29 Easy Make Ahead Desserts for Camping in 2023
Are you looking for the best make ahead desserts for camping? Well, if you’re a camping enthusiast who loves indulging in sweet treats, then you’re in for a real treat!
In this post, we asked our friend Abby Price of Trekking Prices to explore the wonderful world of make-ahead desserts for camping. Whether you’re a seasoned camper or a newbie to the great outdoors, you’ll find plenty of inspiration here to satisfy your taste buds for something sweet and delicious while on your next camping adventure.
Bring your classic s’mores fixings, of course, but surprise everyone with some favorite camping desserts that come highly recommended as well!
So, grab a cozy blanket, sit back, and get ready to drool over some mouth-watering dessert ideas that will make your next camping trip unforgettable. We are sharing a list of some of our favorite recipes so that you can try them out on your next camping excursion!
Make Ahead Desserts for Camping
Make-ahead dessert recipes are essential for a memorable and sweet camping adventure and are one of the best parts of camping. Whether you enjoy fruity indulgences, chocolatey treats, or crunchy desserts, you’re sure to find something for everyone to enjoy in these delicious dessert recipes!
1. Strawberry Pecan Salad
This Strawberry Pecan Salad is the perfect healthy and delicious treat to enjoy on a warm summer day while camping. Enjoy eating this refreshing dessert as you relax by your campsite cooling down with your camping fan, taking in the summer breeze, after a long day of camping adventures.
2. Vegan Snickers Bars
Try these delicious no-bake Vegan Snickers Bars the next time you embark on a camping trip! There is something magical that happens when gooey caramel is mixed with crunchy peanuts and smooth chocolate. This recipe does an excellent job of combining the three to create a rich and decadent treat.
3. Campfire Cupcakes
Campfires are an essential part of any camping trip and these Campfire Cupcakes could not be a more perfect fit for an outdoor adventure. You must try out this recipe if you are looking to impress your kids, family, and friends with a delicious and perfectly themed dessert!
4. S’mores Cones
For those looking for a fun twist on the typical campfire s’mores, you must try out S’mores Cones. These delicious treats only require three simple ingredients and can be assembled ahead of time. These are perfect for pulling out and placing on top of the campfire to warm.
Be sure to grab your favorite hiking and camping flashlight in advance so that you can sit by the campfire and tell spooky stories while enjoying your new favorite make-ahead dessert for camping! This waffle cone delicious dessert recipes treat is the perfect combination of crunchy and gooey and is sure to make for a memorable night around the campfire.
5. Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
These incredible Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies will quickly become your go-to easy make ahead desserts for camping. This recipe does not require any eggs or oil and is made with dairy-free chocolate chips and gluten-free flour. This is the perfect dessert for those with food allergies looking to indulge in something sweet and chocolatey!
6. Two-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
This is one of the simplest and most delicious cookie recipes that is perfect for your next camping adventure! These 2-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies only require peanut butter and maple syrup and will have you in awe of how effortless yet scrumptious they are!
7. Peanut Butter Cups
For those searching for a homemade recipe to replicate a classic, look no further. These Peanut Butter Cups only require 3 ingredients and are the perfect make ahead dessert recipe that is sure to please your camping friends. They even make a great late-night snack to enjoy in your favorite hot weather tent!
8. Keto Pecan Cookies
These low-carb and gluten-free cookies are the perfect dessert to munch on while camping out in the wilderness. This Keto Pecan Cookies recipe is the perfect crunchy treat to enjoy without having to worry about an excessive amount of carbs!
9. Raspberry and White Chocolate Blondies
Welcome to one of the most fruity and chocolatey indulgences that will quickly become one of your favorite campfire desserts. These Raspberry and White Chocolate Blondies are the perfect tangy treat to enjoy after a long day of camping adventures.
10. Banana Oatmeal Cookies
These Banana Oatmeal Cookies are the perfect treat to make ahead of time for your camping trip and will be sure to please a crowd. Not only are these cookies excellent for after dinner but they can also be enjoyed as breakfast or a quick snack while camping in the great outdoors!
These cookies are made with wholesome ingredients such as ripe bananas, rolled oats, and a hint of cinnamon.
11. S’mores Bars
Smores are a classic camping dessert and this S’mores Bars recipe does an excellent job at reinventing a classic but keeping it just as tasty and delicious!
For those that are fans of crushed graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows this gooey treat is sure to become your favorite camping dessert that does not require all of the hassle and mess that roasting a typical smores would!
12. Puppy Chow
One of the most simple yet incredibly delicious easy make-ahead desserts for camping has to be this Puppy Chow recipe! This dessert only requires four ingredients and is quick and effortless.
Be sure to make a large batch before embarking on your camping adventure because everyone is sure to devour these chocolate and peanut buttery treats!
