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?
(17 votes, avg. 4.47 out of 5) 
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I think they are called s’mores because you want “s’more” s’mores. In fact, we have GIANT marshmallows for GIANT s’mores tonight.
We ALWAYS want “s’more” s’mores, jacob9! In fact, we’ve never met a Wonder Camper who could pass up the opportunity to eat a second (or third, or fourth)…they’re so yummy!
Thanks so much for stopping by Camp What-a-Wonder today. It sounds like you are in for some GIANT fun with your friends and family tonight around the campfire!
Never had them…the marshmallow part kinda icks me out. Who’d want to ruin good chocolate with ick and graham cracker? Yes, I know I’m the weird one…but eww…marshmallows are heebie-geebie gross. (And, that’s a technical term
)
Honey
We love chocolate, too, Honey (and we LOVE technical terms…they help our brains grow!). Thanks so much for commenting today!
The s’mores look really Yummy!!!
Se ven deliciosos!!!!
We agree, onlinefreespanish…they DO look yummy! Thanks so much for commenting today!
S’mores are Delicous(: Haha
We think you’re absolutely right about that, Casey! As a matter of fact, we could go for some yummy s’mores right now! It’s morning in Wonderopolis, do you think s’mores for breakfast is a good thing?
I never knew why they called s’mores s’mores and I think it is very clever that they thought of some more and came up with s’mores. In this story it talks about how everyone loves s’mores and we love them too. Also it said how there are many different types of s’mores and I like mine with Reese’s instead of chocolate. They are also good with Snickers. I also know that you can make s’mores by microwaving them. In the 1900′s how did the girl scouts create the fire and the s’mores without a lighter and when did they become very popular?
By Emma and Ava
We like all different kinds of s’mores, too, Emma and Ava! Girl Scouts (and Boy Scouts) learn skills for being in the outdoors, like the proper way to set up a safe campfire, and how to start that campfire without a lighter. We’re not sure how s’mores became so popular, but we’re guessing it’s because they are easy to make, taste AWESOME, and you can share them with friends around the campfire! Thank you for commenting on this Wonder of the Day®!
We couldn’t agree more when you said that a campout is not complete without roasting marshmallows over a camp fire to make that tasty treat! All of us can definitely remember the time that we we have roasted a marshmallow over a fire, or just in the microwave. What made you wonder why they are called s’mores?
Hello, The Heebie Jeebies! Thanks for leaving us this nice comment! Did you know that we get lots of the ideas for our Wonders of the Day (including this one about s’mores) from kids just like YOU? Anytime you “WONDER” about something, you can let us know by nominating your idea for a future Wonder of the Day®! Just click on the “nominate” link at the top of every page in Wonderopolis and tell us what you’re wondering about! It’s really easy and we LOVE hearing from our Wonder Friends!
Hi, this is James from Mrs. Caplin’s class, and I thought that it was cool that the first published recipe was made in 1927 for the Girl Scouts. Also, I was wondering why was the recipe made for the Girl Scouts way back then? Lastly, I like my s’mores with two marshmallows and extra chocolate because I love chocolate. I really liked this Wonder, just like I like s’mores!
Hi, James MC! We like s’mores, too! We think Loretta Scott Crew, the lady who is given credit for inventing s’mores, might have just had some graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate while she was camping. She thought about it for a while, and then came up with a really delicious way to combine them all! By the way, we think using two marshmallows in your s’mores is really creative!
I thought this wonder was extraodanary! I learned that the first published s’more recipe was in 1927, and s’mores came from the contraction some more! I adore camping and I have s’mores every time I go! I forgot what “varieties” meant, so I used context clues and I saw many different, I inferred the word meant lots or a bunch. I am wondering where was s’mores invented? This was a very interesting wonder!
Context clues are a great way to learn new words, Haley! Thank you for sharing how you used them to figure out what “varieties” meant! Your great comment makes us want to find out “s’more” things about camping and campfire treats!
I think S’mores are a good thing to have as a snack! I have only tried it once and it was very delicious! I hope I get to have it again!
