Desserts for outdoor activities – sweet endings to mountain hikes

Dinner may be over and you're full and satisfied in the fresh mountain air. But sometimes you still want to indulge a little extra – why not round off the day with dessert under the stars? In this article, you'll find several quick and easy tips on how to transform your emergency kitchen, campfire or snack bar into a dessert station in the wilderness.

Sweet wraps

• Tortilla bread : Works great as a base for a dessert taco or a dessert wrap.
• Filling : Spread peanut butter or cream cheese, add sliced ​​bananas, strawberries or blueberries and finish with a dollop of jam or chocolate sauce.
• Preparation : Heat wraps in a frying pan or directly in a sandwich iron for a slightly warmer, crispier version.

Tip:
For extra crunch, add crushed digestive biscuits or chopped nuts before rolling.

Quick “apple pie” in a frying pan

• Ingredients : A few apples, a little butter (or oil), sugar, cinnamon and oatmeal.
• Here's how you do it :
  1. Peel and slice the apples.
  2. Fry them lightly in butter with sugar and cinnamon until they soften and get a nice color.
  3. Sprinkle over oatmeal or crumble a biscuit base (e.g. digestive).
• Serving : Eat it warm as is, or top with a dollop of vanilla sauce (available in powder form that you can mix on the spot).

Tip:
If you have raisins, dried fruit or some nuts left over, throw those in too for extra flavor and chewiness.

3. Outdoor chocolate fondue

• Base : A small saucepan or a mug that can withstand heat.
• Ingredients : Chocolate cake or chocolate buttons and a splash of milk or water.
• Accessories : Dried fruit, fresh berries, crackers or marshmallows.
• Here's how you do it :
  1. Heat some milk or water over low heat.
  2. Stir in the chocolate until it melts.
  3. Dip fruit pieces, crackers, or whatever you have on hand into the warm chocolate sauce.

Tip:
Use a dark chocolate for intense flavor, or a milk chocolate for a sweeter fondue. Just make sure the chocolate doesn't burn, so stir constantly.

Chocolate and banana boat (in foil)

• Ingredients : Banana, chocolate chips (or chocolate buttons) and possibly some chopped nuts.
• Cooking :
  1. Cut a slit along the length of the banana (but keep the peel on).
  2. Fill the cut with chocolate, nuts or why not some marshmallows.
  3. Wrap the banana in aluminum foil and place it in the embers or on the stovetop for a few minutes.
• Result : A warm, soft banana filled with runny chocolate – simple and insanely delicious!

Plan for dessert

• Prepare ingredients at home : Dry fruit, crush crackers in a bag, measure out spices and store everything in convenient small bags or jars.
• Keep the weight down : Desserts don't have to weigh a lot. Choose toppings that can be used with multiple dishes (e.g. sugar, nuts, oatmeal).
• Be flexible : Often, a frying pan and a little creativity are enough to make a tasty dessert.

Summary

Desserts don’t have to be complicated, even when you’re hiking in the wilderness. With a few simple ingredients and some smart planning, you can enjoy a warm, sweet end to your day. Try your hand at sweet wraps, quick apple pie, chocolate fondue or banana boats – or come up with your own special treat. A little extra sugar and love at the end of a long day of hiking can do wonders for both your energy and your mood!