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.

Choosing a camping chair is not as simple a decision as one would think. They are a lot of things to consider such as portability and durability, like many other pieces of camping equipment, but you also want to get a chair that is comfortable and functional. Remember, these are chairs that get totally abused from being dragged across campsites and beaches, being tossed in the back of the car and, when they aren’t in use, can be stored on the porch or garage. Despite their mistreatment, we then expect our camping chair to fold out and be comfortable. Here are few tips on picking out a great camping chair and a few reviews of some of the products out there now.

Most people think of a camping chair as a simple chair made of fabric that you can easily carry with you and is easy to set up. These days, those are the minimum standards for a camping chair. There are many choices on the market today with different types of features. So many in fact, that it may be difficult to pick the best one.

Different Ways We Use Camping Chairs Today

Tailgating and Car Camping

Tailgating and car camping do not require a lot of walking so the portability of the chairs is not as much of an issue but comfort is. Comfort is one of the most important features customers search for in a camping chair. Durability is also a necessity and a great price is always a bonus. If you are doing a lot of hiking or outdoor activities while camping, when you return to camp you definitely want a chair you can fall into and rest so you want to pick a chair that is the most comfortable. The Kijaro Dual Lock Folding chair is a popular model for relaxing and it offers superb back support. An affordable option is the Coleman Broadband Quad Chair which is a smaller camping chair that takes up less space than other camping chairs when you throw it in the back of your SUV with the rest of your camping or tailgating supplies. It’s also well-ventilated and has a great cup holder. A pricier option is the ALPS Mountaineering King Kong which is very cozy, especially after a long hike, but it is bulkier than the other camping chairs.

Beach Living

A favorite past time of many beachgoers is bringing their camping chair with them to lounge, read or sunbathe under the sun. If you are planning on using your camping chair at the beach a lot, you need a chair with a mesh fabric that will keep you well-ventilated while sunbathing. It’s also a good idea to choose a chair in a lighter color that won’t get as hot in the sun as a darker color chair. Make sure your chair is also pretty stable so it doesn’t wobble in the sand.

Next, consider what part of the beach you usually visit and how far the walk to the beach will be from your car. If you’re bringing the whole family with you, you’ll have a wagon full of beach supplies and sand toys so adding a cumbersome chair can slow you down. If your walk to the beach is short, then the Eureka Curvy High Back is a really comfortable chair to sit in for extended periods of time. It has a unique tall back design which provides great head support and well-ventilated fabric that will cool your body while you sit in the hot sun. It also features a big side pocket that can hold sunscreen, snacks and your reading material. If you usually have a farther walk, the Kelsyus Mesh Backpack Camp Chair is also great for lounging at the beach. It’s easy to carry, has a well-ventilated back and sit close to the ground.

Short Outdoor Trips

These trips can include any outdoor activities where you aren’t camping but you are still going backpacking or hiking. Or you’re going fishing for the day or to an outdoor concert and need something to sit on. For these activities, you need a comfortable, portable chair to sit on and relax once you reach your destination. A great chair for this type of scenario is the Texsport Portable Outdoor Folding Tripod Stool. It’s one of the smaller models of camping chairs and only weighs 2 pounds, however, one of its drawbacks is its lack of stability. Another more stable option is the Texsport Bazaar Folding Camp Picnic Outdoor Chair with Drink Holder, which weighs a little more, 5 pounds, and is still pretty portable for a camping chair. It’s very sturdy and great for lounging around or watching an outdoor concert.

Knowing What You Want

Now that you have considered how you will be using your camping chair you can start to decide what features are the most important in choosing a camping chair. Do you need a chair with ventilation when you will be sitting in direct sunlight? Do you like chairs that have extra storage areas for sunscreen and snacks? The Coleman Broadband Quad Chair has a great storage option for all of your necessities that is also portable and a great value. Older or taller individuals may prefer a chair that doesn’t sit as low to the ground and is easy to get out of like the Coleman Oversize Quad Chair with Cooler and the ALPS Mountaineering King Kong which have higher seats that are more ergonomic.

Camping Chairs Types

Camping chairs tend to fall in one of these two categories – portable and traditional.

Traditional Camp Chairs

Traditional camp chairs offer more back support and don’t sit as low to the ground so they are generally considered more comfortable. Since the seat is higher, they are easier to get in and out of and they are perfect for those that want to lounge around. They do take up more space and are heaving to carry so, if you don’t mind the extra weight, they are a great choice. Traditional camp chairs only take a few second to set up by pulling them opposite ends apart and it basically sets itself up.

Portable Camp Chairs

Obviously the portable camp chairs are the most portable. They tend to be smaller and lighter, the seat is lower to the ground and they take more time to put together. Portable camp chairs are also not as comfortable as the traditional models and they are also a lot less stable. However, if you have limited space and you have to carry the chair for quite a distance than they are the perfect chair for you. Of the portable chairs, the Texsport Bazaar Folding Camp Picnic Outdoor Chair with Drink Holder, was the most stable as well as the most comfortable of the portable camping chairs. The GCI Outdoor Quick-E Seat was modern and nice looking and includes a backrest and beverage holder. However, the Quick-E-Seat is based on three legs and can be unstable for sitting. One of the best choices for a portable chair is the Texsport Portable Outdoor Folding Tripod Stool which is a smaller model so it is easy to carry and is a little more stable.

Chairs for Backpacking

Chairs for backpacking tend to be lighter and easier to pack than a portable camping chair. If you are planning on hiking in the mountains, than you want a chair that has a low weight and is less bulky and less comfortable. Even the portable chairs discussed previously were still fairly comfortable and are definitely a little more heavier and bulkier than chairs for backpacking. The Therm-a-Rest Lite Seat is the most compact and light but it doesn’t have any back support and it has a pretty hard seat. The Alite monarch buttery is also light but it’s a compact chair that has a back. It weighs about a pound and it can fold up into the size of two soda can standing on top of one another so it can be easily be stored in a large purse or a small backpack.

Once you decide what type of chair you want, you can make the final decisions on the rest of its features. If you choose a portable chair, you generally won’t find additional features like storage pockets and cup holders but since the seats are lower, it’s easy to rest your drinks and sunscreen on the ground. Traditional camping chairs usually had at least one cup holder and a storage pocket wit some models having additional features like the Sport-Brella Recliner which not only has an umbrella but also a detachable footrest, cooler and bottle opener.

No matter what type of chair you choose or how you use it, you’ll soon be relaxing in the great outdoors in comfort with a durable chair you’ll be able to enjoy for years to come. Enjoy!