We hope you get to try s’mores again, too, Winter! You’re right…they are very delicious!
Why are s’mores so good? I don’t think anything is better than sitting down by the campfire and roasting some s’mores.
We couldn’t agree more, Gracie! S’mores are a WONDERful treat! Maybe they are extra awesome because you get to make and eat them while you’re having fun with family and friends around the campfire!
This wonder was very interesting! I learned a lot from this wonder. I never knew that s’more was a contraction for “some more”. I love roasting s’mores in my backyard, although sometimes, when it’s raining, I have to just heat them up in the microwave. Even when I cook s’mores in the the microwave, they are always just as good! I think it’s cool how the first recipe for s’mores was invented in 1927 for Girl Scouts! I like adding peanut butter to my s’more because then it tastes like a Reese’s peanut butter cup! I think this wonder was WONDERful!
Your comment made us very hungry for s’mores, Sarah! We think microwave s’mores are really good, too! Have you seen the big, square marshmallows in the grocery store that are for making microwave s’mores? We think they are a GREAT invention (they also make really tasty chocolate-covered marshmallow pops!)! Thanks for sharing about the peanut butter, too….YUM, YUM, YUM!
I love s’mores and I love how you always get your fingers all sticky. I don’t like when they get burnt!!!!!!!!!!
We agree with you…s’mores are super fun to make and SUPER fun to eat, Zoey! The gooey melted marshmallow and chocolate do make your fingers sticky sometimes, but we think a little mess is TOTALLY worth a lot of YUM!
That is cool!
Hi, Carolina! Thank you for hanging out in Wonderopolis today and for letting us know you liked this Wonder of the Day® about s’mores!
I LOVE S’MORES! THE MAKE ME feel good.
But, sometimes they are too sweet to my taste buds or just nasty. 
We love s’mores, too, Jourdan! Thanks so much for sharing your different feelings about them by leaving us this super comment!
This was an awesome video. Maybe I could try to come up with a new topic and submit it.
We would LOVE that, Amber! You can tell us what WONDERful ideas you have for future Wonders of the Day ANYTIME you like! Just click on the “nominate” link at the top of every page in Wonderopolis, answer a few quick questions and submit your idea! It’s super fun and super easy! We can’t wait to hear what you’re WONDERing about!
Thanks for the advice. I love your website.
We’re really glad you enjoy exploring Wonderopolis, Amber! Thanks so much for your super nice comment today!
I like pickles.
Hi, Amber! We’ve got some AWESOME Wonders to share with you that have something to do with PICKLES!
Wonder #349 – Are All Pickles Sour? http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/are-all-pickles-sour/
Wonder #383 – Can You “Can” with Glass? http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/can-you-can-with-glass/
Happy WONDERing!
Hi Wonderopolis!
I always thought it sounded like “some more” but I wasn’t sure if that’s what it came from or if it was just me…this website has been so helpful you guys!!! Thanks so much!
:p
Your comment makes us so happy, Kayla! We really appreciate hearing what our Wonder Friends think of Wonderopolis!
I love pickles. Send me a jar or maybe a truckload or two.
Hi, Amber and Madison! Thanks for letting us know that you like pickles! We can’t send you a jar or a truckload of them, but we can share a past Wonder of the Day® about them!
Wonder #349 – Are All Pickles Sour? http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/are-all-pickles-sour/
Hey Wonderopolis! In this wonder I learned 2 new vocabulary words, publication and varieties. I did not know that s’mores was the contraction of “some more”. Also, I learned that the cookie “some mores” was made from a girl scout leader! I have one question after learning about this wonder. When did s’mores become popular?
Thanks for making me wonder today!
Thanks for leaving us this SWEET comment, Team Unger 8! We think s’mores caught on in popularity after they first appeared in the publication, Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts in 1927. They must have been a big hit, too, because the details on how to make “some mores” showed up again and again in Girl Scout publications until 1971. We’re SUPER glad they were invented, aren’t you? We can’t imagine enjoying a fun campfire with friends and family and not making some yummy s’mores!
I love s’mores!!!!!!!!! This is an amazing Wonder!
