Campfire desserts hold a special place in the hearts of outdoor enthusiasts. There’s something magical about gathering around a warm campfire on a cool night, sharing laughter and stories with loved ones while indulging in delectable treats. It’s an experience that creates lasting memories and brings families closer together.
As the flames dance and crackle, the warm glow provides the perfect backdrop for a cozy gathering. The smell of roasting marshmallows and the sound of laughter fill the air. It’s a moment when time seems to slow down, allowing everyone to fully immerse themselves in the present and appreciate the simple pleasures of life. Pleasures like scrumptious, homemade campfire desserts.
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Whether building the perfect s’more or inventing a new campfire dessert recipe, there’s a sense of adventure and experimentation that adds to the excitement when camping. Children and adults bond over their shared love for sweet treats, working together and making memories that will be cherished for years to come.
The Joy of Camping and Easy Campfire Desserts
S’mores are the classic campfire dessert that perfectly embodies the joy and nostalgia of camping. Consisting of just three simple ingredients – graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows – they are incredibly simple to make. Simply start by roasting your marshmallow over an open flame until it turns golden brown and gooey. Then, sandwich it between two graham crackers with a piece of chocolate. The heat from the marshmallow will melt the chocolate, creating a deliciously indulgent treat.
(Of course, there are two camps on the perfect way to roast a marshmallow. Not everyone likes their marshmallow lightly toasted, many prefer their marshmallows with black char that only happens when it bursts into flame.) Either way, s’mores are the epitome of the classic campfire dessert.
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Popular twists on the favorite campfire dessert include switching the plain graham crackers with favorite cookies like Keebler Fudge Stripe Cookies, Girl Scout Toast Yays, or shortbread cookies. You can also substitute traditional chocolate with white chocolate or peanut butter cups, too!
What makes s’mores particularly special is the experience they create around the campfire. Gathering around the flickering flames, roasting marshmallows, and assembling s’mores together is a time-honored tradition that brings families and friends closer. The act of roasting marshmallows teaches patience and promotes bonding as everyone eagerly waits for their marshmallows to reach the perfect level of toasty goodness. Sharing stories and laughter while indulging in these gooey treats adds a cozy and magical element to every camping trip.
But, oh my gosh! Talk about an easy dessert (or breakfast, for that matter!) The Campfire Cinnamon Rolls are cooked on your marshmallow roasting sticks. Amber from Dessert Now Dinner Later takes you through the simple steps of cooking pre-packaged cinnamon rolls on a campfire on marshmallow roasting sticks. It’s such a creative way for everyone to cook their own individual cinnamon rolls.
Foil Wrapped Campfire Desserts
Foil-wrapped campfire desserts are a culinary adventure that sparks excitement in both young and old alike. What makes it even more enchanting is that the whole family can participate. From preparing the ingredients to wrapping the foil packets, it’s an interactive experience.
Whether you’re filling those foil packets with chocolate chips, marshmallows, and graham crackers for ooey-gooey s’mores, or creating a medley of fruits and spices for a delicious cobbler, there’s an undeniable thrill in crafting your own desserts over an open flame. The combination of the crackling fire, the tantalizing scents, and the anticipation of unwrapping those foil packages to reveal warm, sweet surprises is pure magic.
Fresh Off the Grid offers nine ways to make Banana Boats. What’s a Banana Boat? It’s a cross between a banana split and a s’more. Keeping the peel on your banana, you slice one side open. Tuck in tiny marshmallows, chocolate chips, and crumbled graham crackers for the Classic S’mores Banana Boat. Wrap everything in foil and set warm it in the coals of the fire.
The result is an ooey, gooey, hot bit of yum! Variations of Banana Boats from Fresh off the Grid include Strawberry Hazelnut, which includes Nutella and strawberries; Dulce de Leche, which is made with dulche de leche sauce, coconut shreds, and chocolate; and more…
Cinnamon Monkey Bread Foil Packets can be for dessert or breakfast. The recipe by Gimme Some Grilling has you cut pre-packaged cinnamon rolls into four pieces with kitchen sheers. You can cook the whole batch in one foil wrapping, or let everyone do two rolls in their own foil packets. Just add some butter, extra cinnamon, and extra sugar and you have the most delightful pull-apart bread. Such messy, delicious fun that everyone loves. It’s sure to become a camp tradition for your family if it is not one already.
Campfire Apple Pie Packets, like all foil-wrapped desserts, can be made on the campfire or on the grill. The recipe from Christi from Love from the Oven walks you through the easy steps to combine chopped apples with quick-cooked oats, flour brown sugar, and cinnamon. The Campfire Apple Pie cooks in about 10 minutes on the campfire. Of course, if you have a way to keep ice cream cold at camp, the pies are amazing with a scoop on top. But, no worries, it’s great fresh off the fire, too.
Campfire Cones by Princess Pinky Girl are a sweet alternative to messy smores. Stuff marshmallows in the bottom of a waffle cone, and then add chopped bananas, strawberries, chocolate chips, and nuts. Basically add your favorite fruits, chocolate bars, or caramel candies. Wrap the cone in foil and slowly warm it up on the coals from the fire. The result: an ooey, gooey, hot concoction full of your favorites.
