Is there anything better than enjoying a sweet dessert after a long day of hiking or adventuring while camping? I don’t think so! There’s something special about sitting around a campfire and indulging in something sweet and homemade. In this guide, I’ll share some of my favorite camping desserts, from the classic s’mores to more adventurous treats like skillet brownies and no-bake peanut butter bars. I’ll also go over the tools you’ll need and some handy tips to ensure your camping desserts turn out perfectly every time. So, if you’re a dessert lover like me, read on!

1. Why Camping Desserts Are a Must-Have

Let’s face it, camping is a lot of fun, but after a day of hiking, setting up tents, and exploring nature, you’re going to want a little indulgence. Desserts are the perfect way to bring a little luxury to the campsite. They’re a great way to bond with friends or family, share stories around the fire, and, of course, satisfy that sweet tooth. But what makes a good camping dessert?

2. What Makes a Good Camping Dessert?

When you’re out in the wild, the last thing you want is a complicated recipe. A good camping dessert should be:

• Easy to make: You won’t have all the fancy kitchen tools at your disposal.
• Minimal ingredients: You’ll want to pack light, so fewer ingredients are better.
• Quick to cook or no-cook: Time is precious when camping, so quick recipes are ideal.
• Fun to eat: What’s camping without a little fun? The best desserts are interactive and engaging, especially if you’re camping with kids.

3. Essential Tools for Making Desserts While Camping

While you don’t need a full kitchen setup to whip up a tasty dessert, there are a few tools you’ll want to pack to make the process easier:

• Campfire or Portable Stove: A campfire is a classic choice, but a portable stove can come in handy for controlled cooking.
• Dutch Oven: This is the go-to for making everything from crisps to brownies. It’s heavy but worth it if you’re car camping.
• Skillet or Cast Iron Pan: Perfect for skillet brownies or frying up fruit-based desserts.
• Foil Packets: These are essential for desserts like banana boats and can be used for roasting.
• Long Skewers: A must-have for roasting marshmallows or making s’mores.
• Tongs and Spatulas: Handy for flipping or moving hot desserts around.

4. Top Camping Dessert Recipes to Try

Now, let’s dive into some of my favorite camping dessert recipes that are not only easy to make but also incredibly delicious.

1. Campfire S’mores: The Classic

You can’t talk about camping desserts without mentioning s’mores. They’re the quintessential camping treat, and they’re so simple that even kids can make them!

Ingredients:

• Graham crackers
• Marshmallows
• Chocolate bars

Steps to Make Campfire S’mores:

1. Start by building a good campfire and letting it burn down until you have some nice, hot embers.
2. Place a marshmallow on the end of a long skewer and roast it over the fire until golden brown and gooey.
3. Break a graham cracker in half and place a piece of chocolate on one side.
4. Once the marshmallow is roasted, place it on top of the chocolate and sandwich it with the other half of the graham cracker.
5. Squish it together and enjoy!

2. Dutch Oven Apple Crisp

If you’re looking for a dessert that feels a little more homemade, apple crisp is perfect. It’s warm, sweet, and can be easily cooked over a campfire in a Dutch oven.

Ingredients:

• 4-5 apples (sliced)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup oats
• ½ cup flour
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ cup butter

Steps to Make Dutch Oven Apple Crisp:

1. In a Dutch oven, toss the apple slices with cinnamon and brown sugar.
2. In a separate bowl, mix together oats, flour, and more brown sugar.
3. Cut in the butter until the mixture is crumbly, then sprinkle it over the apples.
4. Place the Dutch oven over the campfire, cover it, and let it bake for about 30 minutes or until the topping is golden brown and crispy.
5. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream if you have it!

3. Grilled Banana Boats

Grilled banana boats are an absolute crowd-pleaser. They’re warm, gooey, and completely customizable based on your preferences. Plus, they’re super simple to make!

Ingredients:

• Bananas (1 per person)
• Chocolate chips
• Mini marshmallows
• Crushed graham crackers
• Aluminum foil

Steps to Make Grilled Banana Boats:

1. Peel back one section of the banana skin without fully removing it. Slice the banana down the middle (but don’t cut all the way through).
2. Stuff the banana with chocolate chips, marshmallows, and crushed graham crackers.
3. Fold the peel back over the banana and wrap the whole thing in aluminum foil.
4. Place the foil-wrapped banana directly on the campfire or grill and cook for about 5-10 minutes until everything is melted and gooey.
5. Carefully unwrap the banana boat and dig in with a spoon. It’s like a deconstructed s’more!

