Every now and then, you realize that a certain combination of flavors mixes and matches and mingles and ricochets off the human palate to create a taste profile of perfection. To wit: the humble s’more.

Though typically associated with summer, I’d argue that the s’more is a year-round dessert—one equally at home by a campfire in July and the fireplace in December.

I present four reasons the s’more is a supremely crafted treat.

1. Gooey loves crunchy. The yins and yangs of the culinary world are well known. Salty loves sweet. Roasted loves spicy. And gooey, my friends, loves crunchy.

2. Nostalgia is strong. I hate camping. But I love the idea of it. And millions of people actually love it. Campfires remind them of being a kid, of surveying the vast black sky aglitter with stars while an orange fire hisses and cracks, warming marshmallows to a toasty brown.

3. Options abound. Purists will stick to the three key elements, but opportunities to get wild are endless. I’ve seen recipes for s’more variations that include ingredients such as: candied bacon, roasted raspberries, peanut butter, banana, chili powder, pretzels and Oreos (did someone say S’mOreos?). Not to mention, the s’more is not limited to its origin form. One can whip up s’more cookies, brownies, cake pops, milkshakes, cheesecake and pie.

4. Anyone’s up. The s’more is democratic. Three ingredients, mere minutes of cook time. A box of graham crackers: $2.99. A Hershey’s chocolate bar: $1.79. A bag of giant marshmallows: $3.19. Grand total: $7.97.