One of the best things about camping is huddling around the campfire after the sun has set, enjoying sweet treats that aren't made every day at home. There's no denying the time-honored tradition of rosting s'mores, but it's also fun to mix up the campfire offerings with some unexpected desserts. Your kids will love these campfire recipes so much they'll beg for them every time you pitch the tent.
Dirt and Worms
Perfect for any child that has ever spent hours digging through the soil in search of earthworms (and what kid hasn't?), this fun campfire treat is the perfect dessert to eat in the outdoors. While a campfire isn't necessary to prepare this sweet treat, it sure does add to the ambiance. To make dirt and worms, put a package of Oreos in a large Ziploc bag and crush them up. When the cookies have been smashed to crumbs, place them in a large mixing bowl. In another bowl, prepare a box of chocolate pudding according to the instructions on the package. Whip up the pudding and then add eight ounces of cool whip and half of the cookie crumbs. Stir everything together, and then spoon the mixture into clear cups. Top the pudding mix with more crushed cookies and add some gummy worms to the "dirt," then serve to delighted children around the campfire.
Campfire Monkey Bread
What makes this campfire dessert fun is that it's meant to be eaten by hand. To make campfire monkey bread, open a can of biscuits, and cut each biscuit into quarters. In a large Ziploc bag, combine half a cup of sugar and two tablespoons of cinnamon. Drop each piece of biscuit into the cinnamon sugar mix until coated and then place each piece into a cast iron skillet lined with aluminum foil. Over the fire, melt one stick of butter and mix in half a cup of brown sugar. Once fully melted, drizzle the mixture over the top of the biscuit pieces, then cover with another piece of foil. Cook over the campfire until the biscuit pieces are thoroughly "baked" all the way through.
Chocolate Banana Boats
For a fun and semi-healthy treat, slice length-wise into a banana with its peel still intact. Stuff your favorite toppings, like mini-marshmallows, chocolate chips and peanut butter cups, into the slice. When you've added all of your sweets, cover with a piece of aluminum foil and lay it on the grill over the campfire, turning regularly until all of the chocolate inside of the banana has begun to melt. Remove from the fire and enjoy with a spoon.
Campfire Cones
Ice cream isn't easy to eat while camping, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the cone. To make this quick and easy camping dessert, take an ice cream cone, and fill it with marshmallows, M&Ms, peanut butter cups, chocolate chips or whatever your heart desires. Wrap the cone completely in foil and warm it over the campfire until the marshmallows begin to melt, about five minutes. Remove from the fire and enjoy the cone warm.
Cast Iron Skillet Cookies
Always a hit around the campfire, to make cast iron skillet cookies you'll butter or grease a cast iron skillet before putting in a tube of pre-made cookie dough, pressing the dough until it is evenly distributed around the pan. For a fun bonus treat, allow your kids to add their favorite toppings, like M&Ms or chocolate chips, to the cookie dough. "Bake" the cookie over the campfire until the edges are golden brown, then remove and let everyone eat from the cooled cast iron skillet with a fork.
Loaded Hot Chocolate
Who says you have to eat your dessert—this fun campfire recipe allows you to drink it! Warm up water or milk over the fire or on your camping stove, and combine the hot liquid with a powdered hot chocolate mix and pour into mugs. Next, let your kids roast mini marshmallows over the campfire until they are golden brown, then add them to the mug. Top with other fun sweets like sprinkles, whipped cream, cinnamon and chocolate chips.
Stuffed Marshmallows
A quick, easy and fun campfire dessert, stuffed marshmallows are perfect for popping. Take a piece of candy, such as a peanut butter cup, and shove it into the center of a marshmallow. Pierce your stuffed marshmallow with a skewer, and warm it over the campfire, then pop it into your mouth and enjoy.
Pie Iron Dessert Sandwiches
Like many of the recipes on this list, this sweet campfire treat can be customized to please every child. Grease a pie iron and place a piece of white bread on both sides of the iron. Line one piece of bread with whipped marshmallow and peanut butter, then allow your kids to pile the bread with their favorite sweets. Close the pie iron and make sure the clamp is locked, then warm the dessert sandwich over the fire until the chocolate inside has begun to melt.
S'Mores With a Twist
OK, OK, so this is a list of desserts to blow s'mores out of the water, and one way to do that is to take a new twist on the traditional dessert. To make s'mores with a twist, ditch the traditional graham cracker in favor of your child's favorite cookie. Instead of using a chocolate bar inside the s'more, use a different kind of candy, like Kit Kat bars. Hold it all together with a roasted marshmallow and enjoy around the fire, just like campers have been doing for generations.
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