4. Skillet Brownies

Who says you can’t enjoy warm, fudgy brownies while camping? These skillet brownies are perfect for satisfying your chocolate cravings in the great outdoors.

Ingredients:

• 1 box brownie mix
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup water
• ½ cup oil
• Chocolate chips (optional)
• Cast iron skillet

Steps to Make Skillet Brownies:

1. Start by preparing your brownie mix according to the package instructions (or bring a pre-mixed dry batch).
2. Grease your cast iron skillet and pour the brownie batter into it.
3. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top for extra gooeyness.
4. Place the skillet over the campfire or a portable stove and cover it with aluminum foil or a lid.
5. Cook for about 20-30 minutes, checking periodically. The brownies should be firm but still soft in the middle.
6. Let them cool for a few minutes, then serve directly from the skillet. If you have ice cream, go ahead and add a scoop on top!

5. No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars

If you’re looking for a dessert that doesn’t require any cooking at all, these no-bake peanut butter bars are a fantastic option. They’re quick to make, rich, and satisfying.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• ½ cup melted butter
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Steps to Make No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars:

1. In a bowl, mix together peanut butter, graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, and powdered sugar until well combined.
2. Press the mixture into the bottom of a greased pan or a disposable aluminum tray.
3. Melt the chocolate chips over the campfire or stove and spread them over the peanut butter layer.
4. Let it sit for about 30 minutes (or pop it in a cooler if you have one) until the bars firm up.
5. Cut into squares and enjoy! These are great for snacking throughout the day as well.

6. Campfire Cinnamon Rolls

Who doesn’t love the warm, gooey sweetness of cinnamon rolls? This easy camping twist on the classic dessert will be a hit around the fire.

Ingredients:

• Refrigerated cinnamon roll dough
• Skewers or sticks
• Icing (usually included with the rolls)

Steps to Make Campfire Cinnamon Rolls:

1. Wrap a strip of cinnamon roll dough around a skewer or stick.
2. Hold it over the campfire and slowly rotate until the dough is cooked through and golden brown.
3. Drizzle the icing over the warm cinnamon rolls and enjoy!

7. Campfire Churros

Campfire churros are fun, crispy, and perfect for dipping in chocolate sauce!

Ingredients:

• Pre-made biscuit dough
• Sugar
• Cinnamon
• Oil (for frying)
• Chocolate sauce (optional)

Steps to Make Campfire Churros:

1. Roll the biscuit dough into long strips.
2. Heat oil in a Dutch oven or deep skillet over the fire.
3. Fry the dough strips until golden brown and crispy.
4. Roll the churros in a mixture of sugar and cinnamon.
5. Serve with chocolate sauce for dipping.

8. Campfire Baked Apples

These baked apples are a healthier yet equally delicious dessert option, filled with sweet spices and cooked to perfection over a fire.

Ingredients:

• Apples (one per person)
• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon
• Raisins or nuts (optional)
• Aluminum foil

Steps to Make Campfire Baked Apples:

1. Core each apple, leaving the bottom intact.
2. Fill the center with brown sugar, cinnamon, and raisins or nuts if desired.
3. Wrap each apple in aluminum foil.
4. Place the apples in the hot coals of your campfire and let them bake for about 20 minutes until soft.
5. Open the foil carefully and serve the apples warm.

9. S’mores Nachos

This is a fun twist on the classic s’mores, making it a shareable, gooey dessert for everyone to dig into.

Ingredients:

• Graham crackers
• Marshmallows
• Chocolate chips
• Aluminum foil

Steps to Make S’mores Nachos:

1. Spread out broken graham crackers on a sheet of aluminum foil.
2. Sprinkle chocolate chips and marshmallows generously on top.
3. Wrap the whole thing in foil and place it on the grill or campfire for about 5-10 minutes, until everything is melted and gooey.
4. Unwrap and dig in with forks or your hands!

