Latest news with #s'mores
Fast Company
6 days ago
- Business
- Fast Company
Your favorite candy just got pricier, and it's not because of tariffs
If you're planning to roast s'mores over a campfire this summer, you'll be spending more than last year on one ingredient you can't skip. Hershey plans to raise prices on its products to offset the cost of cocoa, a commodity that's been on a pricing rollercoaster of its own in the last two years. CBS News reports that the company will introduce a 'low double-digit increase' in prices across its products. Hershey owns many of the most popular candy brands in the U.S., including Reese's, Kit Kat and York, as well as non-chocolate candies like Twizzlers and Jolly Rancher. The price hike will likely go into effect within 90 days, though that timeline may vary. Last year, the price of cocoa hit historical highs, soaring past $10,000 per metric ton. Cocoa prices began spiking at the beginning of 2024, doubling over the course of the year and tripling when looking back to late 2023. Over the last month, cocoa dipped well below its record highs, but still costs more than twice what it did two years ago. Cocoa powder, used to make chocolate, comes from the seeds of the cacao tree, a water-intensive plant grown in tropical parts of Africa and South America. West Africa accounts for three quarters of the world's cocoa supply, with the Ivory Coast and Ghana being the world's top two cocoa-exporting nations. With the global appetite for chocolate relying on a single region in Africa, cocoa is relatively vulnerable to forces outside of farmers' control – particularly climate-caused weather events worsening as the planet warms. The climate crisis is expected to cause accelerating agricultural losses for staple crops like corn and wheat around the globe, and cocoa is no different. Excessive rainfall in late 2023 caused cacao pods to rot, one factor that sent the price of the commodity sky-high. Intense heat is also taking its toll on cocoa farming and cacao trees can struggle to produce pods when temperatures stretch above the plant's ideal range for days on end. Less production means higher prices, though those effects might not have been fully felt by consumers right away. 'Pricing has yet to pick up meaningfully, but we expect this to accelerate potentially to the low-teens in 2025,' said Celine Pannuti, J.P. Morgan's Head of European Staples & Beverages said in a late 2024 report on the cocoa crunch. 'We see the chocolate market set for inflation largely unprecedented in recent history.' Chocolate in a changing economy Hershey says that its planned price increase isn't related to tariffs, but the company has identified tariffs as a threat to its business before. Cocoa can't be grown in the U.S., and must be imported, making it vulnerable not only to a changing climate, but to the whims of a president keen to inject chaos into global trade. In May, Hershey was pursuing an exemption with the Trump administration that would allow the company to import its key ingredient without taking on new costs associated with tariffs. In an earnings call, the company estimated that Trump's tariffs would cost it between $15 and $20 million in the second quarter of the year. 'Absent tariff relief, this expense is expected to increase in the third quarter as we work through inventory on hand,' Hershey CFO Steve Voskuil said on the call. Given that Hershey's prices will increase, the company likely did not secure an exemption for its cocoa imports – particularly since any conversation with Trump would likely come with threats against raising prices. Fast Company has reached out to Hershey for an update on its pursuit of a tariff exemption for its cocoa imports. 'As a largely domestic food producer, we are relatively less exposed to tariffs than other Industries,' Hershey CEO Michele Buck said in May. 'That said, the current U.S. levy on cocoa is an exposure that we must manage on top of the cocoa market's unprecedented recent price swings.' Cocoa might be more expensive now, but Hershey is optimistic about the future, noting in its last earnings call that cocoa supplies from the world's top three suppliers should be up by 20%. The spike in cocoa prices also led to a flurry of cocoa farming investment, a move that could improve yields in the future. 'There are reasons to believe that this year's crop marks the beginning of a multi-year growth cycle in cocoa supply,' Buck said. 'In the meantime, global end users are now responding to persistently high prices in earnest, having waited and watched for some time.'
