“We’re not just a food company,” Mike Nelson says. “We’re all about the experience.” That includes s’mores kits and The Travel Campfire, satisfying sweet tooths wherever they might find themselves. Photos: Chris Emeott
Former camp counselors know their way around a classic bonfire treat.
What’s more familiar than a s’more in the summertime? The classic crunchy meets gooey fireside snack is the exclamation point on many a campout, canoe trip or cabin weekend. A sign of the good life.
What if a s’more recipe came around that made those moments even better? North Mallow, located in Long Lake and founded by camp counselors Mike and Christine Nelson—marshmallow experts if there ever were any—is out to do just that.
The North Mallow marshmallows are made without high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors or preservatives. Many taste buds will find them more flavorful than the run-of-the-mill options, and they come in more varieties, too: Caramel Swirl, Chocolate Chip and Vanilla Bean.
From the get-go, Mike was interested in a more flavorful marshmallow. He noticed that typical marshmallows are made with a lot of unrecognizable and, to him, unnecessary ingredients and preservatives, many of which are responsible for the marshmallows charring. “Our marshmallows don’t puff up or get charcoal black, just melty and gooey and crisp. They’re always light and fluffy,” he says. North Mallow uses organic agave nectar and kosher gelatin in its recipes. “If we can’t do it 100 percent natural or up to our standards, we just don’t do it,” Mike says.
What’s the point of all this? “Better ingredients for a better s’more, and it tastes better because it’s better ingredients,” Mike says.
The commitment to clean ingredients extends beyond just the marshmallows. In 2020, North Mallow launched s’mores kits, which include single-origin organic chocolate and homemade graham crackers and its marshmallows. In 2023, after people kept requesting some way to make s’mores without needing a bonfire, the duo launched The Travel Campfire, made from 100 percent food-grade soy wax and fire starters. This mini campfire can be used almost anywhere and provides six to eight hours of safe flame for a fun and easy s’mores experience. “We’re not just a food company,” Mike says. “We’re all about the experience.”
S’more Ideas
“A lot of people have been making the same exact s’more for decades,” Mike Nelson says. It’s time to switch it up! Here are a few North Mallow suggestions for creative, unique s’mores.
Shake up your chocolate.
Adding peanut butter cups, peppermint patties or a more gourmet chocolate square, like Ghirardelli, on your s’more levels it up.
Rethink graham crackers.
Using chocolate chip cookies as the outer layer of your s’more gives it a more decadent, sweet profile.
Add fruit.
Yes, add fruit. Mike suggests pretzel crisps, a slice of green apple and some caramel sauce with the North Mallow Caramel Swirl Marshmallow for a savory-sweet combo.
Get fancy with it.
Another fruity option includes adding a toasted marshmallow onto grilled peaches for a totally decadent summer cookout dessert that’s sure to impress.
Shared Experience
The Nelsons feel that s’mores start with the outdoors. Like any dedicated camp counselors, the bonfire is their happy place. “It was so fun as a counselor to, with these kids who have never been outdoors, build a bonfire—to see their social, mental and physical development over the course of time they were at camp,” Mike Nelson says.
Christine and Mike Nelson with daughter, Annika, enjoy the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The couple parlayed their love of the outdoors into a business with a philanthropic heart.
Because of their love for camp and knowing the impact that it can have on a person’s life, North Mallow donates to different camps’ scholarship funds to ensure that more kids can have the same experiences they had without the financial barrier.
“Camp is expensive, but it’s something that every kid should be able to enjoy,” Mike says. “A lot of kids don’t have any nature around them to visit and enjoy. Assisting these camps in bringing more kids out for a week or even a few days is really important to us.”
For those interested in featuring a s’mores bar at their next event, set up a visit to North Mallow’s tasting room, 1870 W. Wayzata Blvd., Long Lake. Information is available at northmallow.com and 612.414.5640.
Facebook: North Mallow
Instagram: @northmallow
