Why Are They Called "S’mores"? (2024)

Why Are They Called "S’mores"? (1)

Why Are They Called "S’mores"? (17)

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Have You Ever Wondered...

  • Why are they called "s'mores"?
  • How do you make s'mores?
  • Who invented s'mores?

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  • campfire,
  • camping,
  • chocolate,
  • marshmallow,
  • snack,
  • s’more,
  • Candy,
  • Cooking,
  • Food,
  • Fire,
  • Roasted,
  • Graham Crackers,
  • Campout,
  • Some More,
  • Sandwich,
  • Candy Bar,
  • Recipe,
  • Tramping And Trailing With The Girl Scouts,
  • Loretta Scott Crew,
  • Girl Scouts

Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Sue from Hillsville, VA. Sue Wonders, “How did s'mores get its name? ” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Sue!

Crickets chirp. The fire crackles. The marshmallows cry out from their package, begging to be roasted to a toasty, golden brown. Well, maybe not…but we know that's what you're thinking!

No campout is complete without roasting marshmallows over an open fire to make that tasty treat familiar to all campers: s'mores! Are you ready to dig in to some chocolate-y, marshmallow-y goodness?

A s'more is a traditional camping snack that has been popular with kids—and their parents!— for years and years. Although many different varieties of s'mores have developed over time, the s'more is basically a sandwich of roasted marshmallows and chocolate between graham crackers.

S'mores are usually made by the campfire. Marshmallows are roasted over the fire until they're gooey. Then graham crackers with pieces of a chocolate candy bar are used to sandwich the gooey roasted marshmallow. Many kids mash the combination together so that the heat from the marshmallow will melt the chocolate.

This sweet, warm, gooey, delicious treat always leaves kids wanting more. In fact, that's probably how they got their name. S'more is thought to be a contraction of the phrase, “some more," as in “I want some more of those s'mores!"

No one knows for sure who invented the s'more. However, the first published recipe for “some mores" was in a 1927 publication called Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts. Loretta Scott Crew, who made them for Girl Scouts by the campfire, is given credit for the recipe.

So even though we don't know for sure whether the Girl Scouts were the first to make “some mores," no one else has claimed to have invented them. We also don't know when the name got shortened to “s'more" as recipes for “some mores" appeared in Girl Scout publications until at least 1971.

If you don't have access to a campfire, you can always make s'mores at home in your kitchen. Of course, a big part of the fun of making s'mores is roasting marshmallows over an open fire. Just be sure an adult is around when deciding to roast marshmallows for s'mores!

Some people also enjoy coming up with new s'more recipes. For example, peanut butter is a popular s'more add-on. What would you add to a s'more to make it even better?

Wonder What's Next?

We think tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day will really move you!

Try It Out

Are you ready for some more? Explore the following activities with a friend or family member:

  • Graham crackers? Check! Chocolate bars? Check! Marshmallows? Check! If you have graham crackers, chocolate bars, and marshmallows, you're all set to make s'mores. Get together with your family, make a campfire, and cook up some delicious s'mores. If you can't start a fire, try making s'mores in the microwave or on the stovetop!
  • If you seek culinary adventure, try one of these super-special s'mores-related recipes: + S'more Brownies + Sunshine S'more Cupcakes + Chocolate S'more Pie
  • Is the s'more the ultimate camping treat? Maybe! They're pretty good, after all. But could they be better? You be the judge. Put your thinking cap on. You're the campfire dessert specialist. Do you stick with basic graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate bars? Or do you venture into new territory? What improvements to the s'more would you make? Share your ideas with a friend or family member and then try them out in your own kitchen or backyard!

Did you get it?

Test your knowledge

Wonder Contributors

We’d like to thank:

Cylie, Zachary, zach and Angelina
for contributing questions about today’s Wonder topic!

Keep WONDERing with us!

What are you wondering?

Wonder Words

  • marshmallow
  • chirp
  • crackle
  • toasty
  • traditional
  • varieties
  • gooey
  • publication
  • fire
  • tasty
  • treat
  • cricket
  • package
  • familiar
  • sandwich
  • developed
  • combination
  • contraction

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Why Are They Called "S’mores"? (18)

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Why Are They Called "S’mores"? (2024)

FAQs

Why do they call them 's mores'? ›

The first mention of this treat is in a 1927 edition of the Girl Scout manual “Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts.” In a nod to the treat's addictive qualities, it was dubbed “Some More.” The term s'more is first found the 1938 guide “Recreational Programs for Summer Camps,” by William Henry Gibson.

