Six Delicious Desserts in the Backcountry
Being in the backcountry does not mean that we should skimp on the joys of dessert. If anything, it’s time to indulge and celebrate what you’ve accomplished during the day. Here are the Wonder Outdoor School’s top six dessert indulgences.
First, the very basic don’t-leave-home-without-it, chocolate bars. Chocolate can be enjoyed at breakfast with coffee, at a tough moment or sleepy post-lunch moment...anytime! My absolute favourite is the Ritter Sport Cornflake bar - I save it as a special on-the-trail treat. But, I also enjoy salted chocolate, mint chocolate and chocolate covered coffee beans.
I love love love Banana Melts. To make a banana melt, you fill a banana with chocolate, peanut butter, marshmallows...whatever you want. Wrap it in tin foil and cook it on a fire or dutch oven. Then open a gooey delicious mess. Note - this is good for trips where you’re not focused on lightweight, as the banana peels and aluminum foil are heavy.
Wild Berry Compote is a special treat. If you know how to forage for wildberries, this fresh dessert can’t be beat. The berries on their own are delicious enough as it is, but if you’re making pancakes or anything else that you’d like to drizzle a berry compote on, this is a great recipe. Once you pick the recipes, you boil them on low heat and then you can add sugar, cinnamon, whatever you’d like. Again, be sure to know how to confidently identify the berries you’re eating.
Baking is a special treat in the backcountry and I recommend elevating your cooking by learning these skills. There are a number of ways to bake but our favourite is with a dutch oven. There’s nothing like some gooey brownies or cinnamon rolls cooked fresh.
If baking feels like too much of a hassle, there are some great recipes for no-bake cookies. Basically they involve mixing oats, butter, cocoa powder, vanilla and other things like peanut butter or dried coconut into the delicious taste bombs. Here is a recipe you can use.
Last, but not least, I have to mention the Tim Tam Slam, a dessert ritual from Australia. Combine a hot drink like coffee or hot chocolate with a delicious cookie that you use like a straw and, voila!, you have a Tim Tam Slam. Instructions can be found here!
