Someone at the farm kitchen swapped the chocolate bar for a round of brie one evening last summer, tucked in a sliver of prosciutto, and finished it with a spoonful of fig preserves. We never went back. That first bite — warm, melty, salty, just a little sweet — had everyone leaning in and asking what it was. A savory s’more. The campfire classic, grown up.
This is the appetizer for the nights when you want a great idea more than you want to do a lot of work. Same ritual, same roasting stick, same satisfying crunch — but the payoff is a bite-sized cheese board that came off the fire. Whether you’re gathered around a backyard fire pit or pulling these from the broiler before dinner, they’re the kind of move that makes you look like you planned it for weeks. You didn’t. That’s the point.
What Makes a S’more Savory?
The classic s’more has three jobs: something crispy, something melty, something sweet. The savory version keeps the same structure but shifts what fills each role.
The crisp stays — a Ritz cracker, a baguette round, or a pita chip all work. The melt swaps chocolate for cheese: brie, camembert, gruyère, goat cheese, or fresh mozzarella — anything that goes soft and a little golden over heat. The sweet-sharp layer is where you get to play: a jammy fig preserve, a spoonful of pepper jelly, a few slices of apple, a drizzle of hot honey.
Skip the marshmallow and you’ve got the perfect savory bite — cheese, meat, jam, crunch — that belongs alongside a glass of wine
Build-Your-Own Savory S’more (The Formula)
Four parts. Pick one from each category and you’ve got a s’more worth making.
- The Crisp: Ritz cracker, baguette crisp, pita chip, or bagel chip
- The Melt: Brie, camembert, gruyère, fresh mozzarella, goat cheese, Monterey jack, or halloumi
- The Savory: Prosciutto, salami, pepperoni, caramelized onion
- The Sweet-Sharp: Clif Family Organic Blueberry Jam, Clif Family Apricot Jam, Clif Family Pepper Jelly, hot honey, or apple slices.
Two or three elements per s’more is plenty. More than four and the whole thing falls apart — literally.
Pro Tip: Set out the components as a build-your-own station if you’re hosting. Hand people a roasting stick and step back. They’ll figure it out.
Four Signature Combos to Try
These are the ones we keep making. Each one has a wine pairing. That’s the whole point.
The Classic Savory S’more
Your favorite cracker · roasted Babybel · charcuterie · Clif Family Organic Blueberry Jam
The one that started it. The blueberry jam carries the sweetness; the roasted cheese and charcuterie pull it somewhere you didn’t expect. A pinch of Clif Family Red Wine Somm Seasoning on top if you want to go all the way.
The Fire-Pit Melt
Baguette crisp · brie · salami · hot honey
No marshmallow. The honey does the sweet work here, and brie over an open flame gets runny and picks up a little smoke at the edges.
Sweet Heat
Ritz cracker · monterey jack · Clif Family Pepper Jelly · apple slices
The pepper jelly brings a slow heat that hits after the crunch. Monterey jack melts fast and evenly — exactly what you want on a Ritz.
The Napa Camp
Crisp cracker · gruyère · caramelized onion · Clif Family Apricot Jam
Gruyère has a nutty depth that goes well with caramelized onion, and the apricot jam keeps things from getting too heavy.
Two Ways to Make Them
Over the Fire Pit or Grill
Thread your cheese onto a roasting stick and hold it over the coals, not the flames. Rotate it slowly until it’s golden and puffed — that even color means the inside is molten, which is what you want. Slide it onto your cracker, add the toppings, and let the heat from the cheese do the softening.
Under the Broiler (for Every Other Night of the Year)
Preheat the broiler to high. Line a baking sheet with foil, arrange the crackers, and put a slice of cheese on each one. Broil for 60 to 90 seconds. Watch it — cheese goes fast. Pull them out, add the savory and sweet-sharp toppings while still warm, and serve immediately.
This is the dinner-party method. You can do a dozen at once and get them to the table in under three minutes.
The Recipe: Our Favorite Savory S'more
Yield: As many as you want
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 2–3 minutes per s’more
You Need
- Your favorite crackers
- Babybel cheese (one wheel per s’more)
- Your favorite charcuterie — prosciutto, salami, whatever you’ve got
- Clif Family Organic Blueberry Jam
- A long skewer or campfire prong
- Optional: a pinch of Clif Family Red Wine Somm Seasoning
The Move
- Skewer your Babybel and roast it over the fire, rotating slowly, until the outside is golden and the inside is molten — about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Spread a generous spoonful of blueberry jam onto your cracker.
- Layer on the charcuterie, then slide the roasted cheese on top.
- Finish with a pinch of Somm Seasoning if you’re using it, and eat immediately.
