Just because you don’t have access to a stove or oven doesn’t mean you can’t make great desserts! Camping desserts are as fun to make as they are to eat. Plus it doesn’t matter if you get a little messy since you’re already outside! Pull up your favorite camping chair, and take a bit of these delicious desserts.
1. Mountain Pies
Mountain pies are a camping classic. They require their own special iron that looks like a square on a stick, but they’re worth the investment. Just spray the iron with cooking spray, put a slice of bread on each half (a sweeter bread like cinnamon raisin or honey wheat would work great for dessert), and pile on a fruit pie filling, chocolate with banana slices, or PB & J. Stick the iron in the fire, flip it after a few minutes, and you have a piping hot hand pie!
2. Banana Boats
These desserts are easy to make and the perfect way to get kids to eat a piece of fruit. Slice open the bananas lengthwise (leave the peel on) and stuff them with chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips, coconut, or mini marshmallows. Cover them with foil and place on top of a grill over the fire until the toppings start to melt. These are yummy alone or scooped out over ice cream if you have access to a freezer.
3. Campfire Cones
These creative little desserts are sugary sweet and a less messy alternative to s’mores since they have a “cone holder.” Spread some peanut butter inside sugar cones and fill them up with sliced bananas, mini marshmallows, strawberries, chocolate chips, or whatever you fancy. Wrap them in foil, place over hot coals, and turn a few times until chocolate gets melty.
4. Cake in an Orange
This fun dessert makes its own bowl, so fewer dishes to wash or paper plates to throw away! Cut the tops off some oranges, probably one per family member, and scoop out the pulp. Then, pour some pre-made cake batter (your own or a box mix) inside until three-quarters full. You can use any flavor of cake, but chocolate pairs especially well with orange. Wrap oranges in foil, tuck into the coals, and allow them to cook for about half an hour, turning a few times. Who says you can’t make cake on a camping trip?
5. Skillet-Cooked Berry Grunt
This skillet cake is a unique way to get fancy when cooking over the campfire. Combine your favorite mixed berries (like blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries) in a skillet with lemon juice, water, and sugar and cook over the fire until thickened. Then spoon biscuit dough (your own homemade or a boxed mix) in dollops on top of the berries. Cover the skillet tightly with foil and let cook until the biscuit tops are dry, about 20 minutes. Warning: because this one takes longer to make, start it before dinner to avoid grumpy kids at dessert time.
6. Campfire Donuts
These delicious and simple donuts are great for dessert or breakfast. All you need is a can of refrigerated biscuits, cinnamon, sugar, and oil for frying. Heat oil in a pot over the fire. Then separate the biscuits, cutting a hole out of the center of each (you can use a cookie cutter or wine bottle cap for this!). Combine cinnamon and sugar in a paper or plastic bag, fry donuts on both sides in the hot oil, drain on paper towels, then throw them in the cinnamon sugar mixture and shake to coat.
7. Baked Apples
For a healthier dessert idea, try these yummy apples. Cut the core out of each apple, fill with granola, raisins, oats, crumbled oatmeal cookies, or crushed granola bars. Sprinkle each with cinnamon and sugar if you like, then wrap in a double layer of foil. Place them in the coals and cook for about 10 minutes, turning occasionally. Eat warm for a delicious and nutritious treat!
8. Campfire Eclairs
These decadent desserts will fill you up after a long hike! Wrap refrigerated crescent rolls around a camp fork and close off one end. Wrap loosely with foil and cook over the fire until golden brown. Carefully remove the dough tube, fill with prepared vanilla pudding, and slather with chocolate frosting. These are a bit messy but delicious!
Campfire desserts are a fun way to end a day in the great outdoors with family and friends. Whether you want to cook in the coals, on a stick, or in a skillet or Dutch oven, there are tons of easy ways to make delicious sweets while camping.
Leave a Reply