Toasted Marshmallows and Graham Cracker Scoops

Give your next cup of hot chocolate a complete campfire treat with these toasted marshmallow graham crackers!

It’s December. It was cold and wet, and the sky outside was getting grayer every day. I was stuck inside and decided now was the perfect time to look into a hot chocolate recipe. It’s not just hot chocolate, though. I wanted something that felt like a ray of summer in the middle of winter.

To me, that can only mean one thing: s’mores hot chocolate. I wanted a nostalgic elixir that would take me straight back to those carefree summer camping trips. So I set out to recreate the holy trinity of chocolate, toasted marshmallows, and graham crackers in drink form.

It didn’t go well.

The toasted, dehydrated marshmallow powder just makes the cocoa sweeter, not toastier. Graham crackers disintegrate into a sad porridge. After a dozen failed attempts, I was ready to give up.

Then it finally clicked.

Instead of stirring more into the hot chocolate, I needed something to soak in it. More toasty and crispy than the original.

Enter these dehydrated toasted marshmallow graham cracker scoops. Mini marshmallows are toasted and blended into graham crackers, then slowly dried until they’re the ultimate in crunch. Dip them in hot chocolate and you can enjoy all the flavors of a campfire, even in the middle of winter and far away from your campsite.

Tips for making this

• Order is everything: Broiler, cool, dehydrate, cool – in that order. This is the only way to get perfectly toasted marshmallows that blend properly onto the graham crackers.
• Don’t leave the broiler: Once the tray goes under the oven, it stays there with the door cracked and eyes wide open. The marshmallows go from pale to perfectly toasted in seconds. Keep the oven door ajar and watch closely.
• Dehydration (oven or dehydrator): To dehydrate, you can use a dehydrator (set to 150 F) or an oven. If using an oven, set it to its lowest temperature (usually 200F), place the tray on the lowest rack, and use a wooden spoon to prop open the door.
• Cool completely before storing: Let spoons cool completely on tray. If they are even slightly warm when sealed, even the smallest amount of steam will destroy all the crispiness gained through dehydration.

Ingredient description

• Whole wheat crackers: Classic honey whole wheat gives the most nostalgic s’more flavor. (We used Annie’s graham crackers because they seemed to have the fewest additives.) Cinnamon graham crackers would also work, and add a warm, festive touch. Gluten-free whole wheat crackers can be substituted if desired.
• Marshmallow: Mini marshmallows melt quickly and blend together for optimal coverage. The roasted marshmallow quilt is also visually stunning. If you only have large marshmallows, cut them into smaller pieces and wrap them tightly around the top of each cookie.

storage tips

• short term: Let spoons cool completely on tray, then transfer to an airtight container. Reseal between snack periods. They should stay crispy for about a week.
• Long-term storage (or giving away):Place cooled buckets into glass bottles and vacuum seal. They stay crispy for quite some time in a vacuum-sealed jar, which is perfect if you want to make a big batch ahead of time for the holidays or winter hot chocolate season.

Sealing glass bottles with a vacuum cleaner is easy jar vacuum sealing machineand will keep those spoons crisp for weeks (if not months!). This is perfect if you plan on giving them as holiday gifts.

Holiday Gift Idea: S’mores Hot Chocolate Jar

If you’re looking for an easy homemade gift, these s’mores cookies are perfect. The flavor and texture are unlike anything you’ll find in the store, and paired with a can of hot cocoa mix, they feel cozy, thoughtful, and very “winter camping at home.”

You can throw these together in an afternoon, line them up on the counter, and make a neighbor gift, a teacher gift, or a stocking stuffer all in one go.

How to wrap them as gifts

1. Fill the jar with a spoon: When the s’more cookies are completely cool and dry, place them in a clean glass jar. Leave a little headspace at the top so they don’t get crushed.
2. Sealed for a long-lasting crunch: Tighten the cap. For the crispiest, longest-lasting texture, vacuum seal your mason jars. Stored this way, the cookies will stay crispy for weeks (if not months).
3. Add hot cocoa powder: Fill a second jar with your favorite homemade hot cocoa mix. We like to use our instant hot cocoa powder Recipe here.
4. Labels and decorations: Tie a simple tag with serving instructions, such as “Add a few tablespoons of the cocoa mixture to hot milk or water, then soak the s’mores and enjoy.” If you want to decorate, add ribbon or twine.
5. Give and enjoy: Hand them out to friends, neighbors, co-workers, or tuck them into your socks.