Inspired for an Adventure? Check out Beef Stroganoff - Pouch and Beef Stew - Pouch
You’re attempting to view exclusive content only for members in the __tier_name__.
Already have an account? Sign in
You’re attempting to view exclusive content only for members in the __tier_name__.
Hang tight. We’re fetching the other plans.
Already have an account? Sign in
Free Ground Shipping On All Orders
Over 2,100 Reviews
Add description, images, menus and links to your mega menu
A column with no settings can be used as a spacer
Link to your collections, sales and even external links
Add up to five columns
Add description, images, menus and links to your mega menu
A column with no settings can be used as a spacer
Link to your collections, sales and even external links
Add up to five columns
We all know that hearty, nutritious meals and energy-packed snacks are what truly power us through those camping trips, backpacking treks, hunting adventures, mountaineering epics, and river-running journeys. But for a lot of outdoorspeople, the secret weapon that keeps us going—emotionally, you might say—is the sweet stuff.
After an action-packed day of hiking, climbing, mountain biking, rafting, bushwhacking, or otherwise immersing yourself in the wild, nothing hits the spot quite like a good dessert. It’s the sort of thing we dream about on the trail, at the knife-edge traverse, or amid roaring rapids—and it pairs perfectly with a crackling campfire.
For your sweet tooth pleasure, we’ve pulled a dozen ooey-gooey, swoon-worthy camping desserts to try on your next adventure. From no-bake treats to lightweight, packable, store-bought options, including our downright heavenly Mountain House ice cream sandwiches, there are plenty of tasty recipes to try. Let’s get going!
Before really diving in, it makes sense to cover some of the key characteristics of good camping and backpacking desserts. (This is a scientific thing, you understand.) As with most kinds of camp-ready foods, you generally want something that:
We’re not talking elaborate sweet pastries or confectioneries here (unless you want to go all out for a car camping trip). This is about low-hassle, easy-to-prepare treats that will make your taste buds tingle and soothe the soul.
Here’s a list of a dozen easy camping desserts to try out on your next outdoor adventure!
We probably don’t need to go into too much detail regarding this stone-cold classic of an easy camping dessert, and certainly, there’s nothing else we could possibly kick off the list with.
You’ll of course need the foundation ingredients of a s’more, including crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate, but there are plenty of variations and add-ons you might consider. Make this classic even more of a crowd pleaser by adding anything from peanut butter and cookies to mini marshmallows that really amp up the gooeyness.
Here’s another idea. You can also throw the marshmallows, chocolate, and other gloppy ingredients into a cast iron and concoct a s'mores dip that can be scooped up and enjoyed with a graham cracker.
Think of these as a delicious twist on the classic s’more. Load up waffle cones with chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, fruit, crushed cookies, and whatever other mix-in you can think of, then wrap them in foil and heat over the campfire or stove to yield another camping treat with that irresistible combination of gooeyness and crunch. You're welcome!
Another foil-wrapped wonder is most definitely the tried-and-true banana boat. Slice a banana lengthwise, stuff it with finger-licking goodness such as marshmallows, peanut butter, and chocolate, and then wrap it up in foil to roast over a campfire or grill until everything’s just right.
And what's just right? Well, melty and delicious!
When you’re backpacking or minimalist camping, you won’t have a cooler, so you might assume ice cream’s off the table. Well, guess what: Think again!
Among the highlights of our vast freeze-dried larder here at Mountain House are our ice-cream sandwiches: the Vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich or Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwich, both of which make for lightweight, mess-free, zero-hassle deliciousness. If you ask us, they’re truly the easiest and surest way to satisfy a sweet tooth out in the great outdoors!
A Dutch oven is an age-old friend of campers, and it should absolutely be put to good use for camping desserts. Whip up a ravishingly rough-and-ready peach cobbler by combining peach-pie filling and cake mix, or go the chocolatey route with brownie mix and some chocolate chips. Set the oven over the coals—an invariably satisfying process—and get ready for some ultra-seductive aromas as you enjoy campfire cooking of the kick-back-and-relax variety.
If you do have a cooler available, consider blending no-bake cheesecake filling with whipped cream, graham-cracker crumbs, and a topping of fresh fruit in small containers. Keep them chilled till you’re ready for the kind of make-ahead treat that feels fancier than the prep time suggests.
Keen on an ultra-simple twist on pie? Just layer up homemade crumble, brown sugar, fresh fruit, and a whipped topping in a jar, then dig in, warm or cold, by the campfire.
The simplest desserts are often the very best (as with just about any dish). Halve peaches, grill them over the fire or on the stove, then sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. If you have a cooler or camper freezer/fridge, make these peachy wonders all the more delectable with a whipped-cream topping!
There’s not much better than the fragrance of fresh-baked cinnamon rolls, right? It’s something you can achieve at the campsite by tossing a can of biscuit dough in a cast-iron skillet, dressing it with cinnamon and sugar, and then cooking it over the fire. Glaze or whipped cream makes the literal icing on the cake.
Image by Ernesto Pasini from Pixabay
A pie iron lets you easily render pound-cake sandwiches with whatever your preferred pie filling, such as apple or cherry. Chocolate, peanut butter, hazelnut spread, jelly, and other accoutrements can be layered into the cake, which is grilled over the coals to produce a crispy, sweet masterpiece.
How to make:
Serve straight from the iron (carefully!) and enjoy.
Cut up some strawberries and place them in a cup, then melt milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or white chocolate over the fire or stove to drizzle over them. You’ll have a super-indulgent delicacy in no time!
This is not so much a single camping recipe but a basically limitless category. From homemade cookies or bars packed in airtight containers to trail mix or candy bars, there’s so much you can simply bring along pre-made or store-bought to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth out at the campsite. You’re really limited only by elements such as time, refrigeration availability, and whether you’re car- or boat-camping vs. backpacking.
Thanks to our proprietary freeze-drying process here at Mountain House, you can relish the absolutely unparalleled magic of an ice-cream sandwich in a no-melt, no-mess, long-shelf-life form perfect for the hiking trail or riverside camp.
When exploring our entire collection of camping and backpacking foods, in other words, don’t neglect our dessert inventory!
Inspired for an Adventure? Check out Beef Stroganoff - Pouch and Beef Stew - Pouch
Sign Up for Delicious Outdoor Meals & Exclusive Offers!
By clicking ‘Join Now’, I agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
©2025 Mountain House — All Rights Reserved.
$0.00
EXPRESS PAYMENT METHODS AVAILABLE IN CHECKOUT
Taxes and Shipping Calculated at Checkout