Summertime is s’mores time, and we’ve certainly proven our love for the campfire treat with a wide assortment of s’mores desserts. Now, though, it’s about time that savory fans get in on the fun too. If marshmallow, chocolate, and graham crackers are too sweet a combination for you, we’ve got the perfect solution: Savory s’mores. These nine ideas are so good, even your friends with the biggest sweet tooth might just ditch the original combo.
We wanted to keep these savory s’mores as close to the formula for the original treat as possible. Instead of graham crackers, we’re opting for savory chips and crackers that are sturdy enough to support their toppings. In place of marshmallows, we’re going for various cheeses. Come on, who wouldn’t want to roast mini cheese blocks over a campfire? Finally, in place of chocolate, we chose several different spreads, condiments, and bites that will help tie the whole thing together. Keep reading to find your new favorite summer tradition.
Babybel + Ritz + Pesto
The first of our savory s’mores calls for a few pantry classics, like Babybel cheese and Ritz Crackers. The flaky, buttery Ritz crackers provide a nice light crunch and some saltiness that goes great with the creamy, nutty flavor of Babybel cheese. Plus, the two are the perfect size and shape match. Spread on a little bit of our homemade pesto, or your favorite store-bought brand, and you’ll have the perfectly balanced, crispy, cheesy, herby treat.
Halloumi + Pita Chip + Honey
If you haven’t had roasted or grilled halloumi cheese, you are seriously missing out. Halloumi is a fresh cheese with a delightfully squeaky texture that can be found throughout many Eastern Mediterranean cuisines. When roasted over a campfire, the halloumi takes on a slightly crispy exterior with a gorgeous chewy center.
To keep with the Mediterranean theme, we are pairing the halloumi with pita chips. The pita chips provide a nice crunch and mild, salty flavor that allows the halloumi to shine. To finish it all off, we are drizzling the whole thing over with honey to provide a pop of sweetness and to really bring out the complexity of the roasted cheese.
Cream Cheese + Bagel Chip + Tinned Fish
For this variation, we took inspiration from classic bagels and lox, though simplified for bite-sized campfire ease. For the base, we chose bagel chips to provide that classic bagel flavor with a little bit more of a crunch, then kept things simple with a pad of fire-roasted cream cheese and a topping of your favorite tinned fish.
Fair warning, after you have this savory s’more, you may never be satisfied with cream cheese that hasn’t been roasted like a marshmallow.
Yellow Cheddar + Pretzel Chip + Apple Slice
This is one of our crispiest savory s’more variations, and we can’t get enough of it. Pretzel chips are super thin, crisp chips with that classic pretzel flavor, and they provide a perfect base for the fresh, soft bite of the apple slice.
Any type of apple will work just fine here, but because yellow cheddar is a slightly sharp cheese, we think the tartness of a Granny Smith apple really works to cut through and add a pleasant, sweet-tart layer to the s’more.
Havarti + Triscuit + Raspberry Jam
This savory s’more variation is a real splash of summer. The woven, whole wheat texture of the Triscuits provide a nice subtle bite and base for the buttery, nutty Havarti cheese, while the raspberry jam adds a bright, refreshing pop that really ties the whole s’more together. Raspberry jam is a great, not too sweet, not too tart summer jam that we think works perfectly here, but feel free to substitute it out for another jam of your choice. You can never go wrong with jam and cheese.
Monterey Jack + Club Cracker + Pepper Jam
Speaking of jam and cheese, this Monterey Jack and pepper jam combo is sure to be a new favorite. Reminiscent of our pepper jelly & cream cheese bites, this combination of buttery, slightly sweet Monterey Jack cheese and sweet, slightly spicy pepper jelly is a classic case of simplicity bringing the best results. On top of that, Club Crackers are super buttery and flaky and help complement the buttery flavor and texture of the roasted Monterey Jack.
Gruyere + Fig Crisp + Hot Honey
We’re going for a complex, earthy flavor here with a good deal of layered sweetness and a bit of spice. Gruyere is a lovely, rich, nutty cheese with many earthy notes and a touch of sweetness that is really brought out over the fire. The fig crisp itself also brings a good deal of earthy sweetness, and a nice crispy, slightly chewy bite from the figs. Drizzled over with hot honey, this savory s’more brings waves of nuttiness, sweetness, and spice.
Mini Brie + Whole Wheat Cracker + Prosciutto
Aren’t mini bries just the cutest thing? Plus, they fit perfectly onto a roasting skewer and take on a beautiful golden brown char on the outside and nice, melty inside that makes brie so desirable. Just when you thought this snack couldn’t get any better: Prosciutto. The salty, meaty prosciutto pairs perfectly with the mild, nutty brie. The whole thing is tied together nicely with a whole wheat cracker that provides a crunchy, mild base to allow the melty brie and salty prosciutto to shine.
Smoked Gouda + Water Cracker + Bacon Jam
Smoked Gouda is often described as having a campfire flavor, so we figured there was no way we couldn’t include it here. Roasting the Gouda over a campfire adds an even more smoky flavor that pairs beautifully with the sweet, caramelized flavors of our bacon jam. The only thing missing from this combo is a little bit of a crunch, so we chose a base of water crackers, which provide a really nice crispness without a strong flavor.