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Newly-opened Portland s'mores bar expands with suburban outpost
PORTLAND, Ore. () — A s'mores shop that debuted in Portland just a few months ago has already expanded to the suburbs. opened its second location in Breakside's food cart pod over the weekend in late June. Nico Vergara told KOIN 6 that he and his business partner, Russell Sneddon of Moonstruck Chocolate, have hoped to expand since the brick-and-mortar spot opened downtown — and the Beaverton opportunity arose before the owners began the search for another spot. Free air conditioning units in Portland 'a true blessing' Both Beaverton and Vancouver were eyed as hosts for the new location because there has been 'a lot of growth' in each city, according to Vergara, who also owns Nico's Ice Cream. 'Definitely a different community, different crowd of people, which… for retail is important,' Vergara said. 'From a community standpoint, [Beaverton] felt like a safer bet for us right now… it's like one big family out there.' He cited his relationship with other Portland businesses that have recently expanded to the suburb, including Deadstock Coffee and Dos Hermanos Bakery. Toasted S'mores Bar's flagship location at1126 SW Alder St. The site previously held 1927 S'mores Company, which — much to the surprise of some employees and clients who had booked the brand as wedding caterers. The newer dessert spot serves up classic s'mores, along with flavors that feature sea salt caramel, marionberry jam and pistachio spread. It also offers drinks like coffee, tea and hot chocolate. 'It's a transition': MusicPortland, MusicOregon executive director steps down Although the Beaverton shop's menu does not include drinks, Vergara said it plans to collaborate with local businesses just like the original location. Toasted S'mores Bar has already partnered with Blue Star Donuts, Smith Teamaker and Based General Store. The Breakside spot is currently open Friday through Sunday from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Owners hope to extend their hours at a later date. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Times
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
8 Ways to Enjoy S'mores Without a Campfire
Bring the taste of summer inside with these delicious s'mores-inspired desserts. Melissa Clark's oven s'mores. Johnny Miller for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Samantha Seneviratne. Published July 1, 2025 Updated July 1, 2025 There's something so nostalgic (and messy!) about the combination of toasted marshmallows, melted chocolate, graham crackers. But you don't need a campfire to satisfy that s'mores craving. Below are eight desserts that capture their essence, no outdoor flames necessary. Johnny Miller for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Erin Jeanne McDowell. These ooey-gooey blondies deliver on the promise of s'mores tenfold. Erin Jeanne McDowell replaces some of the flour in the chocolate-studded base with graham cracker crumbs. Before the blondies are done baking, they're topped with a layer of mini marshmallows and more chocolate — which is lightly toasted and melted in the best way. Recipe: S'mores Blondies Johnny Miller for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Samantha Seneviratne. For a showstopping dessert that will impress your guests, look no further than this stunning tart from Melissa Clark. The foundation is a buttery, homemade graham cracker crust filled with chocolate ganache that's firm enough to slice but evokes the usual melted chocolate. On top, sits a swirly mountain of meringue that's torched until golden brown. Recipe: S'mores Tart Mark Weinberg for The New York Times. Food Styling by Barrett Washburne. This Ali Slagle recipe is a brilliant mash-up of two marshmallow-forward desserts: Rice Krispies treats and s'mores. In her genius creation, browned butter accentuates the toastiness of broiled marshmallows, which are tossed with graham cracker cereal and chocolate chips. Recipe: S'mores Crispy Treats Mark Weinberg for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Yossy Arefi 'I made this cake as a fun vacation project and it got rave reviews!!' one reader wrote. If you're looking for an ambitious baking project — and like receiving praise — Yossy Arefi's gorgeous cake is for you. Toasted marshmallow buttercream and graham cracker crumbles are sandwiched between layers of moist, chocolate sour cream cake. It's more than worth the effort. Recipe: S'mores Layer Cake Bryan Gardner for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne. What if, instead of graham crackers, you used actual bread? Ali Slagle did, and it's delicious. While you could use any sliced bread, she recommends cinnamon swirl to get that toasty graham cracker