Campfire Chocolate Cake

This campfire chocolate cake is a decadent way to finish off a tasty campfire meal on your next camping trip.

Table of Contents

Campfire Chocolate Cake Ingredients
Substitutions And Additions
How To Make This Campfire Chocolate Cake Recipe
How To Serve This Campfire Cake Recipe
Storage
More Recipes You’ll Love
JUMP TO RECIPE

If you love chocolate, then you’ll love this campfire chocolate cake. It’s a rich and decadent dessert to make over the campfire, and I think you’ll agree that there’s nothing better than enjoying a slice of chocolate cake while sitting around the campfire in the great outdoors.

close up overhead shot of a skillet of Campfire Chocolate Cake

Campfire Chocolate Cake Ingredients

Campfire Chocolate Cake raw ingredients that are labeled

This campfire chocolate cake is a whole new level of deliciousness. The outdoor setting adds a unique element to the taste, and the warmth of the fire adds to the experience. The chocolate cake itself is rich, moist, and full of flavor.

You’ll need:

Vegetable shortening for coating the skillet
1 cup of all-purpose flour (plus 2 to 3 tablespoons for coating the skillet)
½ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder, divided in half
¾ cup of granulated sugar
2 teaspoons of baking powder
½ cup of whole milk
2 tablespoons of salted sweet cream butter, melted
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
½ cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup of light brown sugar, packed
1¾ cups of hot water

Substitutions And Additions

TOPPINGS: You can add chopped nuts and top your delicious chocolate campfire cake with a little bit of whipped topping.

CHOCOLATE CHIPS: While the recipe calls for semi-sweet chocolate chips, you can get creative with this ingredient. Swap them for milk chocolate chips for a sweeter profile, or use dark chocolate chips for a more intense taste.

VANILLA EXTRACT: Vanilla extract can be replaced with other extracts to infuse unique flavors into the cake. Almond extract will lend a nutty, marzipan-like taste, while coconut extract will impart a tropical twist. For a warm and cozy flavor, try using hazelnut extract.

How To Make This Campfire Chocolate Cake Recipe

This delicious cake comes together quickly right at your campsite, ready to cook over the open fire.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

This cake can also be cooked in an oven at home at 350°F for 45 minutes.

STEP ONE: You will need to allow the campfire to burn down to a nice bed of hot coals. I would suggest using a grate over the coals to allow for a steady cook surface.

PRO TIP:

Because temperature can widely differ for a campfire, the cake most definitely needs to be cooked on top of a grate. This will also help with the stability of the cooking surface.

STEP TWO: Heavily coat a 10 to 12-inch cast-iron skillet with vegetable shortening. Dust the pan with 2 to 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour, and set it aside.

PRO TIP:

It is very important to heavily coat the skillet with shortening. The batter will be very sticky.

STEP THREE: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ¼ cup cocoa powder, granulated sugar, and baking powder.

flour, cocoa powder, sugar, and baking powder whisked in a bowl

STEP FOUR: In a smaller mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract.

milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract whisked together

STEP FIVE: Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until well incorporated.

wet ingredients stirred into the dry ingredients

STEP SIX: Evenly spread the cake batter in the bottom of the prepared skillet.

batter spread in the bottom of the skillet

STEP SEVEN: Evenly sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top of the batter.

chocolate chips sprinkled onto the batter in the pan

STEP EIGHT: In a small mixing bowl, whisk the brown sugar and remaining ¼ cup cocoa powder. Evenly sprinkle the brown sugar mixture over the top of the chocolate chips.

brown sugar and cocoa powder mixture sprinkled over the chocolate chip

STEP NINE: Carefully pour the hot water over the top of the brown sugar mixture.

hot water poured over the top of the brown sugar mixture

STEP TEN: Place the skillet on top of the grate over the hot bed of coals. Allow the cake to cook uncovered for 55 to 60 minutes until the cake has formed a dry top and a bubbly, pudding-like bottom.

Drizzle the top of the cake with caramel sundae sauce. Serve while hot.

PRO TIP:

Remember anything cooked over the open flame will be hot when removing; cook with care!

How To Serve This Campfire Cake Recipe

Bring along the ingredients for this yummy cake the next time you are heading off into the wilderness, and I guarantee it will be a huge hit.

Start your meal with our campfire pizza or campfire nachos as a tasty alternative to the classic hot dogs and hamburgers.

Consider pairing your chocolate cake with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, fresh berries for a pop of tartness, or a drizzle of warm hot fudge sauce for an extra layer of indulgence.

Our campfire banana boats and campfire apple crisp in foil packets are two more camping recipes that you can whip up on your adventure.

MORE CHOCOLATE CAKE RECIPES

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Busy Day Chocolate Cake

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German Chocolate Cake

Storage

While this recipe is meant to be enjoyed right when it is made, if you do have leftovers, you can store them for a little while.

IN THE FRIDGE: You can store any leftovers of your campfire cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.

IN THE FREEZER: If you have access to a freezer or cook this recipe at home, store it in an airtight container for up to two months.

overhead shot of a slice of Campfire Chocolate Cake topped with ice cream and caramel syrup

Is there anything better than sitting around a campfire, roasting marshmallows, and enjoying a delicious chocolate cake? This easy campfire chocolate cake recipe comes off the fire hot and moist, and the caramel sauce on top finishes it off in just the right way.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I make this campfire dessert recipe in the oven at home?

This easy recipe can also be cooked in an oven at home at 350°F for 45 minutes.

Can I prepare the cake mix ahead of time?

If you’d like to make the cake batter and bring it along with you to save having to bring mixing bowls on your trip, you can. Prepare the recipe up to step 5 and store it in an airtight container until your campfire is hot and ready to bake.

Can I store leftovers from this cake?

You could store leftovers in the fridge or cooler for up to one day.

More Recipes You’ll Love

Campfire Chocolate Cake

5 from 5 votes

This campfire chocolate cake is a decadent way to finish off a tasty campfire meal on your next camping trip.

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 55

Total Time 1 5

Servings

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe

Ingredients

Vegetable shortening, for coating the skillet
1 cup all-purpose flour, plus 2 to 3 tablespoons for coating the skillet
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, divided in half
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ cup whole milk
2 tablespoons salted sweet cream butter, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1¾ cups hot water

Instructions

You will need to allow the campfire to burn down to a nice bed of coals. I would suggest using a grate over the coals to allow for a steady cook surface.
Heavily coat a 10 to 12-inch cast-iron skillet with vegetable shortening. Dust the pan with 2 to 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour, and set it aside.
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ¼ cup cocoa powder, granulated sugar, and baking powder.
In a smaller mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract.
Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until well incorporated.
Evenly spread the batter in the bottom of the prepared skillet.
Evenly sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top of the batter.
In a small mixing bowl, whisk the brown sugar and remaining ¼ cup cocoa powder. Evenly sprinkle the brown sugar mixture over the top of the chocolate chips.
Carefully pour the hot water over the top of the brown sugar mixture.
Place the skillet on top of the grate over the hot bed of coals. Allow the cake to cook uncovered for 55 to 60 minutes until the cake has formed a dry top and a bubbly, pudding-like bottom. Drizzle with caramel sundae sauce. Serve while hot.

Notes

This cake can also be cooked in an oven at home at 350°F for 45 minutes.
Because temperature can widely differ for a campfire, the cake most definitely needs to be cooked on top of a grate. This will also help with the stability of the cooking surface.
It is very important to heavily coat the skillet with shortening. The batter will be very sticky.
Remember anything cooked over the open flame will be hot when removing; cook with care!

Nutrition

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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!