10 Great Camping Desserts

Applesauce Gingerbread Cake

Serves 4
Preparation time: 5 mins
Cooking time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

• 1 14 oz. can of applesauce
• 1 package of gingerbread cake mix

Utensils:

1. Dutch oven or cast-iron skillet

Instructions:

1. 1.  Pour applesauce in the bottom of the Dutch oven or skillet.
2. 2.  Prepare the cake mix then pour it over the applesauce.
3. 3.  Cover the oven or the skillet, and let the mixture cook. The moisture from the applesauce will steam the cake.
4. 4.  Slice and serve.

Banana Boats

Here's a classic campfire dessert recipe you should try. This recipe uses chocolate chips and marshmallows, but feel free to get creative with your own toppings, like peanut butter, nuts, and crushed graham crackers.

Serves 4
Preparation time: 5 mins
Cooking time: 5 mins

Ingredients:

• 4 medium unpeeled ripe bananas
• 4 teaspoons miniature chocolate chips
• 4 tablespoons miniature marshmallows

Utensils:

1. Knife
2. Foil

Instructions:

1. 1.  Slit each banana lengthwise. Make sure not to cut all the way to the end. Open the banana wider.
2. 2.  Fill each banana with 1 teaspoon chocolate chips and 1 tablespoon marshmallows.
3. 3.  Wrap the bananas individually in foil, then place on grill over campfire for five minutes.

Campfire Donuts

Fresh, warm doughnuts on the campground? Yes please! These doughnuts are also great for breakfast or on the trail.

Serves 4
Preparation and Cooking time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Utensils:

Instructions:

1. 1.  Pour about two inches of oil in a large pot.
2. 2.  Take each biscuit from the can and cut a hole in the middle.
3. 3.  Pour sugar and cinnamon in a paper bag.
4. 4.  Fry the biscuits in the oil until they're golden brown on both sides.
5. 5.  Drain the biscuits on a paper towel, then place them in the paper bag. Shake the bag thoroughly to coat the doughnuts evenly with the cinnamon and sugar.

For an added treat, you can also fry the doughnut holes and sprinkle them with cinnamon and sugar.

Chocolate Fondue

Fondue at a campsite sounds like a total indulgence, and this recipe might even make you forget that you're roughing it.

Serves 4
Preparation and Cooking time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

• Two large bags of semisweet chocolate chips
• ¹/₂ cup of milk
• Any type of liqueur (orange, raspberry, strawberry)

Utensils:

• Small saucepan

Instructions:

1. 1.  Melt the chocolate chips in the saucepan.
2. 2.  Pour in the milk and the liqueur. Stir the mixture.
3. 3.  Set it on low heat.

You can dip marshmallows, pretzels, bread, or chunks of fruit in the fondue.

Cream Puffs

These cream puffs are a yummy alternative to s'mores. Instead of marshmallows, you can also fill the biscuits with condensed milk and then cook them on a rack.

Serves 4
Preparation and Cook time: 5 mins

Ingredients:

• A can of buttermilk biscuits
• Large marshmallows

Instructions:

1. 1.  Open a biscuit and place a marshmallow inside.
2. 2.  Close the biscuit, then put it on a stick then roast it over the fire until the biscuit is golden on all sides.

Dirt Dessert

Kids will definitely get a kick out of this one. You can make as much or as little of this as you want; use half of each ingredient for lunch dessert and then use the rest after dinner.

Serves 4
Preparation time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

• Oreos
• Whipped cream
• Gummy worms

Utensils:

• Bowl
• Large spoon

Instructions:

1. 1.  Crush the Oreos in the bowl. You can crush them into fine pieces or in chunks.
2. 2.  Mix in the whipped cream and the gummy worms.
3. 3.  Store in the cooler; this dessert should be served chilled.

Dutch Oven Three-Peach Crisp

Even if you don't have any ice cream to top this with, it's still a great dessert, and the fresh fruit makes it even better. Make this ahead of time so it's ready to eat after your meal.

Serves 4
Preparation time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 45 mins

Ingredients:

Utensils:

• Dutch oven

Instructions:

1. 1.  Line the Dutch oven with foil.
2. 2.  Place the peaches in the Dutch oven.
3. 3.  Mix the ingredients for the crisp topping together.
4. 4.  Spread the topping over the peaches and bake for 35 to 45 minutes.
5. 5.  Check to make sure that the topping is nice and crisp; you'll know your dessert is done when it is. If it's still soft, continue baking.

No-bake Cookies

Why bring packaged cookies when you can get some fresh from the campfire?

Serves 4
Preparation time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 45 mins

Ingredients:

Utensils:

• Pan
• Bowl
• Large spoon
• Aluminum foil

Instructions:

1. 1.  Mix the cocoa and sugar in a pan.
2. 2.  Add butter and milk.
3. 3.  Boil the mixture for 2 minutes, making sure to stir it constantly.
4. 4.  Take the mixture off the fire.
5. 5.  Add vanilla and peanut butter, then stir.
6. 6.  Place the oatmeal in a bowl, then pour the mixture in. Mix constantly until the oatmeal is fully coated.
7. 7.  Spoon onto aluminum foil and let the mixture set.

Pineapple Upside-down Cakes

This campfire version of pineapple upside-down cake is a quick fix if you've got a craving for cakes. Best of all, you can get individual cakes this way, and you won't need to eat them with a fork.

Serves 4
Preparation time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 5 mins

Ingredients:

Utensils:

• Pan
• Aluminum foil
• Cooking rack

Instructions:

1. 1.  Spray the foil with cooking spray.
2. 2.  Slice a donut and place a pineapple ring on one half.
3. 3.  Melt the butter.
4. 4.  Pack brown sugar all over the pineapple then drizzle the butter on top; this serves as the glaze for the cakes.
5. 5.  Repeat the process for the remaining ingredients.
6. 6.  Cook the cakes on the rack for 5 minutes, making sure that the bottom doesn't burn.

Toasted Angel Food Cake with Berry Topping

It won't be a complete camping experience unless you roast something over an open fire.

Serves 4
Preparation time: 5 mins
Cooking time: 3 mins

Ingredients:

• Slices of angel food cake
• ¹/₂ cup brown sugar
• Berries (depending on your preference)

Utensils:

• Sticks
• Aluminum foil
• Cooking rack

Instructions:

1. 1.  Spear the slices of angel food cake on sticks and roast them over fire, just like you would marshmallows.
2. 2.  Slice the berries, then toss them into a foil packet. Sprinkle with brown sugar, and heat it on the cooking rack over the fire for a couple of minutes.
3. 3.  Top the toasted cake with the warm berries.