Bambu is teaming up with Gritty Gourmet to bring you easy, healthy camping recipes, tried and true tips for time outdoors, and eco-friendly camp cookware suggestions. This month, we’re celebrating the peak of summer with two easy camping dessert recipes that feature the natural sweetness of fresh fruit. First, a recipe for pan-roasted peaches caramelized with brown sugar and ghee. Then, a stovetop apple dessert recipe that’ll quickly become a favorite.
Here’s why we’re loving these two easy camping dessert recipes:
- Short ingredient lists make it easy to cook these up on short notice
- Fresh fruit flavors are the perfect match for warm summer nights
- Stovetop cooking avoids the need for a dutch oven or campfire
- They only take 10 minutes to make, and clean-up is quick
Easy camping dessert recipes made for savoring the summer
There’s nothing quite like fresh fruit in the summer. And when it comes to dessert, enjoying the all-natural sweetness it brings is the perfect match for those long days under the sun. We developed these recipes to be quick, easy, and not require a fire or dutch oven. So, whether you’re headed to your local park for a picnic or for a weekend of camping, you can whip up either of these easy camping dessert recipes in just a few minutes.
Choosing and cooking fruit
While many of us eat fresh fruit on a daily basis, not everyone cooks it. Here are a few quick tips for choosing and preparing fruit for easy dessert making this summer.
When you’re choosing peaches for cooked recipes, you’ll want to look for options that are semi-ripe. This means that they’ll easily give if you gently push your finger into the fruit, but they won’t feel squishy. When cutting peaches, it’s often easiest to cut and peel off individual slices than to halve the entire fruit first. Finally, when it comes time to cook, you’ll want to be sure to watch the peaches closely. They cook extremely fast, which is why our peach recipe calls for you to brown them for just a minute or two on each side.
When choosing apples for dessert recipes, we like to choose more tart varieties of red apples, such as honeycrisp or pink lady. They should be firm and mostly red in color. Apples take longer to cook than softer fruit (like peaches), but they taste best when there’s still a bit of crispiness left in them. To test them for doneness, try poking apple chunks with a fork. The fork should insert easily but have some resistance in the middle of the apple.
Eco-friendly camp cookware you won’t want to forget
There are a few essential pieces of camp cookware that make these easy camping dessert recipes even more painless to cook! First, don’t forget to bring a pair of tongs with you if you’re making the pan-roasted peach recipes. Using a spatula makes it easy for the peaches to lose their caramelized coating, or become mangled. We prefer bamboo because it’s more gentle than metal tongs, and is heat resistant for easy handling.
The other camp cookware tool you’ll want to pack is a long-handled tasting spoon. This item keeps your hands free from the mess when you scoop out ghee (our go-to, shelf-stable butter alternative), and is a good way to eyeball measurements for spices.
Opting for Eco-Friendly Camping Dinnerware
Time spent outside should be savored, and doing the dishes instead of watching the sunset isn’t on our list of fun things to do outdoors. If you’re hoping to save some time (especially after filling your belly with one of these camping dessert recipes), consider packing compostable eco-friendly camping dinnerware. Choosing disposable options that are certified Organic, Biobased, and Compostable ensures that your impact stays light while you take something off your plate. Even for experienced campers, having a night with less clean-up (and more dessert) is always a treat!
Pan-Roasted Caramelized Peaches
Recipe Ingredients:
- 4 peaches
- 2 tablespoons ghee
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- Dash nutmeg
Eco-friendly camp cookware + tools
- Bambu cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Bambu tiny tongs
- Bambu tasting spoon
- Medium-sized frying pan (carbon steel is a option for non stick camp cookware)
- Bambu fork
- Veneerware plates (optional, great for quick cleanup)
- Veneerware sporks (optional, great for quick cleanup)
Directions:
- Cut each peach into eight slices and set aside
- In a frying pan, melt ghee over medium-low heat. Once ghee is melted, mix in the brown sugar with a fork. Continue mixing until brown sugar is dissolved.
- Use a set of tongs to gently set peach slices on their sides in the brown sugar/ghee mixture. Raise temperature slightly to medium heat and let cook for 1 minute or until the bottom side of the peach slices are lightly browned and caramelized.
- Next, use the tongs to flip peach slices over. As the second side cooks, sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg over the peach slices.
- Once the second side is browned to your liking, remove peach slices from the pan and serve immediately. If desired, top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
Serves 2
Easy Apple Crumble with Granola and Agave
Recipe Ingredients:
- 3 tart apples
- 2 tablespoons ghee
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ lemon
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ½ cup granola
- 1 teaspoon flax seeds
- 1 teaspoon agave nectar
Eco-friendly camp cookware + tools
- Large mixing bowl
- Bambu cutting board
- Sharp knife
- Bambu mixing spoon
- Bambu condiment cups
- Medium sized pot with a well-fitting lid
- Bambu fork
- Bambu tasting spoon
- Veneerware plates (optional, great for quick cleanup)
- Veneerware sporks (optional, great for quick cleanup)
Directions:
- Core apples and cut into ½ inch chunks. Place in a mixing bowl and squeeze lemon over the sliced apples. Toss to coat and set aside.
- Place 1 tablespoon of ghee in a pot and melt over medium heat. Then, mix in brown sugar. Use a fork to combine fully until brown sugar is dissolved.
- Add apples to the pot and stir well until apples are fully coated in brown sugar mixture. Cover and let cook for five minutes, stirring occasionally.
- After five minutes, the apples should be soft but still slightly crisp. If not at the desired softness, let cook for one minute more, then remove from heat and place back in the mixing bowl. In the bowl, add in cinnamon and flax seeds, then mix to coat.
- In the same pot, melt the remaining ghee. Then, mix in granola and drizzle with agave nectar. Raise temp. to medium high and toast mixture for 1-2 minutes, or until golden brown.
- To serve, top apple slices with granola mixture and enjoy!
Serves 4
Tip: have extra? Use it as a special topping for a yogurt parfait or on top of pancakes in the morning.
Why use Bambu camp cookware for your easy dessert camping recipes?
Bamboo camp cookware has several benefits. Camp cookware made from bamboo won’t harm, stick to, or scratch your dishes. Non-stick bamboo camp cookware is especially important outdoors where cleaning is more difficult. Searching for the best camping cookware for family trips? Bamboo cookware is naturally non-toxic, and you can be sure that any camp cookware made by Bambu is certified and sustainably sourced. As outdoor enthusiasts ourselves, we pride ourselves in making simple bamboo camp cookware that’s durable, lightweight, and as eco-friendly as it is user-friendly.
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Find more summer camping dessert recipes and other tips for eco-friendly camping at Gritty Gourmet.
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