Every year at Cafe2U, we introduce a special, limited edition item to our drinks menu to help get the nation in the mood for bonfire night - s'more flavoured coffee.
Despite their enduring popularity in America, s'mores are a bit of an unknown quantity in the UK, with most people having heard of them but relatively few people ever eating them. Not us though, we love a s'more and we think it's about time the rest of the country did too.
So here's everything you need to know about where they come from and how to make them.
What is a s'more?
S'mores are a sweet, chewy Stateside snack that have been around since the 1920s and consist of one or more toasted marshmallows and a layer of chocolate sandwiched between two graham crackers (American digestive biscuits).
The tasty treat became popular thanks to American scout groups, who were among the first to experiment with cooking the marshmallows over a campfire instead of in a kitchen.
The name s'mores is a contraction of the phrase 'some more', in reference to most people's inability to only eat one at a time. As in: "Can i have some more?"
Although Americans enjoy s'mores all year round, in the UK they are regarded as a seasonal treat that are typically enjoyed around bonfire night, when there are more opportunities to cook them over an open flame.
How do you make s'mores?
If you want to make your own s'mores, the good news is that they're extremely quick and easy to make.
Ingredients
To make eight s'mores, you will need:
16 digestive or Rich Tea biscuits
16 chunks of milk chocolate
8 marshmallows
If you are cooking over a campfire/bonfire, place a marshmallow on a wooden or metal skewer and hold it over the fire, rotating frequently, until it is golden brown and the inside is gooey. If you prefer your marshmallows dark brown and charred, simply leave over the fire for an additional 30 seconds.
Next, assemble your s'more. Put one biscuit on a flat surface with a chunk of chocolate on top, then add the cooked marshmallow, another chunk of chocolate and top it all off with another biscuit. Eat it sandwich style for maximum enjoyment!
Alternatively, if you are making s'mores at home, simply assemble your s'more as above but without cooking the marshmallow, then wrap the whole thing tightly in tin foil and place in an oven pre-heated to 180℃ for two minutes until the marshmallow and chocolate begin to melt.
One of the best things about s'mores is that no two are the same, so feel free to experiment with different types of biscuit, marshmallow and chocolate until you find your favourite combination. Substituting the chocolate for chocolate spread works well too.
Would you like to know s'more?
At Cafe2U, we've been big fans of the s'more for many years and we're sure that after just one taste you will be too. To order one of our incredible s'more flavoured coffees, simply contact your nearest Cafe2U van here.