When did smores become a thing? ›

Though the exact date s'mores were invented remains a mystery, the first formal recipe for the treat, then called “Some Mores,” is recorded in the 1927 book, “Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts.” The original recipe calls for 16 graham crackers, 16 marshmallows and eight bars of chocolate broken in two.

Is smore an American thing? ›

While the origin of this popular American dessert is unknown, the first recorded version of the s'mores recipe can be found in the the Girl Scouts of America handbook, published in 1927. This recipe has been largely considered as the official introduction of the s'more into popular culture.

Why are smores so good? ›

It's a great sweet treat with every part of the dessert sandwich adding its own unique flavor and texture that adds up to an overall great delicacy. The crunchiness of the graham cracker, the sweet gooeyness of the marshmallow, and the chocolatey goodness that compliments it all.

How unhealthy is a smore? ›

It has lots of carbs, sugar and processed ingredients.” While a s'more is never going to be a superfood, it is possible to tweak to make it a bit healthier.

What city eats the most S Mores? ›

These tasty treats were originally called “Some Mores,” it is unknown when the name was shortened to “S'mores,” but recipes for using the longer name are in various Girl Scout publications until at least 1971. Grand Rapids, Michigan, hails as the city that eats the most s'mores.

Who first ate marshmallows? ›

Ancient Egyptians were the first to enjoy a gooey treat now called marshmallow as early as 2000 BC. The treat was considered very special and it was reserved for gods and royalty. Marshmallow was made from the mallow plant (Athaea officinalis) that grows wild in marshes.

What is the world's biggest S mores? ›

Want S'More Records? There are only two other s'mores records currently recognized by Guinness. The largest s'more ever was made in 2019 in Middlesex, Vermont, and weighed a total of 342 pounds.

Do they have smores in England? ›

Indulge in a British twist on a classic campfire treat with these delightful British S'mores! Featuring gooey marshmallows, rich chocolate, and crumbly digestive biscuits, this scrumptious dessert will have you craving more.

Did the Girl Scouts invent smores? ›

2. It appears the treat was a campfire staple long before the dictionary officially recognized it: The first known s'mores recipe was published in the Girl Scouts handbook Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts in 1927.

What state is a marshmallow? ›

A marshmallow is a sugar candy that, in its modern form, typically consists of sugar, whipped to a spongy consistency, molded into small cylindrical pieces, and coated with corn starch.

What percentage of people like s mores? ›

More than half of Americans (57%) love or like eating s'mores. Here's why… The great trifecta – 73% say it's because they enjoy the mix of sweet chocolate, gooey marshmallow, and crunchy graham crackers.

What was the original name for S mores? ›

Finally, in 1927, the recipe for a s'more, then known as a “Some More,” arrived in a Girl Scout guidebook titled “Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts.” The recipe was later credited to troop leader Loretta Scott Crew and called for 16 graham crackers, eight bars of chocolate, and 16 marshmallows.

What does Smore stand for? ›

S'more is a contraction of the phrase "some more". A s'more recipe appeared in a Campfire Marshmallows cookbook in the early 1920s, where it was called a "Graham Cracker Sandwich". The text indicates that the treat was already popular with both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

Are graham crackers junk food? ›

Graham crackers don't contain any cholesterol and have a moderate amount of sodium. However, their added sugar content is a bit high, meaning they're probably not ideal for regular snacking in high quantities.

How did marshmallows get their name? ›

History of Marshmallows

Marshmallow was made from the mallow plant (Athaea officinalis) that grows wild in marshes. The term marshmallow was derived both from the native home of the plant and the plant name. Mallow is native to Asia and Europe and has been naturalized in America.

What is a Smore in English? ›

Meaning of s'more in English

a layer of heated marshmallow (= a soft, sweet, pink or white food) and chocolate between two cookies, usually graham crackers (= a thin rectangular cookie usually flavored with honey or cinnamon): The kids were roasting marshmallows on the campfire to make s'mores.

Why would you call someone a marshmallow? ›

marshmallow noun (COWARD)

a person who is not strong, brave, or confident: The situation called for someone tough, and I was a complete marshmallow.

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