Magic Happens When Cheese Meets S'mores

S'mores are the ultimate nostalgia-inducing treat. A simple combination of graham crackers, plus chocolate all melded together with a gooey fire-toasted marshmallow can evoke the happiest memories of camp or family summer holidays. While designed for cooking over a campfire, they have made it into kitchens with myriad variations. As strong believers that cheese makes everything better, we could barely contain our excitement when Cabot Creamery announced their launch of a s'mores kit. That got us thinking, what cheese best goes with a s'more?

We spoke to some of our favorite cheese experts to learn about their s'mores inspired cheesy creations.

The Cabot Cheese S'more

The Cabot collaboration includes another one of our favorite products, Effie's Oatcake biscuits, along with Lake Champlain Organic Milk Chocolate Coins, Vermont Marshmallow Co. Toasty Vanilla Marshmallows and 3 kinds of cheese, Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Cabot Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, and Cabot Pepper Jack Cheese, all in convenient cracker cuts.

Trying out the different combinations in the kit, we were surprised to find how much we liked the pepper jack. The mild creaminess of the cheese is complemented by the vanilla marshmallow and the little spicy kick provides just the right contrast to all that sweetness. While we tend to prefer dark chocolate over milk, somehow milk chocolate works perfectly with this combo.

Goat Cheese S'mores

Chevre s'mores photo credit Erika Kubick

With its pale white color and fluffy texture, goat cheese is another natural pick for a s'more, replacing the traditional marshmallow. Whether you choose to toast the cheese is entirely up to you, but the brûlée touch is what Erika Kubick recommends in her book, Cheese, Sex, Death: A Bible for the Cheese Obsessed. Read our review of her book. Says Kubick, "I like to use a log chèvre, to make it easier to slice into coins. Capriole is my favorite (chèvre) because it’s nearly as fluffy as a marshmallow. I love how the tangy chèvre mellows out the sugar and the brûlée brings a smoky flavor while softening the texture of the goat cheese, giving it a marshmallowy flavor. I swap the classic milk chocolate for dark chocolate to give it some extra depth. I highly recommend pairing it with a porter or a bourbon Old Fashioned cocktail." Read more about Capriole goat cheese.

Kubick's recipe from the book is as follows:

Top each graham cracker piece with a chocolate square and set aside. Slice the chèvre log into 8 coins. Place one coin on top of each chocolate square. Sprinkle each coin with sugar, making sure to fully coat the top. Use a brûlée torch to sear each coin until the top bubbles and crisps. Serve and enjoy.

Mango Habanero goat cheese + Effie's Cocoa Biscuits

We also turned to goat cheese expert Kelley Levin who works at Laura Chenel and Marin French Cheese Co. for more goat cheese recommendations. Levin shares, "I love our original Laura Chenel log with dark chocolate (with a fun fruit jam, etc) but I have also been really into the Mango Habanero with Effie’s Cocoa biscuit, it gives kind of a Mexican chocolate vibe! Cranberry goat cheese is so great, the cinnamon notes are a fun play with chocolate." She also enthusiastically agreed that our idea of pairing Laura Chenel Orange Blossom Honey goat cheese with bittersweet chocolate could be a winner. Read more about Laura Chenel.

Of course, chevre is not the only style of goat cheese. The "Wonder Woman of Cheese" Diana Brier who until recently was running Valley Cheese Shop shared that she's obsessed with the combination of Mítica smokin’ goat, Firehook grahams and classic Hershey’s chocolate, which proved to be very popular at her shop. Read more about Diana Brier.

Brie Cheese S'mores

Levin also suggests using a brie-style cheese. "I think a cute round of Petite Crème in replacement of a marshmallow would be so great, especially maybe a chocolate with caramel bits or honeycomb but not super dark in caution of too much bitterness."

Joan MacIsaac, co-owner of Effie's is also a fan of brie, she says, " I like the idea of doing a classic pairing of brie and a dark chocolate on an Effie’s Oatcake." We tried this very combination with Amano's Guayas River Basin 70% dark chocolate a beautifully rich but not bitter dark chocolate, and it was a real winner. While no marshmallow is optional for this combo, do use a particularly ripe brie and let it come to room temperature.

Blue Cheese S'mores

While we understand not everyone loves blue cheese, we are beginning to wonder if it's because they haven't tried it on a s'more. Read more about blue cheese and all about blue cheese lovers and haters.

Colston Bassett Stilton was the blue of choice for two esteemed cheesemongers who run a couple of our favorite cheese shops. Emilio Mignucci the 3rd generation owner of Di Bruno Bros recommends Effie’s Ginger Biscuits with Colston Bassett Stilton and Amedei Porcelana 70% Choc bar. Meanwhile Randall Felts, owner of Beautiful Rind in Chicago pairs the thin and crispy La Panzanella Croccantini with Colston Bassett Stilton and Luisa Abram Wild Jurau 70% Chocolate, leading up to believe perhaps 70% is the magic number for s'mores chocolate. Read more about Stilton.

A Few More Options

Felts also creates a seasonal only special, the Beautiful Rind's "Holiday Cheesecake" made from a chocolate and cookies in one, Effie's Cocoa topped with Nettle Meadow Eggnog Fromage Frais. Read more about Nettle Meadow, an extraordinary dairy that puts animal welfare first. Another brilliant combination that Felts recommends which can be enjoyed all year round is the pairing of Fine Cheese Co EVOO Crackers, Agour Ossau Iraty, Amedei Gianduja. Gianduja is an Italian creation that blends hazelnuts with chocolate. Read more about Amedei.

More to the S'mores

Gouda s'more grilled cheese photo credit Pt. Reyes Farmstead Cheese

Anyone who grew up with marshmallow fluff will appreciate the s'mores inspired grilled cheese sandwich that Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese developed. A classic grilled cheese sandwich with aged gouda on brioche bread gets the s'mores treatment with a layering of mini marshmallows, chocolate chips and crushed graham crackers.

Their other wild invention is a s'mores milkshake with a light dusting of grated cheese on top.

What cheesy s'more inspired creation is next? A s'more cream cheese brownie? A s'more cheesecake? A s'more ricotta cannoli? The possibilities are endless!