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Popcorn is another classic campfire snack. Place a heavy-duty foil packet filled with popcorn kernels, a tablespoon of oil, and seasonings on the campfire grate. Shake it occasionally, and in no time, you’ll have freshly popped corn. Have you tried to make popcorn on a campfire yet? It’s so fun. You do want to cook on a low, slow fire or just hot coals so you do not burn your popcorn. It’s like homemade Jiffy Pop Pop Corn.
Dutch Oven Desserts to Make When Camping
Making desserts in a Dutch oven while camping is a delightful experience that combines the love for the great outdoors with the joy of homemade, warm sweets. There’s a unique satisfaction in crafting delectable treats over a crackling campfire, all while embracing the simplicity and rustic charm of outdoor cooking. Dutch ovens make it easy, as they’re designed to retain heat and distribute it evenly, ensuring your desserts come out perfectly every time.
Whether it’s a bubbling berry cobbler, a golden-crusted apple crisp, or a gooey chocolate brownie with s’more fixings mixed inside, the aroma and warmth of these campfire creations add an extra layer of coziness to your outdoor adventure.
Campfire desserts in a Dutch oven are a testament to the magic that happens when nature, camaraderie, and scrumptious sweets come together under the open sky. When the lid is on … a Dutch oven is an oven. You learn to regulate the temperature by placing briquettes of charcoal on the top and or the bottom of the Dutch oven based on what is needed for that particular recipe.
The Dutch Oven Apple Dump Cake (and other variations, too!) from Camping for Foodies will teach you to love your Dutch oven and what it can do for you. Make the Dutch Oven Apple Dump Cake by combining a yellow cake mix with a can of apple pie filling, a bit of butter, some cinnamon, and pecans. The result is simply: Yum.
You can make a variety of Dump Cakes with any flavor of canned pie filling and any flavor of cake mix. Enjoy the variations offered by Camping for Foodies and experiment on your own. Once you are comfortable with your Dutch oven you will be able to use it as a versatile tool for cooking breakfast and dinner, too.
Ready to impress your friends and family with a beautiful and delicious campfire dessert? Try the Dutch Oven Pineapple Upside-Down Cake by the Good Hearted Woman. It’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser. The first time, it may seem a bit daunting to flip your cake, but once you have done it once. You are an expert.
Have You Ever Made Pies on a Campfire?
Pie iron desserts cooked over a campfire evoke a delightful sense of nostalgia that brings back cherished memories of the great outdoors. There’s something inherently magical about transforming simple ingredients into a delicious, piping-hot treat. The process is pure fun, from assembling your dessert in the pie iron to cooking it over the crackling flames.
What’s a pie iron? Some call them pudgy pie makers. Some call them sandwich makers. Whatever you call them, know that they magically transform buttered bread into delicious crusts. You put your favorite bread (even gluten-free will work) buttered side down in the pie iron.
Put a couple of spoonfuls of your favorite canned pie filling, maybe a couple of mini marshmallows, or a couple of chocolate chips, too. The buttered side of the bread faces both sides of the metal or cast iron pie iron. Close it up with the latch and cook it over a campfire. Andrea Meyers from Making Life walks you through step-by-step instructions for Campfire Pies.
Whether it’s a classic s’mores-inspired creation, a fruity pocket of pie filling, or a gooey, chocolatey delight, pie iron desserts are simply amazing. They encapsulate the essence of camping – the crackle of the fire, the camaraderie of friends and family, and the joy of creating something delectable amidst the wilderness. With each bite, you savor not just the flavors but the unforgettable moments spent around the campfire, making pie-iron desserts an essential part of any camping adventure.
Campfire Cookies!
Skillet Cookies are a big hit at restaurants, so why not impress your family while camping with everyone’s favorite dessert a chocolate chip cookie? Skillet Cookies on a Campfire are so easy. Bake your favorite cookie dough in a cast-iron skillet over the campfire for warm, gooey cookies with a slightly smoky flavor. Add marshmallows, chocolate chips, or nuts for extra indulgence. It’s as easy as 1-2-3!
Campfire desserts provide quality family time in today’s fast-paced world. Creating homemade treats while camping allows you to create moments of connection with loved ones. Sitting around a campfire, away from the distractions of technology, allows families to truly engage with one another. It’s a time when stories are shared, jokes are told, and laughter fills the night sky.
These moments create a sense of togetherness and strengthen the bond between family members. While s’mores are a classic choice, the variety of recipes available allows you to explore and satisfy your sweet tooth in new and exciting ways. Embrace the warmth of the campfire, let the cool night air wrap around you, and indulge in the joy of sweet moments shared with family and friends.
Photo Credits: Pexels, Unsplash, and Pixabay.
WANT TO READ MORE?
Check out Daily Mom’s article, “Your All-In-One Guide To RV Accessories,” for more camping advice.
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