
S'mores and summer are best buddies. The summer sun slides down the fading blue sky and sinks into the horizon, allowing twinkly stars to perk up their sleepy heads and spin into the cool evening sky. Then comes a crackling summer bonfire and a big cozy blanket to huddle under. A platter of s'mores ingredients, and instant smiles appear. "S'mores!"
I actually don't think you can say s'mores without having a bit of excitement in your voice. "S'mores!" or shmores.
So today's vegan s'mores have a dreamy nut butter spin: Almond Butter S'mores. Plus, get my ideas for 10 summer fun activities + a cool summer footwear giveaway!
Vegan s'mores ingredients:
* Grahams: I used Kinnikinnick Foods, S'moreables graham crackers. If you don't mind gluten or honey, there are plenty of options for you in any grocery store. Most brands do contain honey. If you want to plan ahead and get the best of the best, try Sweet and Sara's vegan grahams.
* Marshmallows: Dandies or Sweet and Sara
* Chocolate: anything that does not contain milk or milkfat, etc. Dark chocolate is usually a good bet, just check the ingredients for "contains: milk." And a few brands of chocolate bars will even say 'certified vegan,' which is helpful.
* Nut butter: easy! Try almond, peanut or sun butter. There are sooooo many nut and seed butter options out there today. Yay. Or you can DIY it: sunflower butter, almond butter.
Fun Idea.. Instead of doing the nut butter and chocolate on their own, you could just smash a vegan nut butter cup with the marshmallow! I am SO trying that next.
Slather almond or peanut or sun butter on one side of the grahams.
10 Healthy Happy Summer Fun Activities
1. S'mores! Today's recipe of course! Making these vegan s'mores while camping, on the beach or simply at home on a snuggly summer movie night or after dinner treat.
2. Paddle Boarding. I tried paddle boarding for the first time a few weeks ago and loved it! It was easier than I imagined and I loved getting out on the water, under the sun, fresh summer air on my face. I used Bzees Sea Dogs water shoes, which was what the event was celebrating. They were awesome! They have holes in the bottom that drain the water so you never get that heavy 'walking through water' feeling like when you wear flip flops. Plus they are super comfy and secure. And cute and colorful for summer. And vegan! GIVEAWAY! And you can enter to win some Sea Dogs for yourself in today's giveaway! details below
3. Summer Outdoor Movies. I love finding local parks and other venues that host outdoor movie nights! If you are in Los Angeles, here is a great list of events from Time Out. Other cities, try googling and you should get some good results!
4. Group Fitness Class. Summertime is a great time to add a few new social activities to your calendar. So challenging yourself to sign up for a group fitness class (even just once to try it!) is a fun personal goal. Try yoga, kickboxing, HIIT classes, spin and more. Even if you are not a 'group exercise' person, I bet you will still enjoy doing a group class once in a while just to change things up. TIP: Try to find a class where you think you will fit in. Seek out classes with your fitness level and fitness goals in mind. For example, if you want to chill out and meditate with yoga, choose restorative yoga or something lighter -- instead of a power or acro-yoga style class.
5. Take a Hike. Hiking is a fun way to get exercise while getting outdoors in the sunshine. Free vitamin D! Connecting with nature has been shown to improve your mental outlook and may even help with anxiety and depression. Bottom line, moving your body out in nature just makes you feel good! Try for a hike that gives you full sensory experiences - birds chirping, dusty dirt paths, beautiful scenery and an ever-changing trail.
6. Farmer's Market-ing. Heading the the farmers market is a fun and easy summer activity. Fresh fruit and veggies are beautiful to look at and delicious and healthy to cook with! Go on, grab a canvas bag, head to your local market and buy a big bucket of summer cherries, fuzzy peaches or shiny black plums. (Or in my case, all those and more!)
