A Cozy Roll Call: S’mores, Hot Chocolate, and Family Time

When the air turns crisp and the evenings start to feel a little quieter, that’s when my boys and I know it’s time for one of our favorite family traditions, we call s’mores night. It’s something I started years ago while still in the military as a way to bring a sense of normalcy and comfort to our home between all the moves, transitions, and time apart. Now that I’m retired, it has become our official way to welcome the holiday season with slow evenings, warm laughter, and the smell of toasted marshmallows drifting through the air. Every year, we set up right in front of the fireplace with mugs of hot chocolate in hand and a spread that’s just as fun to build as it is to eat. I like to lay everything out charcuterie style with graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate squares of every kind.

If you don’t have a charcuterie board, no worries, just pull out a cookie sheet and place everything neatly on top. If you don’t have a fireplace, don’t let that stop you. They make tabletop mini fire pits small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. They’re the perfect way to bring the cozy campfire vibes indoors. Take your experience over the top with a cup of Hot Chocolate.

Over the years we’ve gotten creative with our s’mores lineup, from Reese’s peanut butter cups and classic Hershey’s milk chocolate to white chocolate bars and even Lorna Doone shortbread or Biscoff cookies. Sometimes we mix in pretzel sticks for a salty crunch or fresh strawberries for an extra treat.

It’s amazing how something so simple, a few sweet ingredients and some family time, can fill a home with so much warmth. What started as a way to create stability for my kids during my service years has turned into one of our most treasured family rituals. Every melted marshmallow and chocolatey grin reminds me that sometimes the best traditions are the ones that remind us what home truly feels like.

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