Easy Campfire Banana Boats: Your Ultimate Guide to a Gooey Outdoor Dessert

Experience the magic of outdoor cooking with this beloved campfire classic: Banana Boats! This incredibly simple dessert requires just three core ingredients and mere minutes to prepare, yet delivers an irresistibly gooey, sweet, and perfectly caramelized treat. It’s the quintessential end to any campfire meal, bringing smiles and satisfying cravings around the fire. (Skip to the detailed recipe below.)

Cherished Memories of Campfire Cooking with Meredith

Ah, summer! The season for sun, outdoor adventures, and, of course, the crackling warmth of a campfire. Despite the occasional summer thunderstorm, my daughter Meredith and I seized the opportunity recently to prepare our entire dinner over our outdoor firepit. It’s an activity that truly defines the spirit of summer for us, blending the joy of cooking with the simple pleasure of being outdoors.

Our adventure began with the fundamental step: building a proper fire. It’s a skill I honed many years ago during my Girl Guide camp days – and no, we won’t count exactly how many moons that was! Piling up the kindling, starting with tiny shavings and gradually adding larger twigs, forming a classic teepee shape, flooded me with cherished memories. I could almost hear the echoes of laughter and songs from those dark nights, surrounded by friends, mesmerized by the dancing flames. We’d sing traditional campfire songs – some wonderfully silly, others hauntingly beautiful, all unforgettable. And, of course, no campfire was complete without roasting marshmallows for s’mores, or what we affectionately called ‘Angels with Dirty Faces’ (a name I still prefer!). But the true late-night dessert highlight, always accompanying the singing, was digging into the warm, sweet, and delightfully gooey insides of our roasted Banana Boats.

Beyond Banana Boats: A Complete Campfire Feast

For our recent campfire culinary expedition, Meredith and I prepared a full menu. We started with savory foil packets, brimming with tender potatoes, sweet carrots, and aromatic onions. To ensure they cooked perfectly, becoming nice and moist without succumbing to the flames, we utilized a special method outlined here. This technique is crucial for achieving that ideal balance of smoky flavor and soft, cooked vegetables.

Our main course also featured sweet corn cobs, roasted directly in their husks on a grate over the fire, which imparts an incredible natural sweetness and smoky char. Alongside, we roasted chunks of savory sausages on sticks – a truly interactive and satisfying way to cook over an open flame. The aroma of these cooking foods mingled in the evening air, creating an unforgettable sensory experience that is unique to campfire dining.

The Grand Finale: Irresistible Campfire Banana Boats

After a hearty and delicious savory meal, the grand finale was, of course, those truly classic and utterly delicious Banana Boats. There’s something truly magical about how the heat of the campfire transforms a simple banana. As it roasts, the banana becomes wonderfully warm, soft, and beautifully caramelized, its natural sugars intensifying. Simultaneously, the chocolate melts into a rich, velvety sauce, and the marshmallows turn into a luscious, gooey topping, creating a dessert that is pure bliss. The best part? They are incredibly easy to make, following a simple 1-2-3-4-wrap process that even the most novice campfire cook can master.

Making Banana Boats is a fantastic activity for all ages, perfect for getting kids involved in the cooking process. The simplicity of preparation allows everyone to participate, from choosing their favorite fillings to carefully wrapping their banana in foil. The anticipation of unwrapping a warm, steaming, gooey package adds to the excitement, making it more than just a dessert, but an integral part of the campfire experience.

So, gather your ingredients – some ripe bananas, your favorite chocolate, and a handful of fluffy marshmallows. Build a good, safe fire, ensuring you have a bed of hot embers for optimal cooking. Then, simply prepare and cook these delightful treats. As you savor the warm, melting, gooey goodness of your Banana Boats, don’t forget to enhance the experience by singing a few rousing verses of traditional campfire songs, like the timeless “Down by the Bay.” It’s these simple moments that create the most lasting memories.

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Expert Tips for Perfect Campfire Banana Boats

While a roaring campfire provides the most authentic experience, don’t fret if you don’t have one readily available. Your banana boats can be just as deliciously cooked on a barbecue grill, making this treat accessible even for backyard gatherings. Simply preheat your grill to a medium-low heat and follow the same cooking instructions, adjusting for grill-specific hotspots.