7. Sunshine Meditation. This one is one of my favorites because anyone with a sunny day can do it. Head outside during the sunniest hours of the day, find a cozy spot to sit, bring your sunnies and just meditate as the sun warms your body. Do this for even just 5-10 minutes. No phones. No magazines. No distractions. Just you and the warming sunshine. Take in its energy and feel its glow. Think of all the trillions of people who that same sun has warmed over the years and feel connected to this planet, this solar system, this galaxy, like never before!
8. Staycation! If you have flexibility for an overnight, take a trip slightly out of town for a one night staycation. Staycations are nice because if you drive a few hours you don't have to drive the same trip in the same day. You can relllllaaaaxxxx for an evening away. Plus it is fun to check out local-ish hotels and pretend you are a tourist inyour own town. I love HotelTonight and Hotels.com apps for booking last minute hotels.
9. Splash Around. Find some water and splash in it! Ok, so that is pretty vague. You can try a pool, the beach (my fave) or even a sprinkler in your backyard. Slip 'n slides, lazy rivers and even a splashing hose could work too. There is something magical about being warm from the summer sun and them splish-splashing yourself in water. Take advantage and feel that hot and cool energizing feeling!
10. Summer Recipes. I just love changing up my menu in the summertime and making summer-y recipes like summer salads, corn and watermelon and tree fruit filled recipes, oven-free dinners, smoothie bowls and vegan ice cream and more. Thus why I have been doing this summer 15 series all June long. (Those links are below!)
GIVEAWAY. To enter the giveaway, leave a comment telling me what your favorite summer fun activity is! (random winner chosen 6/26/16 at NOONpst)
PRIZE: One winner (USA only) will win one pair of Bzees Sea Dogs shoes in their choice of color and size. retail value: $69 Thanks to Bzees for offering up this prize for one of my readers!
A photo posted by Bzees (@bzees) on May 30, 2016 at 10:54am PDT
This is recipe #9 in the Summer 15!..
Summer15 HHL Recipes:
1. Corn Fritters with avocado salsa.
2. Pink Flamingo Cheesecake Bars
3. Summer Salad in a Jar
4. Copycat Green Tea Frappuccino
5. Sticky-Sweet BBQ Apricot Tempeh Salad with avocado
6. Avocado Hamil-toast (avocado toast with skillet plantains)
7. Cherry Pie Cookies
8. Mother of Dragonfruit Smoothie Bowl
9. Almond Butter S'mores
10. DIY Pink Drink
11. Cheezy Sauce for Pasta with Kale
12. Summer Salad: Chili-Lime Mango-Avocado Quinoa Power Salad
13. Vegan Peanut Butter Cookie Ice Cream

Vegan Almond Butter S'mores
Ingredients
- 12 squares of vegan graham crackers
- 6 vegan marshmallows, large (Try Dandies or Sweet and Sara)
- 6 teaspoon nut butter (almond, peanut or another flavor)
- 6 squares vegan dark chocolate -- the thinner the squares the easier it melts
Instructions
- Slather the almond butter on six of your graham squares. Add the chocolate squares on top of the almond butter.
- Roast your vegan marshmallows until dark brown to black on the outsides. Place the roasted marshmallows on top of the chocolate or in between the chocolate and nut butter (your call).
- Add the top graham cracker and smash the smores into place with your fingers. This helps melt the chocolate from the hot marshmallow smushing into the chocolate. Enjoy!













susitravl says
Taking my great nephew to the water park is a ton of fun.
Katie Barthel says
My favorite summer activity is disc golf! It's fun to get outdoors (similar to your outdoor meditation idea) and also get some mild exercise.
Deryn @ Running on Real Food says
Mmmm, these look so fun and delicious! I def need to stock up on vegan marshmallows! Can't wait to go camping now. My favourite summer activities are hiking, swimming and camping!
Annamarie Voss says
My favorite summer activity is going to the local farmer's market on Saturday morning for plant, fresh fruits and veggies, and maybe some baked goods.
