13 Aug, 2013
More camping desserts?! But of course!
Posted by andrea tomkins in: Easy ways to make kids happy|Recipes and Food
Normally we aren’t the kind of family who eats dessert every night. Eating something sweet after every meal is not the kind of habit I encourage, but of course, everything goes out the window when we’re camping.
We use pretty much the same camping menu every year, and every year we must make Banana Boats. There is no negotiation on this point, and to remove it from the menu would be unforgivable. But I don’t mind making it. It’s a very easy recipe and is a great little campfire-friendly dessert.
You will need:
- bananas (one for each person)
- a 50/50 mix of mini-marshmallows and chocolate chips. (We used butterscotch chips this year but banana boats are also very good with Skor bits! Whatever you choose, mix ’em together and put them in a small container beforehand.)
- tin foil
Using a sharp knife, carefully slice through the banana peel where the banana curves inward. Then get the kids to stuff the opening with your marshmallow/chip mix as pictured below. (It goes without saying that the banana pictured below is mine. My kids crammed way more marshmallows into theirs!)
Wrap the entire banana with foil and toss it on the grill. A note of caution! Each banana contains a HIGHLY PERSONALIZE CONCOCTION and your kids will not want you to mix them up (trust me on this). I like to twist the foil end of mine so it won’t get confused with the others.
Cooking times will depend upon a few things, such as the heat of your fire or whether you’re using your camp stove, but I’m guessing that our banana boats cooked for about 5 or 6 minutes a side. Don’t forget to turn them a few times to ensure even cooking.
Take them off the fire when you think they’re good and hot. The goal here is to melt the marshmallow/chip mix and heat the banana all the way through… even cooking it a little bit. It turns into a GLORIOUS BANANA MASH. And it tastes much better than it looks. :)