13. Peanut Butter and Jelly Crumble Bars
These Peanut Butter and Jelly Crumble Bars are an excellent twist on the classic PB&J sandwich and make for a great camping dessert. Not only are these bars straightforward and easy to make ahead of your camping trip but they are also vegan and gluten-free!
14. Heavenly Pineapple Coconut Squares
If you are searching for a fruity dessert that you are sure to crave every time you go camping, look no further. This recipe is the perfect tangy dessert that is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Not only is this an excellent dessert for those looking to stray away from the typical chocolate and peanut butter desserts often associated with camping but this Heavenly Pineapple Coconut Squares recipe is also egg free and dairy free for those with allergies looking to indulge in something sweet.
15. Cardamom Apple Fritters
This Cardamom Apple Fritters recipe is the perfect dessert to enjoy on a crisp fall afternoon. This dessert requires less than 10 ingredients to make and the combination of the sweet apples and cardamom spices are the perfect mix to enjoy on a nice autumn evening.
For those looking to scale this dish to another level, be sure to bring along some vanilla ice cream to enjoy on top for a taste you will not forget.
16. Two Ingredient Chocolate Truffles
This is one of the world’s easiest and most mouthwatering camping desserts out there. These 2-Ingredient Chocolate Truffles not only take less than five minutes to whip up but they are also a decadent treat that all will enjoy.
Make sure to make a large batch ahead of your next camping trip for all your family and friends to delight in as well!
17. Cherry Almond Date Bliss Balls
These Cherry Almond Date Bliss Balls are both nutritious and delicious. This recipe is vegan and plant based and not only do these tasty treats make for an excellent dessert but they are also incredible for snacking on, to enjoy as breakfast, and are a great alternative to energy bars while hiking.
For those looking to whip up a treat that can be devoured at any point during your camping trip, you must make some of these incredible energy balls!
18. Small Batch Brownies
Nothing beats finishing up one of your camping meals and diving into fudgy flavorful brownies. This Small Batch Brownies recipe is the quintessential make ahead camping dessert that will quickly become one of your go-to camping staples.
This recipe is super easy to make and takes very little time. Plus, the ingredients are basic pantry staples. The best part about these brownies? They stay delicious and moist for days. Give them a try, you won’t be disappointed. Enjoy!
19. Oreo Rice Krispie Treats
Try this simple and delectable Oreo Rice Krispie Treats recipe for your next camping excursion for a memorable dessert. Everyone loves a chewy marshmallow-filled treat and this recipe hits it out of the park by adding the chocolate crunch of Oreos into the mix!
Oreo Rice Krispie Treats are a real crowd-pleaser and easy to make at home so that you can enjoy the campfire after dinner.
20. Easy Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake
This moist and buttery Easy Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake is the absolute best cake to bring with you on your next camping trip. It’s guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser! The combination of the moist cake, crunchy chocolate chips, and smooth icing is just too delicious not to share with others. Make sure you bring plenty – this one won’t last long
Not only does this bundt cake take only 30 minutes to prep and cook but it is also the perfect make-ahead dessert to enjoy after a long day filled with camping excursions and games. Plus, it’s easy to make and transport.
21. Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Skillet Cookie
This Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Skillet Cookie is the ultimate delicious campfire dessert to enjoy for those looking for a warm, gooey, and chocolatey treat while camping. It is super easy to assemble and mix in advance and then store in a Tupperware container in your camping cooler.
Once you are ready to enjoy the skillet, pour the already assembled and mixed ingredients into a cast iron pan, place it over a foldable grill on your campfire and bake until the center of your cookie is set! From there, take your iron skillet off the grill and place it on a sturdy surface for everyone to dig in and enjoy.
For those looking to scale this dish up a notch, be sure to bring some vegan ice cream to place over top of your cookie skillet! Nothing is more decadent and delicious than enjoying a warm chocolatey dessert topped with cold ice cream.
22. Mini Apple Turnovers with Puff Pastry
There is nothing quite like the taste of gooey brown sugar and butter-covered apples with flaky puff pastry mixed together. These Mini Apple Turnovers with Puff Pastry take only 5 ingredients to make and are mouthwateringly delicious.
For those looking to make these desserts ahead of time, be sure to follow the recipe below and prepare them as usual. Once you get to your campsite we recommend wrapping the turnovers in foil and then placing them in a cast iron skillet to heat over the campfire so that you can enjoy these tasty treats warm!
Another option is, if you are like us and enjoy using your favorite camping cookware for open fires such as a pie iron, we recommend peeling, dicing, and cutting each ingredient in advance and then placing them in your camping cooler to store.
Once you are ready to enjoy your tasty apple pastry, begin to assemble the ingredients as the recipe states and place the puff pastry filled turnovers inside of your pie iron where you will then bake them over your open fire.
23. Chocolate Marshmallow S’mores Cookies
These Chocolate Marshmallow S’mores Cookies are the perfect alternative to the classic camping dessert, s’mores. Not only do you get all the delicious flavors that you would in a typical s’more but these cookies add a depth of flavor and take away a little bit of the mess that you would get from your typical roasted s’mores experience.
