Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
S'mores Kit I Set Out by the Fire Pit That Guests Always Remember
42
items You bought the fire pit, you strung the lights, and then everyone just sat there staring at each other. The missing piece was always a proper spread. This is everything I put out on the table so guests actually get up, roast something, and stay outsi...
Sections
7
Marshmallows and S'mores Ingredients
Roasting Sticks and Tools
Fire Pit Setup and Fuel
Outdoor Seating and Comfort
Lighting and Ambiance
Drinks and Cooler Setup
Marshmallows and S'mores Ingredients
The first time I hosted, I grabbed one bag of stale marshmallows and a random chocolate bar. Nobody was impressed. Now I set out a whole spread and people act like it's a dessert buffet.
Grab these over regular size. They toast slower so you actually get that golden crust instead of a charred blob falling into the fire.
Jet-Puffed, Jumbo Extra Large Marshmallows, 1.5 lb Bag
Keep these in a cooler until you're ready. Learned the hard way that chocolate melting on the table before it even touches a marshmallow is a sad sight.
Hershey's, Milk Chocolate Candy Bars, 1.55 oz, 6 Pack
Break them in half before guests arrive. Sounds small, but nobody wants to snap crackers with sticky fingers. Saves you from crumb chaos everywhere.
Honey Maid, Cinnamon Graham Crackers, 14.4 oz
Toss this out for the friend who says milk chocolate is too sweet. There's always one, and they'll thank you for three days straight.
Ghirardelli, White Chocolate Baking Bar, 4 oz, Premium
Keep one of these as backup for when you run out of the good stuff. It's pre-packaged and ready, so you just rip and go.
Customer reviews for (10 pack) Jet-Puffed S'more Vanilla
Swap these in for chocolate on your second round. Peanut butter plus toasted marshmallow is the upgrade nobody sees coming but everyone fights over.
Reese's Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Snack Size
Roasting Sticks and Tools
I once watched a grown man try to roast a marshmallow on a twig that caught fire. Actual roasting sticks changed the entire vibe and stopped people from burning themselves.
Get the telescoping kind so kids aren't leaning into the fire. They extend to 32 inches, which is the sweet spot between safe and still able to rotate.
ALG 10 Pack Smores Sticks, 32 Inch Marshmallow
Use these for the crowd that doesn't want to wash metal sticks. Toss them in the fire when you're done. Zero cleanup guilt.
BambooMN Premium 7.9" Reusable Bamboo Kitchen "A"
Bring this out for the person who wants to roast a hot dog at 10 PM. There's always someone, and this fork handles both without bending.
Rome Industries Hot Dog Fork
Perfect if you don't have a fire pit yet or it's raining. Plug it in on the patio table and everyone still gets their fix without the smoke.
Cuisinart SMore to Love STL-611 Smore Maker
These lock into position so the marshmallow doesn't spin and fall off. Bought them after losing about six marshmallows to gravity in one night.
Camp Chef Extendable Safety Roasting Sticks 4-Pack
Keep this one for yourself. It's heavier than the rest, holds steady over the flame, and you'll feel like you actually know what you're doing.
Stansport Heavy Duty Roasting Fork
Fire Pit Setup and Fuel
My neighbor used to just pile logs in a metal bowl and wonder why it smoked like a forest fire. The right pit and the right fuel make the difference between cozy and calling the fire department.
Picked this up on a whim and it's lasted three summers. Deep enough to hold real logs, light enough to drag across the patio when you rearrange.
Mainstays 28-Inch Round Steel Wood-Burning Fire Pit
Use these when you don't feel like playing Boy Scout with kindling. They light in under five minutes and burn clean, so your clothes don't smell like a campsite.
Duraflame, Outdoor Roasting Firelogs, 3 Pack
Switch to this if you want a longer burn without constantly feeding logs. It throws steady heat and you won't be poking the fire every ten minutes.
Royal Oak 100% All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal
Tuck two of these under your logs and you'll have a fire going before anyone finishes pouring their drink. Way better than crumpled newspaper.
RUTLAND Safe Lite® Fire Starter Squares, 144 count
Bring these out when it's damp outside and regular wood won't cooperate. They catch fast and burn hot enough to dry out whatever else you stack on top.
Pine Mountain UltraStart Firestarter Logs 6-Pack
Get a screen if you have a deck. One ember landed on my cushion last summer and I spent the rest of the night explaining the burn mark to my wife.
Pleasant Hearth OFW106R 30" Brant Outdoor Wood Fire Pit
Outdoor Seating and Comfort
Standing around a fire gets old after twenty minutes. Once I dragged actual seats out there, people stopped going inside and the conversations got way better.
Snag a few of these in different colors so people claim their spot. They fold flat for storage, and the cup holder actually fits a full-size can.
Ozark Trail Quad Folding Camp Chair with Cup Holder, Black
Put two of these closest to the fire for the couple that always shows up first. They're low enough to lean back and watch the sky without craning your neck.