Have a WONDERful Saturday!!!!
We think s’mores ROCK, too, Annie! They are fun to make and share with family and friends! Thanks for letting us know you thought this Wonder was amazing! We hope YOU have a WONDERful weekend!
Two vocabulary words I saw in this wonder are:
Traditional: A certain tradition being repeated, or handed down.
Variety: The quality of a state being diverse.
I learned that S’mores mean “some mores” because people called it that because after you have 1, you want “some more”. I also learned that people believed girl scouts invented s’mores, because they made the first permanent published recipe of s’mores, but people don’t know for sure. I’m just curious, but when was the first s’more invented?
Thank You For Responding Wonderopolis,
TeamMcneil17
Hello, Team McNeil 17! Thanks for leaving us this GREAT comment! You sure learned a LOT about s’mores!
We think it’s fun to sit around a campfire with family and friends, roasting the marshmallows to be used to make some yummy s’mores! We’re not sure the VERY first time s’mores were made, but we think it must have been before the publishing of Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts in 1927, because someone already knew how to make s’mores before they wrote down the recipe for the book!
Wonderopolis rules.
That’s a super nice thing to say about Wonderopolis, Cody! Thank you!
Awesome.
We’re super glad you liked this Wonder, Chloe! Thanks for letting us know you thought it was AWESOME!
“I could go for some s’mores right about now!”
YUMMY! That sounds like a SUPER idea, Ashash! We like your taste! Have a great day, Wonder Friend!
I love s’mores they are the best you can’t have a camp fire without them!!!!!
I love s’mores and I never knew that s’mores meant some more, great article.
We Wonder if you can think of any other cool words that have been created from a bunch of words squished together, Sophie? We can think of brunch, a combination of breakfast and lunch!
It’s also fun to make golden grahams s’mores (similar to rice krispy treats) and eat them by the fireplace on a cold night!
YUM! Those s’mores sound DELICIOUS, Mrs. Hinnant! We hope to enjoy these tasty treats soon! Thanks for sharing your recipe, and comment!
I like the video you put.
Thanks so much, Crystan! Glad you’re here!
That makes me want a s’more right now and what is is a mountain pie?
YUM, we’re getting hungry just thinking about the ooey gooey Wonder, too, basketball lover! If you go camping, you might make your very own version of mountain pie! It can be lots of things, but usually it is pizza made over a campfire. You can use an iron pan and the campfire flames to create your very own camping pizza!
People always wanted more smores and it got shortened to s’mores.
People kept on saying some more instead they changed the name to s’mores to make it easier to say.
We think you’re on to something, Wonder Friends Olivia and Venessa! The thought of s’mores is making us HUNGRY here at Wonderopolis! YUM! Thank you for sharing your comments with us about that ooey-gooey delicious treat!
What kind of ingredients do they need to make s’mores?
Delicious question, Wonder Friend Adriana! We bet you can find the answer to your question in the excerpt below:
“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.”
I think they call it s’mores becouse we want s’mores s’more. Like last night we made s’mores. And my dad asked, “Does anyone want s’more s’mores?” I laughed and so did my brother and sister. It was funny. But that’s what I think.
Hey there, Leah! We are glad you’ve been enjoying those delicious s’mores with your family! It sounds like your house was full of laughter last night, too! We’re glad you shared your comment with us, Leah!
I love s’mores there my favorite dessert!
I love s’mores also shows.
Good afternoon, Wonder Friends Billy and Bailey! S’mores rock, just like you! They sure are a delicious treat! Thanks for sharing your comments today!
Dear wonderopolis I go camping every summer. It is very fun!! I am wondering…Where else can you camp?
WOW, that sounds like loads of fun, Emily! We Wonder if you prepare meals by the campfire, too? Depending on where you live, there are lots of places to camp! From state parks to national camping locations- the opportunities to explore the great outdoors are endless!
They are fun to make and eat. what is more fun, making s’mores or eating them?
That’s a tough question to answer, Wonder Friend Khamari! While we do love to make s’mores and share them… we enjoy the gooey, crunchy, sweet taste even more!