S’mores are a classic campfire treat that everyone loves. At their core, they consist of graham crackers, melted marshmallows, and chocolate. While the graham crackers and marshmallows are set, the choice of chocolate can make a big difference in the final s’more experience. With so many chocolate bar options on the market, how do you know which one is the best for s’mores? We will break down the key factors to consider when choosing a chocolate bar for your s’mores.
What Makes a Good S’mores Chocolate?
When evaluating chocolate bars for s’mores, there are a few important criteria to keep in mind:
Flavor
Obviously, you want a chocolate bar with great chocolate flavor for s’mores. The chocolate should taste rich and indulgent when melted between the crackers and marshmallow. The flavor should complement the sweetness of the marshmallow rather than overpower it.
Meltability
The chocolate needs to melt smoothly when exposed to the heat from a campfire or oven. If the bar doesn’t melt well, you’ll end up with clumps of hardened chocolate in your s’more which is less than ideal.
Texture
The melted chocolate should have a silky smooth texture without being overly greasy. It should help bind the marshmallow and graham cracker together.
Sweetness
You want the chocolate to balance out the extreme sweetness of the marshmallow rather than piling on more sugar. The best option will be rich in chocolate flavor without a lot of added sugar.
Size and Shape
The chocolate bar should be a size and shape that makes it easy to snap pieces off to sandwich between graham crackers. Smaller thin rectangular bars tend to work better than larger thick bars.
Chocolate Bar Options for S’mores
Now that we know what to look for, let’s evaluate some popular chocolate bar options for making s’mores:
Hershey’s Milk Chocolate
Hershey’s is the classic and nostalgic choice for many people when making s’mores. Their milk chocolate bars have a pleasant sweetness and melt smoothly when heated. The bars are thin, rectangular, and easily divided into squares for s’mores. However, some people find Hershey’s to be overly sweet with not enough true chocolate flavor. It may overpower the marshmallow.
Hershey’s Special Dark
Hershey’s Special Dark has a higher cacao percentage (45%) than their regular milk chocolate. This gives it a more intense chocolate flavor that can stand up to the sweet marshmallow. However, since it has less milk, the meltability may not be quite as smooth. The added cocoa bitterness helps offset the sweetness though.
Lindt 70% Cacao
Lindt’s 70% dark chocolate bar has intense chocolate flavor with little added sugar. The high cacao percentage gives it a nice bitterness to contrast the marshmallow. However, the meltability may be uneven due to less cocoa butter. And some may find the flavor overpowering.
Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate
Ghirardelli makes a delicious milk chocolate that maintains a nice smooth texture when melted. It has rich chocolate flavor while still being on the sweet side. Their bars are conveniently sized and easy to break apart. Overall, it delivers great chocolate taste while still melting nicely.
Cadbury Milk Chocolate
Cadbury is another classic choice like Hershey’s. Their creamy milk chocolate has a wonderfully smooth texture when melted. It also has enough sweetness to complement the marshmallow. The bars have the ideal thickness and size. However, some find the chocolate flavor to be too weak and overly sweet.
The Best Chocolate Bar for S’mores
Based on taste tests and evaluations using our criteria of flavor, texture, meltability, sweetness, and size, which chocolate bar rises to the top as the best for s’mores?
Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate is the clear winner. Here’s why:
- It melts perfectly – silky and smooth.
- The chocolate flavor is indulgent and pronounced without being overbearing.
- It has a balanced sweetness level that complements but doesn’t overwhelm the marshmallow.
- The size and shape make it easy to break into s’more-ready pieces.
Ghirardelli milk chocolate checks all the boxes. It delivers on rich chocolate taste and ideal meltability for the ultimate s’more experience.