flavor. Tip: Sprinkling salt on top keeps the sandwich from being cloyingly sweet. Recipe: Grilled S'mores Sandwiches Mark Weinberg for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Yossy Arefi Eric Kim's fudgy s'mores bars taste best chilled, straight out of the refrigerator, but they're also great microwaved for 10 seconds until the centers turn gooey. Recipe: S'mores Brownies Craig Lee for The New York Times This travel-friendly pie from Allison Kave, adapted by Christine Muhlke, features chocolate pudding nestled in a graham cracker crust. It's all topped with a blanket of homemade marshmallow browned to perfection. Recipe: S'mores Pie Johnny Miller for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Samantha Seneviratne. Sometimes, simplest is best. This easy broiler version from Melissa Clark can be ready in about 10 minutes, start to finish. For those who like to buck tradition, feel free to swap out different cookies for the graham crackers like gingersnaps, shortbread, chocolate wafer cookies, or a salty crackers like Ritz and Saltines. Recipe: Oven S'mores
CNET
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
This Viral Air Fryer S'Mores Dip Is Still the Perfect Comfort Snack
After a TikTok of air fryer s'mores dip popped up on my For You page, I had to try it. Now, a year later, this snack is just as tasty as ever. TikTok users were shocked that they hadn't thought of making this snack before, and so was I. However, I was happily surprised by how easy it looked to whip up. TikTok user Cecilie Bak Klemens shared the video of her making the mouthwatering dip in her air fryer, and that post has since garnered more than 75 million views and a host of hilariously relatable comments, including some from well-known brands. "All of a sudden we know what we're making for breakfast, lunch, and dinner tomorrow," Pinterest commented on the now-viral video. I knew I had to try this snack, and I'm happy to report that it was as simple as the 12-second TikTok made it seem. Here's how you can make this s'mores dip whenever you're craving it -- no fire pit needed. Read more: Best Air Fryers of 2025 How to make air fryer s'mores dip Step 1: Line your airfryer with parchment paper that's trimmed to the size of your basket, or use a removable air fryer basket that can be cleaned separately. (This step is optional but will cut down on cleaning time.) Step 2: Place marshmallows inside the air fryer, along with chunks of the chocolate of your choice. (We used classic Hershey's chocolate.) You can use as many, or as few, marshmallows as you like, then add an equal amount of chocolate pieces. Corin Cesaric/CNET Step 3: Cook at 375 degrees for 10 minutes or until the marshmallows are golden brown. Step 4: Let the dip cool slightly, then enjoy it with graham crackers. The outside of your s'mores dip will be slightly crunchy and golden brown, and the inside will be perfectly gooey. Corin Cesaric/CNET If the dip hardens while you're eating it, you can pop it back in the air fryer for a few minutes until you get the desired consistency again. Read more: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know About Air Fryers (but Were Afraid to Ask) How to clean your air fryer Although this recipe seems like it would create quite the mess, using a separate removable baking pan or parchment paper makes the clean up is a breeze. However, if you have some overflow or your air fryer is simply due for its cleaning, follow these three simple steps. Air fryer s'mores dip FAQ Can you make traditional s'mores using an air fryer? Yes! If you want to skip the dip and make your s'mores whole, you can place the bottom graham cracker, chocolate and marshmallow in the air fryer (don't forget the parchment paper!) and toast it for a few minutes. When it's done, use another graham cracker to squish your creation together. Is there anything you can't cook in the air fryer? While the air fryer perfectly cooks a lot of things, some are just better when made with different appliances, such as leafy greens and large cuts of meat. Here are six more foods that shouldn't be cooked in your air fryer. More air fryer recipes to try
The Sun
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I'm a Brit who went to summer camp in America – it was like living a 1990's Hollywood film and you can do it too
