There is nothing quite like a half-pallid half-blackened carbonised lump of sugar, gelatine and air on the end of a damp stick to complete a wonderful evening’s campfire. The gentle pop and fizzle of the fire is always drowned out by shrieks following burning tongues and the howls of those whose marshmallows are lost and incinerated.

[Disclaimer… There will be hot sugar so please take care. Cook all of these on the spread-out embers of your campfire rather than in the flames. It will ensure even and gentle heating.]

10) Blackberry brambly marshmallows: Delicious in September when blackberries are plump, sweet with a velvety tang. Go for a walk, collect your berries and give them a rinse. Then, put a couple of handfuls of marshmallows in a fireproof pot, stick the pot on the embers and melt together with the blackberries. I like to put a bit of parchment on the bottom so there is less to scrape off the pan. Dip digestives or pretzel sticks in once its semi silky; and munch.

9) Chocolate dipped marshmallows: Melt a chocolate of your choice in fireside bain-marie. (Warm water and place a bowl in it containing chocolate and melt, taking care not to get water in the chocolate or it goes lumpy and weird.)  Put your marshmallow on a fork or a stick and dip into the goo. Dark chocolate is so good for this, giving a bitter luxuriance to your sugary treat. You can double dip into nuts for crunch or sprinkles for prettiness.

8) Marshmallow apples: Take your apple, core it leaving the bottom intact, add raisins, chocolate, mini marshmallows and a knob of butter, wrap in parchment and then foil and place in the embers. 20 minutes later you will have the most soul warming of gooey puddings. This one even has some residual vitamins!

7) Marshmallow constellations: There are tons on non-eating marshmallow games (though they can be eaten after, of course.) Get some uncooked spaghetti and marshmallows and look up at the sky. Make some constellations that you see by sticking the spaghetti into the marshmallow.

6) Banana and Marshmallow: Keep your banana in its peel, slice down the middle, stuff with chocolate buttons and marshmallows, squeeze, wrap in baking parchment and then foil on the outside, stick it in the embers. In 3 minutes, it’s done. I like to stick on a few nuts to give it a crunch.

5) Fireside ‘Ice cream’:  Get ice cream waffle cones, fill with marshmallows and things you like e.g. chocolate buttons, peanut M&Ms and berries and bananas. Wrap in parchment and foil and put in the embers for about 5 minutes. Unwrap and enjoy.

4) S’mores:  I know some of us Brits recoil at S’mores. Shouts of “noooo they are marshmallow sandwiches.” Whatever you call them,  grab some biscuits, chocolate of choice and marshmallow. Toast your marshmallow to perfection and then sandwich between the biscuits and chocolate. I love a variation with chocolate hobnobs, banana and dulche de leche.

3) Marshmallow kebabs: My mum’s favourite campfire treat. Alternate marshmallows and pineapple chunks on a stick and rotate over the embers until you’re happy with your kebab. The toasted edges of pineapple give a deep and juicy flavour to this tropical campfire treat.

2) Hot chocolate: As if your hot chocolate isn’t sweet enough, give it the extra dimension by putting the squishy lovelies on top. It makes it a meal!

1) On a stick. Without doubt, this is the best marshmallow combination: You and your marshmallow, a stick you found and your fire. I often wonder what our different approaches to cooking the classic marshmallow on a stick say about our inner psyche! I like to melt the middle, turning gently over the embers making the outside crunchy and the inside gooey, then I stick the top straight in the flames so it has a little black burned hat.

How do you like yours?