5 Campfire Desserts That'll Make You Skip the Main Course

Dessert Belongs at Camp

The campfire is already there. You’ve got coals, you’ve got time, and everyone’s sitting around staring at flames anyway. Put that fire to work.

These five desserts range from 5-minute no-brainers to dutch oven projects that’ll make people think you planned this trip around dessert.

1. Upgraded S’mores

The classic s’more is fine. But with one or two swaps, it goes from fine to genuinely great.

The Base:

• Graham crackers
• Marshmallows (full-size, not minis)
• Chocolate

The Upgrades:

Swap	For
Milk chocolate	Dark chocolate (70%) or Reese’s cups
Graham crackers	Chocolate chip cookies or stroopwafels
Plain marshmallow	Toasted coconut marshmallows
Nothing	Add sliced strawberries or a smear of peanut butter

Technique matters: Hold your marshmallow 6-8 inches above the coals (not in the flames). Rotate slowly for 2-3 minutes until golden brown all the way around. The inside should be molten.

Pro tip: The best s’more hack is using a Reese’s cup instead of plain chocolate. The peanut butter melts into the marshmallow and it’s absurd.

2. Campfire Banana Boats

Gooey, warm, and customizable. Kids and adults both go for these.

Ingredients (per banana):

• 1 ripe banana (unpeeled)
• 2 tbsp chocolate chips
• 2 tbsp mini marshmallows
• 1 tbsp peanut butter (optional)
• Graham cracker crumbs for topping

Steps:

1. Slice the banana lengthwise through the peel, but don’t cut all the way through. Open it like a canoe.
2. Stuff the slit with chocolate chips, marshmallows, and peanut butter.
3. Wrap tightly in foil.
4. Place on coals or grate for 5-7 minutes.
5. Unwrap, sprinkle graham cracker crumbs, eat with a spoon.

Pro tip: Don’t use green bananas. You want them ripe—slightly spotted is ideal. They’re sweeter and soften faster over heat.

3. Dutch Oven Cobbler

This is the showstopper. Pull the lid off a dutch oven cobbler at camp and people lose their minds.

Ingredients:

• 2 cans pie filling (cherry, peach, or blueberry)
• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, sliced thin
• Cinnamon

Steps:

1. Pour both cans of pie filling into a greased 12-inch dutch oven.
2. Spread dry cake mix evenly over the fruit. Do not stir.
3. Lay butter slices across the top of the cake mix, covering as much surface as possible.
4. Sprinkle cinnamon on top.
5. Cover with lid.

Heat setup (charcoal briquettes for a 12-inch dutch oven):

• 8 briquettes underneath
• 16 briquettes on the lid
• Target temperature: 350°F

Cook time: 30-35 minutes. Check at 25 minutes—the top should be golden brown and the fruit should be bubbling at the edges.

Pro tip: Peach cobbler with a scoop of vanilla ice cream from an insulated container is the single best dessert you’ll eat outdoors. Worth the cooler space.

4. Campfire Cinnamon Rolls

Refrigerated dough does all the heavy lifting here. The dutch oven does the rest.

Ingredients:

• 1 tube refrigerated cinnamon rolls (with icing)
• 2 tbsp butter
• Extra cinnamon and brown sugar (optional)

Steps:

1. Grease the inside of a 10-inch dutch oven with butter.
2. Arrange cinnamon rolls in a single layer on the bottom. They can touch—they’ll expand.
3. Sprinkle extra cinnamon and brown sugar on top if you want.
4. Cover with lid.

Heat setup:

• 6 briquettes underneath
• 14 briquettes on the lid
• Target temperature: 325-350°F

Cook time: 15-20 minutes. Check at 12 minutes. They’re done when golden on top and cooked through in the center (no raw dough when you poke with a knife).

Spread the icing packet over the rolls while they’re still hot. The heat melts it into a glaze.

These disappear fast. If you’re feeding more than four people, bring two tubes.

5. Grilled Peaches

Simple, elegant, and done in under 10 minutes. This one catches people off guard with how good it is.

Ingredients:

• 4 ripe peaches, halved and pitted
• 2 tbsp butter, melted
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• Honey for drizzling
• Whipped cream or vanilla yogurt (optional)

Steps:

1. Brush cut sides of peach halves with melted butter.
2. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon, sprinkle over the buttered sides.
3. Place peaches cut-side down on a grate over medium coals.
4. Grill 3-4 minutes until grill marks appear and sugar caramelizes.
5. Flip, grill another 2-3 minutes.
6. Remove, drizzle with honey, and top with whipped cream.

Pro tip: This works with nectarines, plums, and pineapple rings too. Any firm fruit with enough sugar content will caramelize over coals.

Fire, sugar, and patience. That’s all campfire dessert takes. Happy Camping! 🏕️