STICKY hands from melted s'mores, handmade friendship bracelets stacked up your arms and the California heat beating down on your back as you throw an American football. This was my summer as a Camp Counsellor in the U.S.A. 20 20 20 For generations, thousands of Americans have spent their childhood summer holidays at a traditional summer camp. Designed to keep kids entertained over the summer vacation (and to give their parents a break) they've become a huge part of American culture. And as a Brit brought up on a diet of American moviews and TV shows, I've always longed to be a part of it too. Thankfully, I could. As summer camps often look for international staff to bring their skills across the pond. Through companies like Camp America, young people from all over the world can get sponsored to go and work in the U.S. You get to live the summer camp dream, make friends from all over the world, plus when it's over you get 30 extra days to travel across the States. But is it actually like The Parent Trap? Is it all singing, dancing and talent shows like in Camp Rock? To be honest? Yes. It was everything you see in the movies and more. Campfire songs, telling ghost stories under torchlight and creating dance routines to Cotton Eye Joe. My days started at 6:30am - going from snoozing my alarm at home, to getting kids' teeth brushed, boots on and out the door before 7am was quite the change from my routine as a 21 year old back in England. Each morning we'd gather on the sports field to raise the American flag, a key part of camp culture us Brits soon had to get used to. After knocking back blueberry pancakes or French toast, and glugging down as much filter coffee as I could manage, the activities for the day began. Ivanka Trump's incredible holiday in California 20 20 20 20 20 The days were filled with everything from archery to animal care, ziplining to basketball. My group of girls and I would sit under a tree and make friendship bracelets, as they requested song after song by Taylor Swift on my Walmart speaker. Our lunches were traditionally American: sloppy joes (bolognese in a burger bun with cheese), hot dogs and chicken tacos. Afternoons were spent cooling off in the pool followed by chill time in our cabins. Whilst some kids took the time to lay in their bunk and write letters home, others would come and point at my polaroids from home that decorated my bed, asking questions about life in the UK. The kids were super curious about life outside of the States, but didn't seem to know all too much. My Kiwi co-worker convinced our bunk that New Zealand didn't have wi-fi or technology, and feigned amazement as they explained to her what a mobile phone was. The kids were always at the ready to jokingly mock my accent. They particularly loved making us British staff say 'bottle of water', as they tried through stifled laughter to mimic 'bott-ul' and 'wart-ur'. I'll also never forget hosting a camp quiz one night, where a group answered 'What is the capital of England?' with a confident and unified 'Paris!' 20 20 20 The kids would stay for one or two weeks at a time, but the camp environment made you grow close - so saying goodbye to them was always the hardest part. We'd end the week with a campfire, roasting marshmallows and sharing our favourite memories. I found myself collecting letters and pictures over the summer, and those handwritten messages and drawings are still posted up on my wall today. Although saying bye was tough, what came next was worth it. I'd made friends from all over the world - Australia, New Zealand, Germany as well as with the American staff. After ten weeks of hard work, I spent my earnings exploring California. 20 20 20 Whilst some hopped over to Hawaii and others jetted off to JFK, my closest friends and I decided to road-trip the Golden State. We drove from Santa Rosa to Lake Tahoe, and spent a week jet-skiing across deep blue waters. We then headed down to San Francisco for a night, before catching the night bus to L.A. After hiking to the Hollywood sign, skating through Venice Beach and visiting Universal Studios, we headed down to sunny San Diego. We ended our trip meeting sea lions at La Jolla beach and cheering on the San Diego Padres at a home baseball game. If you're looking for a summer in the U.S.A., this is definitely the way to do it. You'll come home sunburnt, sleep-deprived, and with a head full of campfire songs. But the summer camp experience is true movie magic, and the chance to tick off your U.S. bucket list afterwards makes it even better. HOW TO WORK IN A US SUMMER CAMP If you fancy spending a summer in the states, there are three major companies that can sponsor your trip: Camp America, Camp Leaders and BUNAC. Once you set up an account with one of these, they handle all of the paperwork, help you get a Visa, and get you matched up with a summer camp in the U.S. If you pay a bit more, they'll organise your flights too. You don't need any previous camp experience - if you've led a sports club or drama group at a school, volunteered or worked with kids in some way, they'll more than likely be able to find you a placement. Once you're placed, you'll spend 8-10 weeks working with kids, and have 30 days left on your Visa to go wherever you want in the USA. 20 20 20 20
