- Charcuterie s’mores swap marshmallows and chocolate for melty cheese, cured meats, crackers, and condiments.
- The best savory s’mores balance rich cheese with crisp crackers, salty meats, and fresh toppings.
- Charcuterie boards, skewers, and grazing tables are easy, crowd-pleasing additions to outdoor gatherings.
new summer trend alert: Charcuterie s’mores give the campfire classic a savory upgrade. Instead of graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate, you roast cheese over the fire and sandwich it between crackers, cured meats, and condiments —with optional fruit or chocolate for a sweet-salty twist. Charcuterie s’mores can be prepared in a home kitchen, outside on the grill, and of course, over a live fire outdoors.
If you’re hosting this summer, prepare to make these savory s’mores at some point, your guests will thank you. You can even set up the ingredients like a charcuterie or cheese board, and assemble from there.
How to make charcuterie s’mores: start with a sturdy base
Graham crackers are great with chocolate and marshmallows but not so much with cheese and meat. You’ll still want something sturdy, though, to hold in all the ingredients. Try instead:
Crostini or toasted baguette slices
Crispbread
Sourdough crackers
Fruit-and-nut crisps
Toast the cheese like a marshmallow
Instead of the traditional marshmallow, cheese is the warm element here. Mini brie rounds—which you can find at Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and other grocery stores—or thicker hunks of cheese (Mignucci suggests Gruyère or Fontina) can be put on a stick and roasted over a campfire, or just warm them briefly in a broiler or toaster oven.
Mini rounds of Brie
“Warm the cheese for about 5 to 10 seconds so it’s nice and gooey,” says Harter. “Then stack it on top of a cracker with sliced or folded meats and finish it with your condiment of choice. I love using hot honey. Keep the meats thin-sliced and don’t overdo it. I recommend two to three elements tops when making your s'more.”
Keep your charcuterie s’mores balanced, not overloaded
Unlike traditional s’mores that typically sandwich a toasted marshmallow and milk chocolate bar between graham crackers, charcuterie s’mores leave plenty of room for riffing and interpretation, which can be really fun. Just be sure to focus on balance, rather than maximum cheesepull or protein maxx.
“Focus on balance and simplicity,” suggests Emilio Mignucci, Vice President of Di Bruno Bros., a Philadelphia-based Italian specialty food supplier. “Build charcuterie s’mores with one cheese, one cured meat, one spread and one base, allowing the melted cheese to remain the centerpiece.”
"The layering of complementary textures and flavors is definitely the key when creating the perfect charcuterie s’more bite,” adds Colin Harter, co-founder and EVP of Sales for True Story Foods, a family-run meat company. “Think crisp, sturdy light flavors on the outside, like a water cracker or even a brioche round. A classic fig jam, prosciutto and Brie combo is always winner.”
Add something fresh for contrast
It’s summer after all, go for some freshness on your savory s’more! Try any of the following between the layers—just don’t overdo it to the point of sogginess:
Microgreens
Baby arugula
Apple or pear, thinly sliced
Peach, nectarine, or apricot, thinly sliced
Pitted cherries
Serve charcuterie beyond the s’mores station
Charcuterie doesn’t have to be relegated to just a s’mores station.
Charcuterie boards and larger spreads are a great way to host that requires some setup before guests arrive and very little work once they’ve arrived.
If you’re expecting a large group, consider making a grazing table, featuring charcuterie, cheese, crudite, pickles and olives, and other accoutrements. Brown craft paper is a nice way to wrap a table (and keep it sanitary) to built spreads on top of it.
Set out charcuterie on trays and use a marker to label what the meats, cheese, and more ingredients are. Have plenty of tongs, toothpicks, and small spoons available for guests to serve themselves without double dipping.
For a smaller group, charcuterie skewers or little charcuterie boats are a nice way to easily serve charcuterie and cheese without a massive setup. Make combinations that compliment each other and can be enjoyed in a few bites:
For a sweet-salty bite: Brie, fresh figs + prosciutto
For caprese vibes Mozzarella ball, cherry tomato + basil
For a pasta salad skewer: Tortellini tossed with pesto
For peak melon season: Cantaloupe, serrano ham + Parm