Kelsea Nixon says
My favorite summer activity is camping.
Stacey says
my favorite summer fun activity is to travel!!!! ANYWHERE!!! it re-energizes my soul <3
Sydney says
Favorite summer fun activity is having picnics by the lake!
Steph says
Pool of course
Brooke Halperin says
My favorite activity is bubbles with my kids during the summer. The way the bubbles float and the excitement that comes from my kiddos makes for a beautiful moment. The sticky bubbles cling to their hair and skin, but disappear with one run through the sprinkler.
Kathy Patalsky says
Aw that's so fun! Bubbles are kinda like Summer's version of glitter. 😹
Roseanne says
Cute shoes + vegan smores! <3 My favorite summer activity is going out to the lake and having a picnic!
Naila says
My favorite summer activity is running outside while the sun is rising! 🙂
Claire Elizabeth says
My favourite summer fun activity is definitely riding bikes! I love moving in nature too! 🙂
Kathy Patalsky says
I love biking. So sad though, someone stole both my husband and I's brand new beach cruiser bikes last year. So sad! But at least there are loads of bike rental places around me! And the new Public bike share program is awesome.
Claire Elizabeth says
Oh my! That is terrible! I'm so sorry to hear that! I am glad for available bikes and ample places to bike though! Blessings Kathy!
Kathy Patalsky says
I know so annoying, right? Bike theft sucks!! :/
carolyn says
Tossup between camping and getting creative in the kitchen with all the produce my husband and i grow...
Kathy Patalsky says
Love those! My husband and I have never gone camping together! Need to put that on the list.
mclanek says
My favorite summertime activity is an annual camping trip to Yosemite NP. I am ready for hammocking, hiking, frolicking in meadows and streams, and campfires. The graham crackers in your photo look tasty!
Kathy Patalsky says
That sounds so fun and beautiful. Yosemite is such a beautiful place. I remember an awesome trip there when I was about 8 years old. My mom, dad and sister and I hiked for days and days. It was always one of my dad's favorite places on the planet.
Rachel says
swimming is my favorite summer fun activity!
Kathy Patalsky says
Swimming is great. I love when I can find a salt water pool too. The chlorine can make my skin so dry and itchy but when it's summertime I don't even care most of the time.
Jessica Piekenbrock says
Favorite summer activity is going to festivals...they are such a fun cheap activity and there are always so many cute knick knacks to look at from the local vendors 🙂
Kathy Patalsky says
Yup such a great way to get outdoors around people.
Kelly says
The Ann Arbor Farmer's Market is my favorite summer activity.
Kathy Patalsky says
I have never been. I bet it's awesome though! I love the LA markets in the summer too, especially Santa Monica organic on Saturdays and Beverly Hills on Sunday.
Kelly says
I used to go to the one on Ivar every Sunday. I miss it!
autumndandelion says
I love watching racing in the summer. And hiking. 🙂
Adriane says
Taking my adopted golden retriever on a long hike followed by a doggie swim!
Kathy Patalsky says
Aw that's lovely!!
Kathy Patalsky says
Hi Adriane, you are the winner of the Bzees sea dogs giveaway! please email me your USA shipping address: kathypatalsky at gmail dot com congrats!
Adriane says
Oh I'm so excited! Thank you so much!!
Kristy says
My favorite summertime activity is bike riding in the beautiful sunny weather.
Kelsey says
My favorite summer activity is going to the beach- I love walking the beach, playing beach games with family, bodysurfing, all of it! I also love hiking and kayaking in the summer! My goal this year is to try paddle boarding.
Kathy Patalsky says
Me too. The beach is such a healing space for me. I hope you try paddle boarding! It is fun and kinda cool to check that off on your list of things you have tried.
Shira says
Since I've been out of LA for over 10 years and now live in Chicago (well, a suburb of Chicago), my favorite summer activity is simply being able to go outside without all the cold-weather gear . . . . I also love to go to the beach with my kids.