Creating A S'mores Bar: A Wedding Reception Delight

S'mores are a super-popular treat, and a make-your-own S'mores bar is a fun and creative addition to any wedding. Whether you're having an indoor or outdoor wedding, creating a S'mores bar is simple and a great way to get your guests interacting. All you need are the basic ingredients – graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate – and some skewers, sticks, or tongs for your guests to assemble their S'mores. You can get creative with your ingredients, too, offering a variety of chocolates, cookies, and nuts for a unique twist on this classic campfire treat.

Basic ingredients: graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate

The basic ingredients for a s'mores bar are graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate. You can use graham crackers as a base and top them with chocolate and marshmallows. Alternatively, you can sandwich the marshmallows and chocolate between two graham crackers.

For the chocolate, you can use chocolate bars, chocolate chips, or a chocolate spread like Nutella. If you want to stick with the traditional option, choose a milk chocolate bar. However, you can also use dark chocolate or cookies and cream chocolate bars.

When it comes to marshmallows, you can use regular marshmallows or marshmallow creme. If you're making s'mores over a fire, regular marshmallows are a good option. They can be placed on a skewer and roasted until they're golden brown. If you're making s'mores bars, marshmallow creme might be a better choice. It stands up to the oven's heat and won't melt into the dough.

Finally, the graham crackers can be left whole or broken in half, depending on how you want to assemble your s'mores. You can also crush them and use the crumbs in a cookie dough base for your s'mores bar.

Assembly supplies: barbecue sticks, skewers, tongs, and paper towels

When it comes to assembly supplies, there are a few key items you'll need to ensure your guests can safely and easily put together their s'mores. Here's a detailed list of what you'll need:

Barbecue Sticks: Provide your guests with barbecue sticks or skewers to skewer the marshmallows for roasting. Bamboo marshmallow roasting sticks are a great option, adding a rustic touch to the overall experience.

Skewers: In addition to barbecue sticks, you may want to offer smaller skewers or toothpicks. These can be useful for securing the marshmallows and also for stacking multiple treats.

Tongs: Tongs are essential for safe handling of hot ingredients, especially when removing toasted marshmallows from the heat source. They allow your guests to easily grip and manoeuvre their creations without burning their fingers.

Paper Towels: Toasted marshmallows can get sticky! Having plenty of paper towels on hand will help your guests wipe their hands and mouths, ensuring a mess-free experience. It's a good idea to place a stack of paper towels at each guest's place setting or in easily accessible locations near the s'mores bar.

It's important to ensure the safety and comfort of your guests as they assemble their s'mores. These supplies will help make the process enjoyable and hassle-free, allowing your guests to focus on the fun and delicious experience of creating their own unique s'mores combinations.

Additionally, you may want to provide plates, napkins, and, if desired, wet wipes to further enhance the experience and maintain cleanliness. With these assembly supplies, your guests will be well-equipped to craft their perfect s'mores treats.

Serving options: trays on a table, or a 'starter set' at each guest's place setting

There are a few different ways to serve the s'mores at your wedding. One option is to arrange the ingredients and supplies on trays on a table at your indoor or outdoor reception. This can be a fun and easy way to get guests interacting and can be a great conversation starter. If you want to get the party started, you could even provide a 'starter set' at each guest's place setting. This could be a small box with a couple of graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate bars, along with a personalised note or cute signage. This will get your guests excited and ready to start grilling!

If you want to get creative with your serving options, you could use a decorative planter box to hold the gel cans or sternos that will light the s'mores. This box can be stained, painted, or decorated to match your wedding theme and can even be used as a long table centerpiece. Alternatively, you can stack multiple boxes inside each other to hold the chocolate and graham crackers. This adds a unique and whimsical touch to your wedding reception.

Another option for serving s'mores is to create mini versions of the s'mores bar around your reception space. This can be done by setting up small charcuterie boards at each table, allowing guests to create their own s'mores while also enjoying conversation and getting to know each other. This option creates a more intimate and interactive dining experience for your guests.

Fire source: a grill, campfire, or table-top grill

If you're lucky enough to be hosting your wedding outdoors, you can build a campfire to use as your s'mores bar fire source. Alternatively, you can use a grill. If your wedding is indoors, you could use a table-top grill or individual hibachis (Japanese cylindrical grills) for guests to use.

If you're using a campfire, you could place a few small fires around your reception space, so guests can roast their marshmallows. If you're using a grill, you could create a giant s'mores bar like one couple did, measuring 6 feet long by 32 inches wide, with the cooking source in the centre and the ingredients in cubbies encircling the cooking area. This way, people can make their s'mores from all sides. You could also set up mini versions of the s'mores bar around your reception space.

If you're using a table-top grill, you could place it in the centre of your s'mores bar, or use it as a long table centrepiece that turns into a dessert station. You could also stack three boxes inside each other and use them as holders for the chocolate and graham crackers.

Fancier ingredients: peanut butter cups, dried fruit, or fancy chocolate

To elevate your s'mores bar, consider adding some fancier ingredients like peanut butter cups, dried fruit, or luxury chocolate.

For peanut butter lovers, a great option is to make a peanut butter cup s'mores bar. This involves making a graham cracker cookie dough base, topped with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and marshmallow creme. You can also add chocolate chips for an extra indulgent treat. Another option is to make a traditional s'mores bar with a graham cracker base, but add peanut butter cups as one of the topping options, alongside marshmallows and chocolate.

If you want to add dried fruit to your s'mores bar, there are a few ways to do this. One option is to use dried fruit in place of the fresh strawberries or raspberries that are often included in a traditional s'mores bar. You could also chop up dried fruit into small pieces and sprinkle it on top of the marshmallow layer before adding the final graham cracker crumb topping. This way, your guests can enjoy a surprise burst of flavour when they bite into their s'more.

Finally, you could offer a selection of fancy chocolates to take your s'mores bar to the next level. This could include luxury chocolate bars or gourmet chocolate chips in a variety of flavours, such as dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or even white chocolate. You could also offer flavoured chocolates, such as chocolate with sea salt, mint chocolate, or orange chocolate. Your guests can then create their own unique s'mores combinations.

Frequently asked questions