Four ideas for campfire-roasted fruit (recipe: Caramel Peaches with Pecans)

We are camping folk in the summer. Be it on a beach in Maine or lake-side in rural Quebec, we pitch a big tent and cook foil dinners and hash browns over an open fire, gaze at the stars until bedtime is long past, and wake up at an unmentionable hour with the sun.

This summer, however, has been a bit different. We have a relatively-new-but-growing-up-fast baby in the family, and although I have camped in the past with a wee one, I just couldn’t find the motivation this time around to pack up all five of us and hit the trail.

Fortunately we have a big yard with plenty of space to pitch a tent, and at the far end of it, there’s a fire pit suitable for both a roaring bonfire or a marshmallow-toasting bed of coals. We took advantage of our urban homestead last week and played at camping on our own turf.

Danny and the boys pitched the tent while I tossed a salad, shucked corn, and wrapped up these peaches for dessert. Yes, there were marshmallows and s’mores, too, but I wanted to highlight some of the fruit that’s plentiful now and ripening all over my counter tops.

Our campfire-roasted caramel peaches with toasted pecans were smokey and sweet, sticky and soft – and made a lovely little seasonal dessert.

Four Ideas for Campfire Roasted Fruit

Now, I’m not suggesting you give up on the campfire classic, the S’more, but once you put a spoon through these soft roasted peaches, you might not want any other dessert.

You can wrap up plenty of other seasonal fruits and toss them on the coals, too. Here are a few of our favorites, with the recipe for the caramel peaches below.

Maple Baked Apples

I like to prepare these granola-stuffed, maple syrup-drizzled baked apples with my kids, but they can also be wrapped individually in foil and baked over hot coals for 20-25 minutes or buried in the hot ashes of a campfire for 30-35 minutes.

Cinnamon Roasted Pears

Halve two pears and scoop out the core. Dot with a teaspoon of butter each and sprinkle generously with cinnamon sugar. If desired, add a topping such as granola, chopped nuts, toasted sunflower seeds, or a square of chocolate.

Wrap pears in 2 foil packages, each containing two pear halves, and bake in the campfire ashes for 20-25 minutes until the pears are soft.

Serve warm.

Chocolate Banana Boats

This classic camping treat doesn’t utilize fruit that is local, but its nostalgic appeal warrants making it once in a while.

Prepare bananas by peeling back a small strip of peel, about 3/4 of an inch wide. With a spoon, scoop out some the the banana to make a small trench running the length of the banana. Fill trench with chocolate chips and cover with the strip of banana peel.

Wrap banana in foil and cook over hot coals for 10-15 minutes. Banana will be very hot, so allow to cook before eating. To enjoy, peel back banana peel and scoop out the chocolate-coated fruit with a spoon.

Tip: Be sure to read our Keys to Successful Campfire Cooking before you get started.

Campfire Roasted Caramel Peaches with Pecans

Roast these peaches on a campfire or grill for a quick, seasonal dessert.
4.67 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Desserts
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 212kcal
Author: Aimee

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon butter
  • 2 Tablespoons caramel sauce
  • 1/4 cup pecan halves
  • 2 peaches ripe, yet firm

Instructions

  • Preheat a grill or allow your campfire to burn down to coals.
  • Butter a 6 inch square section of large piece of aluminum foil and drizzle with a tablespoon of caramel or brown sugar.
  • Scatter pecans evenly over the caramel.
  • Wash peaches and slice in half, removing the pit. Arrange the four peach halves, cut side down, on top of the pecans. Drizzle with remaining caramel sauce.
  • Wrap peaches up tightly and place in hot campfire ashes or low grill. Cook slowly for about 20-25 minutes.
  • Remove from heat and open package to allow steam to escape. Invert dessert onto a plate, letting all the cooking juices drain out of the foil.
  • Serve warm.

Notes

I used Trader Joe's Fleur de Sel Caramel Sauce in this recipe, but if you don't have caramel sauce on hand, a spoonful of golden brown sugar will substitute just fine.

Nutrition

Calories: 212kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 88mg | Potassium: 336mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 550IU | Vitamin C: 9.9mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 0.7mg

Do you have a favorite campfire dessert that features fruit?

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25 Comments

  1. We would do the banana boats at camp every year, but we also added mini marshmallows with the chocolate chips – delicious! We are pretty basic when it comes to camping out though, I never think to make anything fancy! If this is dessert, I would love to see what you cook for dinner!

  2. 5 stars
    I’d have to say that this is my new favorite campfire dessert that features fruit. I’m a sucker for peaches and pecans, two crops native to my home state of Texas. You show me a dessert line up, and I’m going to pick the peach dessert every time.

  3. Love this post! I’m heading camping with some friends in a few week. Definitely bookmarking to try! 🙂

  4. These look delicious! A nice change of pace from S’mores! Thanks for sharing. My favorite camping fruit would be the wild blackberries we find all over the Northwest this time of year. Although, I must admit, we usually eat them before dinner!

    1. Wild berries often make their way into our pancakes breakfasts when camping, Mary, so I can agree with your favorite camping fruit.

  5. I love camping so much, and I feel your pain. We have not made it camping this year yet, but we just set a goal for September t go. No wee one here, just school, and life stuff, but I cannot wait to take these ideas and hit the mountains. Nothing better than fruit over an open fire. Well maybe, smores, and homemade hot dogs!

    1. My kids and I love camping too. Last summer vacation, we did camping and my kids having great time on the camp. We did a lot of interesting activities. So, good to create foods from open fire. I love your idea.

  6. Try wrapping the foil package in a few layers of wet newspaper then in another layer of foil. This will keep your fruit from burning to a crisp in the hot campfire coals.
    It’s an old Girl Guide trick. We always did our tinfoil dinners like this to prevent them from getting burnt.

  7. Loved camping as a kid and I’m sure your little ones will have equally fond memories of being outside with their parents and siblings.
    The roasted peaches look absolutely amazing, Aimee. And what a fun backyard sleepover.

    1. I love camping too together with my hubby and my son and daughter. We have a great time during our camp. Thanks for these campfire-roasted fruit recipes. I will take this idea for our next camping.

  8. I have never tried doing foiling and grilling fruits! Looks great especially with the peaches. I think I should try this. Thanks for the idea…