Mainstays Wood Adirondack Chair Patio Chairs for sale
Bring this out for your friend who complains about every chair being uncomfortable. The mesh breathes so they won't stick to it on warm nights.
Ozark Trail Oversized Mesh Camping Chair with Carry Bag
Use this on a bench or the ground if you're short on chairs. It gives back support and folds into basically nothing when the night's over.
Stansport Tubular Frame Folding Stadium Seat with Arms
Toss a few of these on the chairs before guests arrive. The temperature drops fast once the sun's gone, and the person in shorts will grab one within ten minutes.
Mainstays Cozy Textured Plush Throw Blanket, Black
Pair these with the Adirondack chairs. Nobody asks for a pillow, but once they see one, they tuck it behind their back and don't move for two hours.
Sunnydaze Outdoor Decorative Pillow Covers & Throw
Lighting and Ambiance
Flipping on the porch light kills the whole mood. I tested about five different lighting setups before landing on the combo that makes the backyard feel like a place people actually want to stay.
Drape these between two trees or along the fence line. They throw just enough warm light that you can see your s'more but still feel like you're somewhere special.
Brightown Indoor/Outdoor LED String Lights
Stick these along the walkway to the fire pit. Guests stopped tripping over the garden hose once I lined the path, and they charge themselves during the day.
Mainstays Solar LED Landscape Pathway Light Set
Set one on the side table away from the fire. It fills in the gaps where the smoke doesn't reach and keeps the mosquito candles from being the only scent.
Customer reviews for Yankee Candle Midsummer's Night
Pour this into any tiki torches you already own. It actually keeps bugs back about six feet, which is enough to protect the food table.
TIKI, Torch Fuel, Mosquito Repellent, 64 oz
Keep this inflatable lantern on the s'mores table so people can see what they're grabbing. It's solar charged and waterproof, so leaving it outside overnight is fine.
PackLite Max 2-in-1 Power Lantern
Bring this one to the cooler area. Nobody wants to dig around in the dark for a drink. Runs on batteries and lasts the entire night on one set.
Hyper Tough, 10W LED Rechargeable Work Light
Drinks and Cooler Setup
Warm drinks in a pile on the ground is not a beverage station. Once I got a proper cooler situation going, people stopped wandering inside to raid my fridge every fifteen minutes.
Pack this with ice in the morning and it's still cold at midnight. Fits right next to the fire pit circle and doubles as an extra seat in a pinch.
Ozark Trail 26 Quart High Performance Roto-Molded
Set a thermos of hot water next to these packets. Once the temperature drops, every single person reaches for cocoa, even the ones who said they didn't want any.
Swiss Miss, Hot Cocoa Mix, 1.38 oz., 30-Count Envelopes
Brew a few of these before heading outside and pour them into a carafe. The salted caramel with s'mores is a combination that made my sister-in-law text me the next day for the brand.
Swiss Miss Salted Caramel Hot Cocoa, K-Cup Pods
Warm this up on the stove and bring it out in a slow cooker on low. It smells incredible near the fire and kids go through it fast, so grab two bottles.
Great Value 100% Fresh-Pressed Spiced Apple Cider
Pour hot coffee or cocoa into this before the party starts. It stays hot for hours, and you won't have to run inside to reheat anything.
Stanley Classic Stainless Steel Insulated Vacuum Bottle
Use these as drinking glasses outside. They don't tip over easily in the grass, they look great, and if one breaks you're out about a dollar instead of a real glass.
Ball, Glass Mason Jars, Wide Mouth, 16 oz, Pack of 12
Cleanup and Storage After the Fire
The first time I hosted s'mores night, I left everything outside. Woke up to raccoons in the chocolate and sticky roasting sticks glued to the table. Never again.
Keep a roll near the fire pit. When the night winds down, one quick pass with a bag and you're done. Procrastinating cleanup until morning is a raccoon invitation.
Hefty Ultra Strong 13 Gallon Tall Kitchen Trash Bags
Toss leftover crackers and chocolate in here before bed. They seal tight enough that nothing gets stale overnight, and you're ready for round two tomorrow.
Rubbermaid, Food Storage Container, 9.6 Cup
Wipe down the s'mores table and any sticky chairs before you go inside. Takes two minutes and saves you from scrubbing dried marshmallow off everything in the morning.
Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, 75 Count, Crisp Lemon Scent
Keep all your s'mores gear in one of these in the garage. Roasting sticks, lighter, spark screen. When someone says 'let's do fire pit tonight,' you just grab the box.
(4 pack) Sterilite 66 Quart Large Latching Storage Bin
Use the shovel to scoop ash the next morning. Way faster than trying to tip the whole fire pit, and it keeps the pit clean enough to use again the same week.
STOBOK Portable Ash Shovel Set, Construction
Drop warm ashes into this instead of a trash bag. Learned that lesson the expensive way. Metal pail, let it cool overnight, dump it in the morning. Simple.
Behrens, Galvanized Steel Locking Lid Storage Can