When we think of camping desserts, what comes to mind? Ice cream cones from the general store or local confectionery shop, s’mores (come on, they really are a dessert), and bars of some kind that can be made in one pan and kept there until they’re gone.

No-Bake Cookie: Monster Cookies

This delicious sweet takes only about 15 minutes to make, and even better, it doesn’t need to be stored in the fridge after the initial cooling, saving you valuable space. And don’t worry about their taking up space on the counter – they won’t last for long.

Cookie Dough

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 cups old fashioned oats
  • 3/4 cup mini M&M’s

Topping

  • 1 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 3 Tbls heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup mini M&M’s

Instructions

  1. Line a 9 inch baking dish with foil or parchment paper.
  2. Combine butter, sugar, and brown sugar together in a large bowl. Mix at medium speed until combined. Add peanut butter and mix until well blended. Stir in flour and vanilla; mixing until just incorporated. Slowly add oats, 1 cup at a time. Fold in M&M’s. Press into prepared pan.
  3. Melt together chocolate and heavy cream (in 30 second increments if using a microwave, otherwise just watch carefully if using a saucepan). Once smooth, pour over cookie dough mixture. Sprinkle with remaining M&M’s.
  4. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours, or until chocolate is completely set up before serving.

 

Open Flame Cookie: Red, White, and Blue Skillet Cookie Recipe

A cast iron skillet lets the cookie stay gooey and soft on the inside yet crisps up the edges and nicely browns the bottom of the dough. Slice like a pie or just dig in with a spoon. Don’t forget the ice cream!

Ingredients

  • 4 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • Dash of salt
  • 2 cups butter
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 12 ounces white chocolate chips
  • 12 ounces dried blueberries
  • 2 packages dried cranberries

Directions

  1. Allow the fire to die down until the fire pit is filled with hot coals.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir slightly to combine.
  3. Beat together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Once combined, beat in the eggs until they are fully incorporated.
  4. Slowly mix in the flour mixture and beat together slowly to avoid the flour spilling out of the mixer.
  5. Once the flour is completely incorporated, fold in the white chips, blueberries, and cranberries with a spatula until they are evenly combined.
  6. Gather the dough into a ball and place it in your skillet. Press the dough down to reach all the edges and make sure the cookie is even and flat.
  7. Allow the skillet to sit on the hot coals for about 20 minutes. You’ll get the best results if your skillet has a lid and you place a couple hot coals on top of the skillet cookie to create an oven affect.

 

From the Oven Cookie: Molasses Cookies

The spices of ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves used in molasses cookies are tantalizing to the senses, and they are a “non-traditional” choice for the campsite.

Ingredients

  • 2 1/4 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon Allspice
  • 3/4 teaspoon cloves
  • 1 1/2 sticks butter softened
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/3 cup molasses
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar for rolling cookies in

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Stir the first seven ingredients together (dry ingredients) in a medium bowl and set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, beat the butter until smooth and creamy. Add the brown sugar and 1/2 cup white sugar to the bowl, beat until light and fluffy. Add the egg, vanilla and molasses, beat until just incorporated, scraping the bowl down as needed.
  4. With the mixer on low, gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until just incorporated.
  5. Place the remaining 1/3 cup white sugar on a plate or in a shallow bowl. Measure the dough out by using 2 Tablespoons, roll the 2 Tablespoons of dough into balls. Place the dough balls in the white sugar to coat. Using an ungreased cookie sheet, place 6 dough balls to a sheet, the cookies will be large and will spread.
  6. On ungreased cookie sheets, bake 11 to 13 minutes until cookies are puffed up and the centers are soft. Let the cookies sit on the cookie sheet for 3 minutes, transfer to cooling racks to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

Whether you have an oven in your rig, a portable camping stove, or an open flame, you can make some pretty delectable cookies. Share your cookie photos on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!