Recipe for: Flavored S’mores

From the kitchen of: Isabel Canfield

Hey, Smalls, you wanna s’more?
 Some more of what?
 No, do you wanna s’more?
 I haven’t had anything yet, so how can I have some more of nothing?
 You’re killing me Smalls! These are s’more’s stuff! Alright now pay attention.
First you take the graham, you stick the chocolate on the graham. Then you roast the ‘mallow.
When the ‘mallows flaming… you stick it on the chocolate. Then cover with the other end.
Then you scarf. Kind of messy, but good! Sandlot, 1993

So this recipe isn’t quite as simple as Ham Potter explains it to Smalls, but it’s just as good and messy. If you’re looking for a dessert to serve to a crowd of friends, s’mores are perfect. You don’t even need to start a fire pit in the backyard. All you need is an oven with a broiler. It’s that simple. It’s a childhood memory you can bring back to your friends. Have them help in the kitchen, make it interactive and fun.

What’s special about my version is the chocolate. I’ve added a twist to the ordinary s’more by the addition of chai tea and coffee to the chocolate. I purchased the instant chai tea at Rostov’s, a local coffee roaster, and the coffee was instant Starbucks VIA coffee.  Both flavors definitely enhance the chocolate leaving a very rich and decadent s’more. I have my favorite, what’s yours?

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon of instant coffee
1 teaspoon of instant Chai tea
1 cup of heavy cream
1 package of graham crackers
8 oz box of semi-sweet chocolate
1 bag of mini marshmallows

Directions:
1. Chop the chocolate. I purchased an 8 oz box of chocolate, Baker’s from Kroger. A box comes with 8 individually wrapped 1 oz squares. I used 4 squares for the coffee flavored s’more and 4 for the chai tea flavored s’more. Use a sharp knife to chop the chocolate into fairly thin and small pieces. Place the chopped chocolate in two separate heat-proof bowls.

2. Heat the heavy cream. On a medium-low stove, place two small saucepans. Pour half of the heavy cream in one and the other half in the other. Simmer until little bubbles form on the edge of the cream. Watch carefully so it doesn’t burn.

3. Add the flavor. While the cream has simmered for 5 minutes, add 1 teaspoon of instant coffee in one saucepan and 1 teaspoon of instant chai tea in the other. Reduce the temperature to low and stir constantly to prevent burning.

4. Add cream to the chocolate. After simmering the cream for a few more minutes, it should be fairly hot. Pour the Chai tea-flavored cream into one bowl of the chopped chocolate and then pour the coffee-flavored cream into the other bowl. Don’t mix right away. Let the warm cream melt the chocolate. After letting the cream sit for a few minutes, stir. At this point, the chocolate might still be lumpy. So placed the chocolate in the microwave for 5 seconds. Take out and stir. This helps melt the chocolate thoroughly. Put in microwave for another 5 seconds if it’s still lumpy.

5. Assemble the s’mores! Take a dollop of chocolate and place on top of a graham cracker square. Add mini marshmallows on top of the chocolate. Make 6 at a time. Place s’mores on a baking sheet and place under a low broiler in the oven. Be sure the rack is set in the middle of the oven or lower.

Continue reading »