10. Campfire Donuts

Campfire donuts are super easy and satisfyingly sweet, with a crispy exterior and soft, doughy center.

Ingredients:

• Canned biscuit dough
• Sugar
• Cinnamon
• Oil (for frying)

Steps to Make Campfire Donuts:

1. Heat oil in a skillet or Dutch oven over the campfire.
2. Take each biscuit dough and poke a hole in the center to form a donut shape.
3. Fry the donuts in the hot oil until golden brown on both sides.
4. Roll the freshly fried donuts in a mixture of sugar and cinnamon.
5. Enjoy warm by the fire!

5. Tips for Successful Camping Desserts

Camping desserts can be incredibly fun, but they do require some planning and preparation. Here are a few tips to make sure your sweet treats turn out perfectly:

Packing the Right Ingredients

Before you leave for your camping trip, double-check that you have all the ingredients you need. Here are a few tips:

• Pre-measure ingredients: If a recipe calls for specific amounts, pre-measure them and store them in labeled bags or containers to save time at the campsite.
• Bring versatile ingredients: Items like chocolate, marshmallows, and peanut butter can be used in multiple recipes.
• Keep it simple: Stick to recipes that don’t require refrigeration unless you have a cooler.

Cooking Over a Campfire

Campfire cooking is part of the fun, but it can be tricky. Here’s how to master it:

• Control the heat: Campfire temperatures can fluctuate, so it’s important to cook over embers rather than direct flames for more consistent heat.
• Use the right tools: Make sure you have long-handled utensils to avoid burning yourself.
• Foil is your friend: For many camping desserts, foil packets are a convenient way to cook ingredients without dirtying pots or pans.

Storing and Preserving Ingredients

One of the challenges of camping is keeping ingredients fresh. Here are some tips for storing ingredients while camping:

• Use airtight containers: Keep ingredients like sugar, flour, and graham crackers in airtight containers to prevent moisture or bugs from getting in.
• Cooler storage: For items that need to stay cold (like butter or chocolate), pack them in a cooler with plenty of ice or ice packs.
• Pre-mix when possible: For things like brownies or peanut butter bars, you can pre-mix the dry ingredients at home to make it easier to assemble at the campsite.

6. Why These Desserts Are Perfect for Camping

So, why are these desserts the ideal sweet treats for your next camping adventure? First, they’re incredibly easy to make and don’t require complicated techniques or specialized tools. Secondly, these desserts are designed to be made in outdoor settings, whether it’s over a campfire, in a Dutch oven, or using foil packets. They’re fun to prepare with friends or family, and there’s a certain joy in indulging in a gooey dessert under the stars. Plus, most of these recipes can be customized based on what you have on hand, making them versatile for any trip.

7. Conclusion

Camping desserts are a delightful way to cap off your time in the great outdoors. Whether you stick with the classic s’mores or get adventurous with a Dutch oven apple crisp, there’s something special about enjoying a homemade treat by the campfire. The best part is, these desserts don’t require much in the way of tools or ingredients, making them perfect for any camping trip. I hope these recipes inspire you to try something sweet on your next adventure!

8. FAQs

1. Can I make camping desserts ahead of time?
   Yes! Some desserts, like no-bake peanut butter bars, can be made ahead of time and stored in airtight containers. Just be sure to keep them cool during your trip.
2. What’s the easiest camping dessert for beginners?
   Campfire s’mores are probably the easiest camping dessert. They require just three ingredients and no special tools, making them great for beginners.
3. Can I make these desserts without a campfire?
   Absolutely! Many of these desserts can be made using a portable stove or grill. For example, skillet brownies can be made on a portable stove, and grilled banana boats work great on a grill.
4. What if I don’t have a Dutch oven?
   If you don’t have a Dutch oven, you can make desserts like apple crisp in a skillet or foil packet instead. Just be mindful of the cooking time and temperature.
5. How do I store leftover camping desserts?
   Leftovers can be stored in airtight containers or wrapped in foil. If you have a cooler, that’s the best way to keep them fresh for a few days.

Resources

• https://outdoorsaga.com/lake-george-hiking-your-guide-to-the-top-trails/
• https://outdoorsaga.com/best-camping-gear-a-comprehensive-guide/