Looking for a great campfire recipe? I shared this Banana Boat recipe with the Bookish Road Trip community in the once-monthly Bookish Road Trip Wanderlust newsletter.
What’s a banana boat?
Well, it’s not quite a s’more. And it’s not quite a banana split. But it’s definitely a campfire favorite and something I’ve enjoyed with my family on camping trips and during hikes on the Appalachian Trail with my best friend.
Curious? Here’s how to make one:
1. Split a banana lengthwise.
That’s the “boat.” You’re not cutting all the way through. Cut just enough to create an opening to stuff ingredients into.
2. Stuff it with all kinds of goodness.
At the bottom of this post, I’ve included ingredient photos and a list of different flavor combinations you can try. The following photo is a Chocolate Coconut Boat made with chocolate chips and shredded coconut.
3. Wrap it in tinfoil.
If you’re serving a large group, you can always write names on the aluminum foil with a Sharpie marker.
4. Warm it over a fire.
You’re only trying to warm the Banana Boat to the point at which ingredients melt and the banana softens, so you don’t need to place the boat directly over a flame. You’re not cooking it. You’re warming it. Tucking it to the side for about five minutes works perfectly. Don’t stress about any of this – you can always unwrap your foil to take a peek to assess the situation. Ingredients melted? Banana soft and warm? Then you’re done. Also remember: some boats take longer than others depending on the quantity and type of ingredients stuffed inside the boat.
Once warmed, open the foil enough to access all the goodness, then dig into the boat with your spork.
Enjoy!
When selecting ingredients to stuff your boat – use your imagination.
Pictured above are ingredients I set out for a night of banana boat making. A packet of almond butter, organic honey, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, shredded coconut, marshmellows. There’s a bowl of walnuts that somehow didn’t make it into the photo.
Other ingredients to try:
- granola
- cereal
- fresh fruit
- chopped up candy bars like Snickers, Heath Bars, Reese’s Cups
- York Peppermint Patties, Andes Chocolate Mints, crushed candy canes
Flavor combos are fun too. Try a few of these:
- S’more Boat: banana + crushed graham crackers + milk chocolate + mini marshmallows
- Banana Split Boat: banana + milk chocolate + cherries
- Samoa Boat: banana + caramel sauce + toasted coconut + chocolate chips
- Dulce de Leche Boat: banana + chocolate + Dulce de Leche sauce + shredded coconut
- Chocolate Covered Strawberry Boat: banana + strawberries + milk chocolate
- Hazelnut Boat: banana + Nutella
- PB & J Boat: banana + peanut butter + jelly
Think this is something you’d like to try? Let me know if you do. And if you have any fun ingredients or flavor combos to share, drop me a line and I’ll add your recommendations to this post.
Well, that’s it. Banana Boats.
Yum.