These are the perfect tasty treat to make ahead of time and are sure to be a crowd-pleaser for both children and adults alike!
24. Raspberry Slab Cheesecake
This cream cheese, butter filled, fresh raspberry-inspired recipe is the perfect dessert dish to take your camping experience to the next level. This Raspberry Slab Cheesecake is easy to make and is a great alternative to s’mores and other chocolatey desserts!
For those searching for easy make-ahead desserts for camping, this recipe is sure to win your heart over and is quick to craft up at home in your kitchen and travel with as you make your way to your campsite.
However, this is also the perfect recipe to make in your Dutch oven over a campfire. For those looking to bake this dish fresh over a campfire, we recommend portioning out the ingredients in advance and storing them in your camping cooler. Once you are ready to craft this cheesecake recipe, follow the directions and steps below using your Dutch oven to bake instead of a typical baking pan!
25. Healthy 4-Ingredient Banana Bread
For those searching for a healthy alternative to other breads such as pound cake, this Healthy 4-Ingredient Banana Bread is not only a fabulous camping dessert but is also perfect for an early morning breakfast or afternoon snack!
This recipe only requires 4 ingredients so it’s effortless to make but don’t let its simplicity fool you, this banana bread is perfectly fluffy and moist and will soon become a meal prep staple for all of your camping trips.
26. Chocolate Chip Pretzel Cookies
There is nothing quite like the combination of sweet and salty and this Chocolate Chip Pretzel Cookies recipe nails the marriage of these two unique cravings. Be sure to make a large batch of these delectable cookies ahead of your next camping trip because everyone will want to devour more than one!
27. Cocoa Pebble Treats
This fun twist on your typical rice krispie treat recipe will be a fan favorite amongst all your camping friends! These Cocoa Pebble Treats are the perfect combination between chocolatey, gooey, and crunchy.
Plus, these treats are nut-free, gluten-free, and require no eggs for those that have certain food allergies! That’s why they are the perfect snack for everyone to enjoy. And best of all, they’re an incredibly easy recipe to make at home!
28. Cake in a Jar
This Cake in a Jar recipe will steal the show on your next camping trip! Not only are these absolutely adorable but they will also save you an immense amount of time that you would otherwise spend preparing, cutting, and serving cake if you were to whip up a typical rectangular cake and bring it with you camping.
This recipe is perfect for those camping with children and it is also a great way to keep messes to a minimum while camping with little ones.
29. Key Lime Cookies
Nothing screams summer quite like the flavor of key lime does. This Key Lime Cookies recipe is the perfect crunchy and zesty treat to enjoy on a summer afternoon while laughing around the campfire.
Not only are these cookies delicious, but they’re easy to make and are a great snack. The key limes give the cookies an added flavor of tartness that is delightful. So go ahead and whip up a batch for your next camping trip!
FAQS: Make Ahead Camping Desserts
What type of dessert is the simplest and best dessert?
There are countless desserts that are simple yet delicious to enjoy while camping. Some of the most simple and best desserts to make and enjoy include truffles, energy balls, and cookies.
Can I freeze make-ahead camping desserts?
You can definitely freeze make-ahead camping desserts. Be sure to store the dessert in a freezer-safe storage container for the most optimal results.
How can I store make-ahead camping desserts in a cooler or fridge while camping?
Most of the time when you are camping, you will be limited to kitchen appliances and most likely will only have a cooler to store foods and desserts rather than a fridge.
We recommend storing make-ahead camping desserts in compact containers and Tupperware so that you have plenty of room in your cooler for all of your camping necessities.
What desserts hold up well in heat?
Energy balls and cookies hold up well in heat. It’s important to note that most sweets that contain chocolate are susceptible to melting during the heat so be sure to store chocolatey items in a cooler. Additionally, items containing ingredients such as dairy should be stored in a cooler as well so that they do not spoil in the heat.
Can you bake when camping?
You can definitely bake while camping! Some of the best tools to use while baking outdoors include a Dutch oven for camping and a cast iron skillet. Both of these tools retain heat well and do a great job at evenly baking the food/dessert. Try your hand at making your favorite dessert over the campfire!
The Wrap-Up on Make Ahead Desserts for Camping
Make ahead easy camping desserts can make your camping meals and experiences way sweeter! Be sure to meal plan and prep ahead of time so that you know what your meals and desserts will be. That way you can grocery shop and pack accordingly for your camping menu.
These desserts are also great ideas to bring along on road trips! If you have a long drive, pre-make the desserts and store in a cool container so they are ready by the time you reach your destination. Your whole family will thank you!
Bonus tip: Bring along some extra treats for unexpected guests – you never know who might join the campfire fun! You’re sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face with these make ahead desserts for camping.