S’mores are a classic campfire treat that everyone loves. Consisting of a toasted marshmallow and a piece of chocolate sandwiched between two graham crackers, they are the perfect sweet snack to enjoy outdoors. However, while s’mores pair deliciously with the warmth of a campfire, many people wonder what beverage is best to drink with them. There are many options that can complement the flavors of chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker. In this article, we will explore some of the best drink pairings for s’mores so you can decide what to sip on next time you are roasting marshmallows.
Some of the best drinks to enjoy with s’mores are hot chocolate, coffee, milk, apple cider, and chocolate milk. Hot chocolate is a classic pairing that matches the chocolate flavor. Coffee cuts through the sweetness while still complementing the chocolate. Milk cools off the mouth from sticky marshmallow. Apple cider adds a hint of fruitiness. And chocolate milk combines the chocolate flavors. Ultimately, the best drink comes down to personal preference.
Hot Chocolate
One of the most popular beverage choices to enjoy with s’mores is a warm cup of hot chocolate. The rich chocolate flavor pairs perfectly with the melted chocolate in the s’more. Each sip of velvety hot cocoa enhances the intense chocolate experience of the treat. Hot chocolate is comforting and delicious, providing the quintessential flavor complement to chocolatey, gooey s’mores.
Just as there are many variations of s’mores with different chocolates or types of marshmallows, there are many options when it comes to hot chocolate as well. You can keep it classic with a mug of hot cocoa made from unsweetened cocoa powder, milk or cream, and sugar. Or opt for an elevated version with chopped chocolate melted into warm milk. Mexican hot chocolate adds spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and chili powder for a more savory chocolate flavor. Peppermint hot chocolate provides a refreshing twist. And white hot chocolate gives a lighter complement to the dark chocolate and toasted flavors.
No matter which type of hot chocolate you choose, it is sure to be a big hit alongside traditional campfire s’mores. The warm, rich drink helps wash down the sticky marshmallow and chocolate while doubling down on that signature chocolate taste. Kids and adults alike will love dunking gooey toasted marshmallows straight from the campfire into their mugs of hot cocoa. The next time you are making s’mores, be sure to whip up big pot of hot chocolate to serve alongside for a truly unbeatable flavor combination.
Coffee
While hot chocolate may seem like an obvious pairing for chocolatey s’mores, coffee is another excellent beverage choice. The slight bitterness of coffee contrasts with the sweet marshmallow and chocolate flavors. This helps cut through the richness and prevent the s’more from becoming overly cloying or sugary. A few sips of coffee cleanse your palate after the sticky sweetness of melted marshmallow.
Coffee also has its own depth of roasted, slightly nutty flavors that complement the toasted notes of the graham cracker in a s’more. Just like the graham cracker is the savory base that balances out the sweetness of the chocolate and marshmallow, coffee provides the same effect in beverage form. Additionally, many people enjoy their daily cup of coffee around a campfire along with classic camping foods. S’mores and coffee are commonly paired during nighttime camping trips or evenings around the fire at home.
The type of coffee you choose to drink with s’mores will impact the overall flavor experience. A smooth, medium roast drip coffee allows you to fully taste the nuances of the s’mores. A darker French or Italian roast stands up to the intensity of the chocolate better. Sugary, flavored creamers can be added to sweeter, milky coffee beverages like lattes or mochas as a treat. Iced coffee is also refreshing on warm nights when you want something cooler than hot cocoa.
No matter which coffee preparation you prefer, it makes for an excellent adult beverage to pair with s’mores. The caffeine gives you energy to stay up late while camping and the rich taste provides the perfect balance to the sweet decadence of the classic campfire dessert. Coffee and s’mores simply go hand-in-hand.
Milk
While soda, juice, and other sugary drinks may seem tempting, plain milk is a great beverage choice to wash down gooey, chocolatey s’mores. Ice cold milk perfectly balances and cools the sweet flavors of the toasted marshmallow and melted chocolate. It cleanses your palate without overpowering the signature flavors of the quintessential campfire treat.