When it comes to the chocolate filling, milk chocolate is the traditional choice, lending a creamy sweetness that pairs perfectly with the banana and marshmallow. However, feel free to personalize your banana boats to your taste! If you prefer a richer, less sweet profile, semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips or chopped bars make excellent substitutes. For those with dietary restrictions, dairy-free chocolate chips are a fantastic option that ensures everyone can enjoy this delightful dessert.

Consider adding other fillings for extra flavor and texture! A sprinkle of chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts can add a delightful crunch. A dash of cinnamon or a few mini peanut butter cups can elevate the flavor profile even further. The beauty of banana boats lies in their versatility, allowing for endless customization to suit any palate.

Classic Campfire Banana Boats Recipe

This recipe provides the essential steps for creating the ultimate gooey, chocolatey, and marshmallow-filled banana boat over a campfire or grill. Simple, quick, and undeniably delicious!

• 1 ripe but firm banana per person (avoid overly soft bananas as they can become too mushy)
• Milk chocolate bars, approximately 2 or 3 squares per banana. Alternatively, use milk chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate chips. For dairy-free needs, ensure you use dairy-free chocolate chips.
• Marshmallows, either 2 regular-sized marshmallows torn into pieces or a generous handful of mini marshmallows per banana.
• 1 large square of heavy-duty aluminum foil per banana (about 12×12 inches or 30×30 cm).

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Bananas: Lay each banana flat on its inside curve. Carefully cut a long rectangle through only the peel, running along the top length of the banana. Gently peel back this cut section of the peel.
2. Scoop and Fill: Using a spoon, or by carefully cutting a V-shaped trench, scoop out some of the banana flesh from the exposed section. You need to create enough space to comfortably hold your fillings.
3. Add Chocolate: Break or cut your chocolate squares into smaller pieces (if using bars) and lay them down into the trench you’ve created in the banana. If using chocolate chips, sprinkle them in generously.
4. Add Marshmallows: Tear regular-sized marshmallows into smaller pieces to help them melt evenly, or simply pile in a handful of mini marshmallows on top of the chocolate. Stuff in as many as you can!
5. Wrap in Foil: Carefully wrap each filled banana in its large square of tin foil. Fold over the open edges and ends several times, pressing the foil gently but firmly against the banana to create a secure, sealed packet that molds to its shape. This prevents leakage and ensures even cooking.
6. Prepare Your Fire: Allow your campfire to burn down until the high flames have subsided, leaving behind a beautiful bed of hot, glowing embers. This is the ideal heat for cooking, as direct flames can char the foil and burn the banana. If using a barbecue grill, preheat to medium-low.
7. Cook the Banana Boats: Place the wrapped bananas directly on a grate set over the hot coals, or on your preheated barbecue grill. Cook them for approximately 4 to 5 minutes on each side. The goal is for the marshmallows and chocolate to be thoroughly melted, and the banana to become soft and wonderfully caramelized. You can gently squeeze a packet with tongs to check for softness.
8. Serve and Enjoy: Carefully remove the hot banana boats from the fire or grill. Unwrap each banana partially, as the contents will be very hot and gooey. Use a spoon to scoop out the warm, melted, and utterly delicious insides.

Each banana typically serves 1 person, making it an ideal individual dessert.

Guten Appetit!

We hope you enjoy these delightful campfire banana boats as much as we do. They are truly a highlight of any outdoor adventure, creating sweet memories with every gooey bite. If you love my recipes and culinary adventures, make sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and Facebook. Your support makes my day!

For more engaging and fun cooking projects perfect for making with kids, be sure to explore the ‘Cooking With Kids’ series here. It’s packed with ideas to get your little ones excited about cooking and creating in the kitchen and outdoors.

You might also like these other fantastic recipes and outdoor cooking ideas:

Perfectly Moist Campfire Baked Potatoes

Flavorful Juniper Berry Stuffed Pork Chops cooked over the Campfire

A Simple and Elegant Way to Enjoy Strawberries with Sour Cream and Brown Sugar

Convenient Homemade Gluten-Free Pancake Mix (ideal for camping trips)