Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you looked around and thought “is this really happening”? Did you immediately think “get me out of here”? That happened to me a few weeks ago. I like to think that I don’t limit the things I do just because I have 3 kids under 5 in tow. I, for one, do not like spending an entire day at home. A day at home means a whole new can of worms when it comes to cleaning up toys. I would rather make the effort to pack all the kids up, and hit the road for an adventure, and usually they are game.
Usually.
A handful of Fridays ago we were invited to a friends for an outdoor skating party. What started as an informal party, quickly became what seemed like the event of the season. We are talking pages of Facebook message GIFs, promises retro costumes and scrunchies, and winter bonfire food! It was not to be missed, even when my husband decided to hit the slopes and leave me alone with our brood. Not wanting to disappoint, I squeezed into my much-too-small 1980’s inspired neon skating dress from decades ago, packed 3 large costco bags full of snow pants, helmets, skates, snacks, diapers, and costume changes, wrangled up all the kids and packed them into the car. Before leaving, I ran back inside to get my tray of s’more supplies, but as I ran back out the door I paused and felt my motivation hit the floor. The tears! Oh the tears!
All. Three… Great!
It was one of those moments when you sit there and think, am I really going to do this? I squeezed into this dress. I made marshmallows, graham crackers, and hot chocolate sticks. We are going. YES. We are doing this.
I shouldn’t have done it. We didn’t last long before I made the executive decision to call it quits. Sometimes I just have to learn that even after all the effort, after all the anticipation, if they aren’t feeling it, if all three are in tears, it will always end in frustration! We lasted an hour before packing everyone up and heading home. Of course, by the time we arrived home everyone was happy as clams (except for Momma) and I just wanted wine….
Luckily I had some leftover Nutella Marshmallows and Graham Crackers to mow down on while I drank wine in my neon skating dress. It was a sight. Trust me!
I am no stranger to homemade s’mores. They are one of my favourite things to make… Mainly because I like to see people’s reaction when you tell them they are made them from scratch… bragging rights, people! In addition to my my s’mores tray, I made hot chocolate sticks that could be made pond side over the fire after a long skate! I left my tray at the party when the kids lots their minds, and it came back empty, so its safe to assume this was a party win (aside from me drinking wine by myself in a neon skating dress)!
NUTELLA S’MORES AND HOT CHOCOLATE SWIRL STICKS
ingredients
nutella marshmallows:
3 packs unflavoured gelatin
1 1/4 cup water, divided
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup Nutella
powdered sugar for dusting
graham crackers:
3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp. honey
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
hot chocolate:
1/2 cup heavy cream
One 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
3 cups semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped
Lollipop sticks
steps
nutella marshmallows:
Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper and dust extensively with powdered sugar.
Pour the three packs of gelatin into 1/2 cup of water and let it sit for about ten minutes.
While you wait for the gelatin, mix remaining water, corn syrup , salt and sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and allow a candy thermometer to reach 240 degrees.
Add the gelatin to the bowl of a stand mixer and slowly add the sugar-corn syrup stovetop mixture. Be careful it will be very hot! Beat in the mixer on high for about 8 minutes or until the bowl is warm to the touch and the mixture resembles marshmallow fluff. Add the vanilla a mix to combine.
Add 1/4 cup of the Nutella and beat until smooth, about 1 minute. Work quickly and pour the marshmallow mixture into the prepared pan and use a spatula sprayed with oil to smooth it out.
Using knife swirl the rest of the Nutella into the marshmallows. Let marshmallows sit for about at least six hours or overnight.
Once ready to cut, dust the top of the marshmallows and a knife with powdered sugar to help with stickiness. Use the knife to cut the marshmallows to desired size.
graham crackers:
Add butter to the bowl of a stand mixer and beat until the mixture becomes fluffy. Add in brown sugar and honey, continuing to beat until the mixture becomes fluffy again.
Add remaining ingredients and beat until they form a ball. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough until 1/4″ thick. Cut 1″ squares, prick the top with a fork, and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350F for 8-10 minutes, or until crackers are golden brown. Allow the graham crackers to completely.
Sandwich a marshmallow between two graham crackers and enjoy!
hot chocolate:
Heat the cream and sweetened condensed milk over medium-low heat until it starts steaming, stirring periodically.
Remove from heat and add chocolate. Stir and let sit for 10 minutes, then put back on medium-low heat and stir with a whisk until chocolate is completely melted and shiny.
Pour chocolate into prepared pan and spread chocolate as level as you possibly can. Let sit at least 12 hours or overnight.
Remove chocolate from pan and cut, top side face down, into 1″ squares.
Stack one chocolate square and one Nutella marshmallow on a lollipop stick. When ready to use, swirl the stick in 4 to 8 oz. of hot milk until melted. Enjoy!