Milk is also beneficial for counteracting the sticky, mouth-coating texture of marshmallows roasted over a fire. The creamy liquid helps dissolve some of that sticky sugar residue left behind after eating s’mores. Simply take a swig of chilled milk after biting into the dessert to instantly remove some of that tacky feeling. This makes it much easier and more enjoyable to finish your s’more without feeling like the marshmallow is plastered to the roof of your mouth.
In addition to its texture contrasts and palate-cleansing traits, milk delivers a sweet, mild flavor of its own that blends nicely with s’mores components. Whole milk provides a richness that pairs with the chocolate, while skim milk offers a lighter complement to the toasted marshmallow. For an extra flavor punch, opt for chocolate milk that combines the chocolatey goodness of the s’more with the benefits of milk’s creamy dairy profile.
Since most people have milk readily available in their home refrigerators, it also makes a convenient beverage to wash down impromptu s’mores creations. No need to make a special trip to buy other ingredients; just grab the milk carton from your fridge whenever s’mores cravings strike. Keeping a supply of ice cold milk on hand ensures you can enjoy the ideal drink pairing anytime the mood for s’mores arises.
Apple Cider
Around the autumn season when nights become cooler, trading out chilled milk or hot cocoa for a mug of warm apple cider can make for a delicious s’mores pairing. The sweet, slightly tart flavor of apple cider complements both the rich chocolate and the toasted sweetness of marshmallows. Cinnamon and other autumnal spices often added to cider also accentuate the dessert qualities of the classic campfire treat.
Enjoying s’mores and apple cider is a fun way to celebrate fall activities like bonfires, trips to apple orchards or pumpkin patches, and foliage camping adventures. Just as the treat itself evokes cool weather and the great outdoors, a steamy cup of fresh apple cider enhances that quintessential autumnal experience. This drink option becomes even more seasonally appropriate if you swap out classic marshmallows for candy corn or caramel apple marshmallows around Halloween time.
The warmth of the apple cider helps take off the chill in the crisper night air while you sit around the campfire or backyard fire pit assembling s’mores. Alternating bites of the gooey snacks with slow sips of cider results in a perfectly balanced blend of cozy flavors and temperatures. The sweet tanginess of the drink contrasts with the sugary decadence of the s’more for a more complex and interesting flavor experience.
As an added bonus, apple cider delivers some antioxidants and nutrients that can help mitigate the unhealthy effects of eating too many sugar-laden s’mores in one sitting. So imbibing in some fresh cider allows you to feel a bit less guilty about overindulging in the classic high-calorie campfire dessert. For the ideal cool weather treat, look no further than pairing s’mores with a big mug of apple cider.
Chocolate Milk
For chocolate lovers, chocolate milk is the ultimate beverage to sip alongside gooey, melty s’mores. Chocolate milk combines the refreshing creaminess of cold milk with the rich cocoa flavor that pairs perfectly with the melted chocolate squares in s’mores. The sweetness balances out the slight bitterness of the dark chocolate. You get the benefits of milk – cooling off your mouth, washing down stickiness, and cleansing your palate – along with a big chocolate flavor punch.
Chocolate milk enhances the chocolate experience of s’mores without overwhelming the other components. Since high-quality dark chocolate can have hints of cherry, coffee, vanilla, and other notes, chocolate milk allows you to taste more dimensions of the chocolate rather than just intensifying the cacao flavor. It also cools your mouth after getting scalded by oozing melted chocolate pockets in piping hot just-toasted s’mores. The icy chilled milk drink provides relief from the heat.
For ultimate indulgence, make your own homemade hot chocolate with steamed milk and rich melted chocolate, then allow it to come to room temperature or chill it before enjoying alongside campfire s’mores. Hot chocolate has a more intense chocolate taste than chocolate milk made from syrup. But allowing it to cool down provides a nice contrast to the hot, gooey interior of freshly assembled s’mores.
