Ambiano S'mores Maker | ALDI REVIEWER

Last Updated on July 30, 2023

EDITOR’S NOTE: Aldi sold this s’mores maker again in August of 2023 for a much lower price of $19.99, instead of the $34.99 we paid in 2022. This is yet another example we’ve seen of Aldi quietly dropping prices on certain Aldi Finds.

S’mores have a lot going for them. There’s a social element involved in making them, as family and friends gather around a campfire to roast marshmallows on sticks. Once the marshmallows are brown and toasty, or blackened, depending on your preference, everyone crowds around a picnic table and sandwiches their marshmallows between graham crackers, tucking in squares of chocolate to complete it all. Making s’mores is an opportunity to hang out and talk, to enjoy a campfire, and to spend a little time in the outdoors. And when you’re finished, you have a delicious yet surprisingly simple dessert to eat.

Most people consider s’mores to be a treat best enjoyed during the summer or fall when campfires, bonfires, or backyard fire pits commonly happen. You can still make s’mores with an outdoor fire during the winter, but you’ll probably be a lot colder, and there’s only so much a fire can do to take off the chill in sub-freezing temperatures.

Really dedicated s’mores fans can buy indoor s’mores kits that allow you to make s’mores at your kitchen counter or dining room table. These gadgets are novel and sure to be a great conversation piece at any gathering. And recently, Aldi sold its own s’mores maker.

The Ambiano S’mores Maker (Product Code: 707642) cost $34.99 at the time of publication. That’s within the price range of other s’mores makers on Amazon. This particular s’mores maker looks a lot like a model by Sharper Image, which cost about $37 at the time of writing.

This is an Aldi Find, so it’s only in stores for a limited time. Each store gets one shipment, and after that sells out, they’re gone unless Aldi brings them back at some later point. Aldi does not offer online ordering for products that aren’t in stock at your local store.

The back of the box. (Click to enlarge.)

Here’s more information about the s’mores maker, according to the box:

Made for indoor use; make s’mores anywhere to bring your favorite campfire experience right to your kitchen
Includes serving tray with 4 compartments designed to hold marshmallows, graham crackers, and marshmallows
Features stainless steel electric range with removable grill plate
Flameless electric design
Includes 4 stainless steel roasting skewers to keep hands at a safe distance from the heater
345 Watts
Bears the ETL Intertek mark indicating product compliance to North American safety standards
Made in China

More information printed on the box. (Click to enlarge.)

This comes with a three-year warranty serviced by Tempo, a common Aldi warranty provider. Other Aldi products Tempo has provided warranty service for include the Easy Home Upright Bagless Vacuum, the Ambiano Egg Cooker, and the Ambiano Deep Fryer. For after sales support, call 866-235-5029 or email info@customercareusa.com.

Opening the Box and Setting it Up:

What comes inside the box. At top, from left: the heating element with cord, the removable grill plate, and the tray with compartments for holding s’mores components. At bottom, from left: the warranty card, and manual, and four skewers for marshmallows.

The box contents are as follows:

S’mores maker
4 roasting skewers
An instruction manual
A warranty card

The manual offers some safety tips, including making sure children are supervised while using this. It also advises to only grill marshmallows with the device. When setting it up, make sure there are no flammable objects or fabrics nearby, and do not use it under wall cabinets or in corners on a kitchen counter. Make sure your operating surface is easily accessible, level, dry, stable, and heat resistant.

You’ll want to clean the s’mores maker before first use. To clean it, remove the removable grill plate and wipe the device with a soft, slightly damp cloth. Wash the serving tray with four compartments, the removable grill plate, and the skewers by hand. Never wash the device in the dishwasher. Don’t use any aggressive cleaners or sharp or metallic cleaning utensils such as knives, hard scrapers, or similar items. Allow all parts to dry completely.

To set up the s’mores maker, completely unwind the power cable, and then guide the cable through the serving tray with four compartments. Place the stainless steel electric ranges on the serving tray with compartments so the power cable is positioned at the recess. Put the removable grill plate onto the stainless steel range and plug the power cable into a socket.

All set up and turned on, with the heating indicator light glowing red.

When using the s’mores maker for the first time, you might notice a stronger smell as production residues and preservatives on the heating element cook off. Ensure the room you’re cooking in is well ventilated, then set the ON/OFF switch to the ON position. Switch the s’mores maker off as soon as the smoke and smell have dissipated. I initially used this s’mores maker in my sunroom with some windows open. It definitely produces a plasticky manufacturing type of smell for the first few minutes, and it will smoke some. Eventually the smell and the smoke both fade.

Now your s’mores maker is ready for some fun.

Using the S’mores Maker:

Ready to make s’mores.

To make s’mores, fill the serving tray with marshmallows, graham crackers (because Aldi is a European company, the manual calls the graham crackers “biscuits”), and chocolate or other desired ingredients. Set the ON/OFF switch to ON. The indicator light will blink. Allow the device to heat up for 5-10 minutes until the heating element glows red.

While using this, be careful about how you reach for s’mores ingredients. I can see how someone could potentially reach across the heating element and get burned. Encourage everyone in your group to reach around and not over the heating element.

The removable grill turned a darker color during our first use.

To prepare a s’more, place chocolate on a graham cracker. Then slide a marshmallow onto a skewer. Only hold the skewer by the handle and hold the marshmallow over the heat without touching the removable grill plate. It takes approximately two minutes to roast a marshmallow. Do not overheat the marshmallow because it could melt and drop onto the heating element. Turn the skewer until the marshmallow has an even light brown color or the desired shade of brown. Then put the marshmallow on the chocolate and place another graham cracker on top.

Toasting a marshmallow.

When you’re finished making s’mores, switch the device to the OFF position and unplug it. Allow it to completely cool before moving or cleaning it.

This s’mores maker was easy to use and a lot of fun. True to what the manual states, it only took about two minutes to get lightly browned, soft, gooey marshmallows that were perfect for making s’mores. They don’t have the same smoky taste as what you’d make over a campfire, but you also don’t have to deal with getting smoke in your eyes.

This gadget would make an entertaining activity with family and friends, and it might make a unique gift for that person who is hard to buy for.

The Verdict:

The Ambiano S’mores Maker uses a heating element similar to an electric stove top with coils to toast your marshmallows indoors on a tabletop or kitchen counter. It comes with a tray with compartments for holding all your s’mores ingredients, along with four skewers for roasting marshmallows. If you want a way to satisfy your s’mores craving during the winter or are just looking for a fun gift for a friend or relative, this might fit the bill.