Save My first air fryer s'mores experiment happened on a lazy Sunday when my partner brought home some fancy chocolate from a farmers market. We'd been craving that childhood campfire feeling but without the actual campfire—or the smoke getting in our hair. I lined up the graham crackers on parchment paper, topped them with chocolate and marshmallows, and set the temperature, half expecting disaster. Instead, four minutes later, we had perfectly gooey, blistered marshmallows that tasted like summer without leaving our kitchen.
I made these for my niece's slumber party last month, and watching her friends' faces light up when they realized these were homemade and not store-bought was its own kind of magic. One kid asked if I was secretly a dessert chef, which made me laugh—I'm just someone who learned that the air fryer is actually the best tool for this.
Ingredients
- Graham cracker squares: Use the standard rectangular ones, not the honey or cinnamon varieties unless you want to experiment with flavor combos.
- Large marshmallows: The bigger ones work best because they puff up beautifully and don't burn as quickly as mini ones.
- Milk or dark chocolate squares: Pick quality chocolate if you can—it makes a noticeable difference once everything melts together.
Instructions
- Prep Your Base:
- Lay the parchment paper flat in your air fryer basket and arrange four graham crackers in a single layer, making sure they're not overlapping. This gives the heat room to circulate and helps everything cook evenly.
- Build Your Layers:
- Place one square of chocolate on each cracker, then crown it with a marshmallow. The chocolate goes first so it catches all that heat directly.
- Air Fry Until Golden:
- Set your air fryer to 375°F and cook for 3 to 4 minutes—watch for the marshmallows to puff and turn a light golden color on top. Every air fryer runs slightly different, so check around the 3-minute mark the first time.
- Seal the Deal:
- Use tongs or a spatula to quickly top each marshmallow with a second graham cracker square and press down gently. The gentle press holds everything together without squishing all the air out of the marshmallow.
- Cool Just Enough:
- Let them sit for a minute or two—the filling will be extremely hot, and you want to be able to actually bite into one without burning your mouth.
Save There's something almost ceremonial about making s'mores indoors, even though it sounds wrong. My kitchen smelled like toasted marshmallow and chocolate, and for a moment, everyone gathered around the counter like we were actually sitting around a fire, just without the bugs or the cold.
Why the Air Fryer Changes Everything
The air fryer circulates heat so evenly that you avoid the burnt-on-one-side-raw-on-the-other problem that happens over a real campfire. Plus, you get the marshmallow texture right—puffy and slightly browned without becoming a charred mess. Once you've done it this way, you might never go back.
Flavor Variations That Actually Work
Peanut butter s'mores are a game-changer if you swipe a thin layer on the inside of the top cracker before assembling. Sea salt sprinkled on the chocolate adds an elegant contrast that makes people realize s'mores aren't just kid stuff. I've also tried dark chocolate with a tiny pinch of cinnamon, and it felt fancy without being complicated.
Timing and Temperature Tips
Every air fryer has its own personality, so the first batch is your calibration round. The marshmallow should puff up and the edges should turn light golden—if yours cooks faster or slower, adjust by 30 seconds next time. Temperature is less finicky than time; sticking with 375°F keeps things consistent.
- Start checking at 3 minutes rather than waiting the full 4—you can always add 30 more seconds if needed.
- If your marshmallows aren't puffing, your air fryer might run cool; try 385°F instead.
- Make them in batches if your basket is smaller, because crowding them means uneven cooking.
Save These s'mores remind me that the best cooking moments aren't always about following a complicated recipe—sometimes it's about taking something beloved and making it easier and better. That's exactly what the air fryer did here.
Kitchen Guide
- → What temperature is best for air frying?
375°F (190°C) provides the ideal balance to melt the chocolate and toast marshmallows evenly without burning.
- → Can I use dark chocolate instead?
Absolutely. Dark chocolate offers a richer flavor and melts just as well in this method.
- → How do I prevent marshmallows from sticking?
Using parchment paper helps prevent sticking, and gently pressing the sandwich after air frying keeps it intact.
- → Are there vegan options available?
Yes, substituting vegan marshmallows and dairy-free chocolate creates a plant-based version.
- → Can I add extra flavors?
Try a swipe of peanut butter or a sprinkle of sea salt to enhance the taste without overpowering the classic combination.