Chocolate milk is just as convenient as regular milk but with the added chocolate flavor that pairs perfectly with every component of the traditional toasted treat. Keeping a jug on hand allows you to enjoy the ideal complementary beverage whenever a chocolatey s’mores craving strikes. Chocolate milk and s’mores go hand in hand as two sweet chocolate lovers’ delight.
More Drink Pairing Options
While hot chocolate, coffee, milk, apple cider, and chocolate milk are some of the most popular beverages people like to pair with s’mores, there are many other drink options that work well with this sweet toasted campfire treat. Here are a few more ideas for tasty drinks to sip alongside your s’mores:
Root beer
The sweet vanilla and wintergreen notes in root beer complement the flavors of chocolate and toasted marshmallow nicely. Feel free to add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to make a root beer float for an extra creamy dessert drink pairing.
Hot caramel apple cider
Warm, sweet caramel and tart apple are perfect for fall nights roasting s’mores. Infuse your mug of cider with caramel sauce and apple slices.
Spiced rum hot chocolate
For an adults-only treat, add a splash of rum and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg to rich hot cocoa for a boozy twist.
Hot tea
The subtle flavors of chais, herbal teas, or black teas like Earl Grey complement s’mores without overpowering them.
Strawberry milk
The sweet berry flavor balances the chocolate nicely. Shake milk with strawberry syrup or blend milk with fresh strawberries.
Mexican Coke
The cane sugar and dash of cinnamon in Mexican Coca-Cola work well with the cinnamon graham crackers and chocolate. The carbonation also cleanses the palate.
Iced mocha latte
Cool down with the refreshing but still chocolatey blend of chilled espresso, milk, chocolate syrup, and whipped cream.
Hot buttered rum
Warm spiced rum with a pat of butter makes a deliciously indulgent nighttime treat alongside gooey s’mores.
Factors to Consider When Pairing Drinks with S’mores
With so many beverage options to choose from, it can be tricky to decide which drink will perfectly complement the flavors in your s’mores. Here are some factors to keep in mind when selecting an ideal drink pairing:
Flavor contrast levels
Do you want a beverage that doubles down on the chocolate flavor like hot cocoa? Or something that balances the sweetness with some bitterness like coffee?
Temperature
A piping hot or icy cold drink can provide temperature contrast against gooey melted s’mores. Or opt for room temperature if you don’t want too much difference.
Consistency and carbonation
Thick drinks like milkshakes help cut through sticky marshmallow while bubbly drinks like root beer cleanse the palate. It depends on preference.
Sweetness
Very sugary drinks may overpower s’mores while unsweetened options allow you to taste all the nuanced flavors. Adding whipped cream or ice cream gives you control over sweetness levels.
Special occasions
Some drinks like spiked cocoa or mulled wine may be reserved for adult s’mores occasions while apple cider suits autumnal camping trips best.
Dietary needs
If limiting sugar, go for unsweetened coffee or tea. For vegans, choose non-dairy milks. Pick gluten-free beers or ciders if necessary.
Consider all these elements before selecting your perfect s’mores beverage match. Then enjoy the ideal flavor pairing as you roast marshmallows under the stars!
Conclusion
S’mores are an iconic campfire treat that create lasting memories of fun outdoor adventures and summertime indulgence. But the chocolatey, gooey, graham cracker-y experience can be enhanced even further with the perfect drink pairing. Whether you go for classic hot chocolate, the adult appeal of coffee, the refreshing flavor of apple cider, or a cold glass of chocolate milk, the right beverage can elevate your s’mores to new taste bud-pleasing heights.
So don’t just default to water or soda when making s’mores. Take the time to think about flavors, textures, seasonal appropriateness, and temperature contrasts to identify your perfect s’mores drink match. You may just discover a new favorite beverage and dessert combination that feels like it was specially created to complement one another. And that makes for an incredibly satisfying camping trip, backyard bonfire, or any other occasion for roasting marshmallows and devouring chocolatey s’more goodness.