Salted Caramel and Pumpkin Smashing S'mores

I’m sorry. I’ve been slacking lately. And I wish I could tell you why.

I’m normally a very punctual person. Possibly annoyingly so. I’m 10 minutes early to work, I’m always waiting on my friends to be ready to leave, I sit in the front of class by choice – getting there before majority of my classmates to pick my ideal seat (all pathetic and all true). 

And this treat right here? I’ve only been wanting to share it with y’all since the spring! Like, I thought of it in May during my history class (notes? Who takes notes?) and patiently waited until fall to bust it out. I mean, it’s pumpkin, caramel, spicy goodness. Basically the epitome of this glorious season.

And yet, I sat on this recipe. I stalled and waited and put it off and waited some more. I managed to share a pic on Instagram weeks ago, but that’s as far as I got…that, and eating all of these lovelies in 2.6 days. I am shamefully late in sharing these Salted Caramel Pumpkin Smashing S’mores. I kept the beautiful combination of pumpkin graham crackers, salted caramel swirled marshmallows, and sweet white chocolate coating all to myself. And for that, I am sorry.

Salted Caramel Swirled Marshmallows

My mom has always stressed to me the importance of spraying pans. Always. When I was first starting to bake this was the single most difficult thing for me to remember.

Far too many times, I would be pouring brownie batter (from my favorite boxed mix…because a 15-year-old newbie foodie knows no better. And boxed brownies are delicious) into a pan only to have my mom walk up behind me and say, “Did you remember to spray the pan?”

No. No, I did not.

The situation then went one of two ways. I would either 1) pour the batter back into the bowl and wash, dry, and then (finally) spray the pan and return the batter to it’s rightful place. Or 2) I’d tell myself I didn’t really need to spray the pan. It’s just a suggestion. A gimmick to get me to use one more product I don’t really need. The brownies would be fine.

I was an idiot. 

Peanut Butter S'mores Cups

This is it.

These s’mores cups are my last attempt to grasp hold of summer. To enjoy the fleeting heat and streaks of sun. To ignore the fact that it’s already September (woa) and already Labor Day (double woa).

I love fall. It is my favorite season. But I’m not quite ready for it. I want the boots and the sweaters and  the caramel spice and the falling leaves just as must as anyone else, but not right.this.minute.

I am done with work for the summer. I am putting off packing for school. I am looking at reading lists and scavenging for used books. I am dragging my feet.

Dark Chocolate Coffee Cupcakes with Marshmallow Coffee Buttercream

I get a lot of things from my dad. My brown eyes, olive skin, and “solid” build all come from him. My annoyingly obsessive attention to detail, dry sense of humor, and predisposition to mornings go to his credit too. While some of the traits I have gotten from him are genetic, I’ve also picked up a lot of learned behaviors from him over the years. Since I was a little girl I’ve been watching him and studying him and mimicking him – it’s only natural that some of his habits and traits would eventually become mine. For better or worse.

There’s one thing he does though that I will just not do. Never, ever will I be okay with doing this. Never, EVER. It is a habit so disgusting, so repulsive I can barely bring myself to write it (I’m really making you want one of those cupcakes up there, aren’t I?).

My father reuses day-old coffee.

There. I said it. And may have gotten a little queasy.