we certainly wouldn't be mad if you lit one, anyway.
![](https://images.food52.com/64Hvga-OLNBalqPnk04d6LFr9Zo=/ba48c701-e968-430e-a0fe-e0a71dd15066--9041616869_4a3d4abc4e_z.jpg)
Here's how to take your s'mores to the next level (or how to make them from the comfort of your living room):
1. For the ultimate artisanal s'more, bake your own graham crackers:
Homemade Graham Crackers by Alice Medrich
2. Substitute marshmallows for marshmallow fluff and you won't need a campfire to achieve the perfect goo:
How to Make Marshmallow Fluff from Scratch by CrepesofWrath
![How to Make Marshmallow Fluff](https://images.food52.com/vsosScsduOm8ITwK35xFNT6Syro=/d936b53c-820f-469e-8158-8ba451dd8807--14734432634_f627262809_b.jpg)
3. Spread homemade nutella on s'mores instead of -- or better yet, in addition to -- throwing on chocolate slabs:
Homemade Nutella by Carey Nershi
![](https://images.food52.com/m6hl0qvvXAHwaP2zXV5EhruSV6c=/7a4e9159-586d-4efd-ad07-a78d021ff42e--IMG_7747.jpg)
4. So you want to serve s'mores at a dinner party. Just make them into a tart and you have an elegant (yet whimsical) dessert:
S'more Tart by Couldn't Be Parve
![S'more Tart](https://images.food52.com/2X9Kqwdyr21ZQ5qg4M48Jbd9xAc=/f0721892-06de-4b75-9993-a21cbd33490a--smore_tart_550.jpg)
5. When the woods are far away, don't light a fire in your kitchen (because that would be stupid). Turn on your broiler, instead:
How to Make S'mores Without a Fire by Brette Warshaw
![How to Make S'mores Without a Fire](https://images.food52.com/4ZwDxB70eIIjcSxXXShntv3bXRA=/9e56c88c-9b86-4801-ac6b-031b66198c78--9041618243_a1163a5f4b_z.jpg)
6. Here's how to make s'mores fancy: Add an Italian word on the end of it. Done and done:
S'mores Semifreddo by Amanda Hesser
![S'mores Semifreddo](https://images.food52.com/qh8rntqWADRefY9KOy4FRMMl52g=/d07e631c-64d8-444d-b9f7-4176b644edb6--S_mores_Semifreddo.jpeg)
7. Happy 21st birthday, s'mores! When you add alcohol to the marshmallows, your s'mores become adults:
How to Make Moonshine Marshmallows, the Blue Bottle Way by Caitlin Freeman
![How to Make Moonshine Marshmallows, the Blue Bottle Way](https://images.food52.com/tunANSHMvpB2COgVKm1YNddtb6A=/52fdf97a-c2cb-46ab-97f6-8e0f0be7fdfe--14971825495_f82b939660_o.png)
8. And because it's impossible to decide between ice cream and s'mores, just mix them together:
S'mores Ice Cream by Phyllis Grant
![S'mores Ice Cream](https://images.food52.com/xX1bLB7nGXyabnPhO-dPB29vZ9A=/05712afa-8d07-4686-9322-154fb89a0396--s-mores5.jpg)
What's your idea of the perfect s'more? Tell us in the comments!
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