Choosing the Best Chocolate Bar for You
While Ghirardelli may be the overall top choice, personal taste preferences do come into play. Here is a summary of the key pros and cons for each chocolate bar:
| Brand | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Hershey’s Milk Chocolate | Classic taste, easy to find, nostalgic, melts smoothly | Can be overly sweet |
| Hershey’s Special Dark | Higher cocoa percentage, more intense flavor | Less meltability, added bitterness |
| Lindt 70% | Rich chocolate flavor, less sweet | Uneven melting, flavor may overpower |
| Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate | Smooth melt, great chocolate taste, nicely sweet | More expensive than mass brands |
| Cadbury Milk Chocolate | Smooth texture when melted, sweet milk chocolate | Chocolate flavor not pronounced enough |
So while Ghirardelli may be the best overall balance, Hershey’s is the budget-friendly nostalgic choice, Lindt is great if you want pure chocolate intensity, and Cadbury or Hershey’s Special Dark cater to those who prefer extra sweetness.
The most important thing is choosing a chocolate you enjoy the flavor of. Let your personal taste be the guide when picking the chocolate bar that makes the perfect s’more for you.
Tips for Making S’mores
Once you’ve chosen your chocolate, here are some helpful tips for constructing epic s’mores:
- Use large marshmallows rather than small ones. They char better and have a nicer puffy texture between the crackers.
- Toast your marshmallow to golden brown perfection by rotating it steadily over the heat source. Avoid burning it completely black.
- Use a thick graham cracker rather than thinner versions which can get soggy.
- Make sure to snap chocolate pieces that cover the whole graham cracker, not just a small section.
- Construct your s’more gently but with just enough pressure to get the melted chocolate and marshmallow oozing out the sides a bit.
- Enjoy the gooey deliciousness!
Follow those tips and use your favorite chocolate bar to create the ultimate campfire or oven-baked s’mores. Just thinking about that melty chocolate and roasted marshmallow is making me crave one now!
The History of S’mores
No article about s’mores is complete without a quick look at the fascinating history behind this iconic campfire treat:
- The earliest known s’more recipe was published in the 1927 Girl Scouts guide “Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts.” The recipe called for just two graham crackers with chocolate melted on top and toasted marshmallow between.
- The name “s’more” first appeared in a 1938 Campfire Marshmallows recipe book published by the company. It suggests that the treat had become popular and widely known by this point.
- Originally, plain chocolate bars were used. Milk chocolate bars like Hershey’s surged in popularity through the 1950s which helped cement it as a common s’mores ingredient.
- The oldest known recorded version of the classic trio we know today – graham crackers, milk chocolate, marshmallow – appeared in the recipe instructions of a 1952 edition of the Girl Scout manual.
- By the mid-1900s, s’mores had become an iconic American campfire treat, developing into the classic dessert we all know and love today.
There you have it – a brief look at how s’mores originated and evolved into the ooey-gooey dessert we can’t get enough of! Pass the chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers!
S’mores Fun Facts
Let’s finish off this in-depth s’more exploration with some fun trivia about this popular campfire confection:
- Soy, honey, and vegan marshmallows have become popular alternatives for making s’mores to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Peanut butter, Nutella, caramel, and flavored syrups are creative twists some people use instead of plain chocolate bars.
- You can bake s’mores inside by broiling marshmallows on a baking sheet before assembling.
- The largest s’more ever made was over 1,500 pounds with a 60-pound marshmallow and giant custom graham cracker.
- Astronauts aboard the International Space Station once had s’mores in space using special flame-resistant ingredients.
- National S’mores Day falls on August 10th each year.
- A survey found s’mores were the most popular campfire dessert, with nearly 75% of campers choosing them over alternatives like bananas and cookies.
- The annual sales of ingredients for s’mores is over $50 million in the U.S.
- Ritz Crackers, cookies, waffles, and pound cake can substitute for graham crackers in creative s’more recipes.
- The largest s’more ever recorded was made with a 3000-pound chocolate bar and 2000-pound marshmallow.
Those are some fascinating glimpses into America’s obsession with s’mores! It’s easy to see why they are so beloved.
Conclusion
When you want the perfect balance of delicious melted chocolate paired with sweet toasted marshmallow between crunchy graham crackers, clearly Ghirardelli offers the best overall option. Their creamy milk chocolate bars check all the boxes for flavor, texture, and meltability. However, classics like Hershey’s or sweeter choices like Cadbury also have their place depending on your tastes. Whichever you choose, s’mores always equal camping nostalgia in one tasty treat! Now go enjoy some ooey-gooey chocolaty s’more goodness!