Costa Rica has a lot going for it. Warm ocean waves lapping up on soft sandy beaches. Thick, dense jungles in the rain forest teeming with wildlife. Friendly and helpful locals that welcome visitors with gracious smiles and open arms. And Yipys and Chikys and Trits, oh my! (Pronounced “yippies” and “chickies” and “treats.”) Desserts. All of those crazy sounding things are much-loved desserts that I’ve only ever found in Costa Rica (they may be elsewhere, but I’ve never come across them except in Costa Rica.) Well, Costa Rica… I’ve got an answer to your beloved Yipys and Chikys and Trits! Feast your eyes on these amazing Cinnamon S’mores with Nutella! (And, yes, these are a fantastic way to take your campsite S’mores up to a whole, new, amazing level!)

I stumbled across Chikys while browsing through the local grocery store in southern Costa Rica. Light, shortbread type cookie-crackers smeared with a layer of fudge, neatly packed together in six squares. They’re a perfect size for a light dessert with a nice glass of wine. We were very happy with our Chikys… until my son’s girlfriend introduced us to Yipys! (She and my son currently live in Costa Rica). You should have seen the way her eyes lit up when she tried to explain the crispy, wafer-y, slightly chocolate-y with just a hint of cinnamon mouth watering goodness called Yipys! Let’s just say we were all back at that local store within the hour picking up an armful to enjoy later that evening. She was right – delicious!!

But then my son came to join us later that evening with a paper bag full of Trits! Woah… Yep, these are definitely a must have when in Costa Rica. Think rich, creamy ice cream, packed neatly between two graham cracker cookie crusts, dripping with fudge-y, chocolate-y awesomeness. Most definitely over the top. And most definitely amazing! But I’m not going to let the Costa Rican’s have all the fun! Although all of these desserts are certainly tasty treats, they’re not all conducive to enjoying while sitting out by a crackling campfire all bundled up enjoying a fabulous display of evening stars.

So my challenge to the Yipys and Chikys and Trits are these rich, crispy, gooey, finger sticking, lip licking Cinnamon S’mores with Nutella! Yes, I’m kicking the classic S’mores up a notch with these. It’s a great twist on a old time favorite. And the best part is that they can be made and enjoyed nearly anywhere – out at your campsite, in your kitchen, or even as a backyard BBQ dessert! Anywhere you have a open flame of some type.

How to Make Cinnamon S’mores

• Mix a few tablespoons of sugar and cinnamon
• Roll jumbo sized marshmallows in the cinnamon sugar mix (yum!)
• Break a full sized graham cracker into two parts
• Coat one of the halves of the graham cracker with Nutella spread
• Spear your cinnamon sugar marshmallow with a long stick and slowly heat over campfire until puffy
• Carefully place puffy marshmallow on top of Nutella graham cracker and top with the other half of graham cracker
• Make sure to have lots of napkins nearby! This can be messy!

Oh so gooey, and oh so scrumptious! You may never have “regular” s’mores again! (OK, probably not true… I love regular s’mores! But these make for an awesome alternative.) Costa Rica’s got nothing on us! (Well… except for the 85 degree crystal clear waters, gorgeous jungles filled with white faced monkeys, loads of toucans, colorful macaws, and sloths. Let’s not forget the sloths!) But now we both have desserts we can brag about!

Do you have a favorite dessert you found in a foreign country? I’d love to hear about it!! And if you happen to have a picture of it, post it on Instagram and tag me @The_Spicy_Apron.

[wpurp-searchable-recipe]Yipys and Chickys and Trits Oh My! And Cinnamon S'mores – – Sugar, Ground Cinnamon, Marshmallows, Graham Crackers (I use Cinnamon Graham Crackers), Nutella Spread, , Mix together sugar and cinnamon on a plate; Roll marshmallow around in cinnamon sugar mix, pressing down to make sure the marshmallow is well coated; Break full sized graham cracker into two equal parts and coat one side of one half with a tablespoon of Nutella (or similar) spread ; Spear marshmallow with a long stick (or other long utensil). Place over hot coals from your campfire, (or over a gas/propane cook top or stove.) Rotate stick as the marshmallow cooks. Roast to desired level. (Some like it barely toasted, while others like it charred. Personal preference!) ; When marshmallow is puffy, remove from heat source and carefully place on top of Nutella coated graham cracker, then top with other cracker half. Squish together and enjoy all the gooey deliciousness! ; ; – – Dessert – American – Camping – Camping – Easy – Outdoor – Summer – camping dessert – cinnamon s'mores – costa rica – dessert – international desserts – marshmallows – nutella – s'mores – travel[/wpurp-searchable-recipe]