When people think of Summer, a variety of different mental images will come to mind. A day laying out by the beach or the pool, volleyball leagues or softball with friends, enjoying nature on long hikes or gathered around a fire. All of these are the very definition of Summer for some.

Of course, if you're looking for the ubiquitous summer icon, the treat that can be found around the family fire pit, the local campsite, or a cookout with friends, the obvious answer is the humble s'more. Made with melty chocolate, gooey marshmallow, and layers of crumbly graham cracker, the s'more is a campfire classic with potential for infinite variety.

And if there's a chance for an inventive twist, well, you know Adagio is going to be there.

Enter, the Campfire S'mores Milkshake. Sweet, chocolatey, and laced with that trademark smoke, this shake embodies all things s'mores, without the work of building a fire. A chilled treat, it's also perfect for those extra hot days or for earlier in the day when you haven't yet got that fire pit burning.

The key to this culinary masterpiece is our lovely Campfire S'mores. Entering the tea scene as the winner of our 2020 election day contest, this newcomer comes in sweet and smoky with black tea, chocolate, and mini-marshmallows. Lapsang Souchong, the king of smoky teas, also plays a role, bringing in that special campfire je ne sais quoi without which no s'more is truly complete.

Our full Campfire S'mores Milkshake recipe can be found below.

Recipe Summary

First, you'll want to prepare your tea. This should be done the day before, as the tea will need time to cool before using. Alternatively, you can also steep it at a stronger brew-strength than what's listed below and add ice.

To ensure the smoke of the tea cuts through the other, stronger flavors, you'll want to steep your tea at three times the usual strength. Note, this is done by using three times the leaves, not by steeping for longer, which will burn the leaves. Brew for 3 min at 212F/100C, then put it in the fridge to cool.

The other ingredients are equally simple: chocolate and vanilla ice cream (we recommend getting dark chocolate ice cream for extra depth), marshmallows, and graham crackers. For the ice cream, we found that a 1:2 chocolate to vanilla ratio worked best. You can certainly adjust that as you see fit, though we found adding more chocolate tended to overpower the delicate smokiness of the tea.

Once you've added your ice cream to your blender, toss in a few marshmallows and your tea. For blending, you'll want to make sure that it's smooth enough to avoid large marshmallow chunks, unless, of course, you want little marshmallow surprises while drinking, which is also a great option. Note, you may be tempted to use marshmallow fluff here instead, but when we tried it, it immediately just stuck to the side of the blender and didn't blend, so that's not something we recommend. Feel free to taste test as you go and adjust your flavors from there.

When your shake is ready, the last step is to add your garnish. Add a layer of marshmallows on top, using just enough to cover the shake's surface. Then, use a creme brulee torch to toast the marshmallows to your desired levels of crispiness. Note: You'll want to be very careful to avoid the rim of the glass while toasting as the combination of the cold from the shake and the heat from the torch can cause the glass to crack. Once toasted, stick a couple of graham crackers in on the side, add a spoon or straw, and you're all set.

So there you have it, a quick and easy guide to s'mores all summer long. Bon appetit!

Campfire S'mores Milkshake Recipe

This shake combines all of your favorite s'more flavors with no campfire needed. Perfect for a movie night or sunny afternoon, these shakes offer all the smokey, chocolatey, marshmallow goodness any s'mores fan could need.

Makes: 1 milkshake
Time to make: 10 minutes (tea should be made and cooled the night before)

Ingredients

1 cup Campfire S'mores, brewed at 3x strength
2 scoops vanilla ice cream
1 scoop chocolate ice cream
Graham crackers
Marshmallows

Equipment

Creme brulee torch (optional)
Blender

Instructions

Brew Campfire S'mores using 3x the tea leaves. Chill overnight.

The next day, put ice cream, tea, and a few marshmallows in the blender. Blend until marshmallow pieces are sufficiently blended.

Pour the shake into glass of choice and top with more marshmallows. Use the torch to toast the marshmallows, being careful not to hit the rim of the glass, which could cause it to crack.

Use graham crackers as garnish.

Tea Chef

Check out this month's TeaChef recipe competition! Head over there to submit your own creations to potentially win a $50 gift card to Adagio!