Foil-Wrapped Banana Boats
A split banana packed with chocolate and marshmallows, buried in coals until it collapses.
- calories
- 290
- weight
- 7 oz
- cal / oz
- 41
- protein
- 3 g
- serves
- 6, scales
- prep
- 10 min
- cook
- 10 min
- total time
- 20 min
- water
- none
- cost
- $
Calorie and protein figures are my own estimates, good enough for planning a food bag and not meant as precise nutrition data.
- Dessert
- Campfire coals
- Grill grate
- Car camping
- Basecamp
- Backpacking
- Vegetarian
- Gluten free
- Nut free
- Foil packet
- Grab and go
- Shelf stable
- Basic
Ingredients
| Bananas | 6 | still firm, slightly green is better than spotty |
|---|---|---|
| Chocolate bars | 3 | broken into squares |
| Mini marshmallows | 1 1/2 cups | |
| Heavy-duty foil | 6 sheets | regular foil tears on coals |
Method
- Get a fire down to coals. Flames will scorch the foil and leave the inside cold.
- Slice each banana lengthwise through the peel, deep but not through the far side. Leave the peel on. It is the cooking vessel.
- Push chocolate squares and marshmallows into the slit until it is packed.
- Wrap each banana in heavy foil, seam up, and set it on the grill grate or on the edge of the coals. Never directly in flame.
- Give it about ten minutes. Open one and check. It is done when the chocolate has gone liquid and the marshmallows have slumped.
- Eat straight out of the peel with a spoon. The peel will be black. That is fine.
The peel does the work here. It holds shape, keeps the fruit off the metal, and steams the banana from the inside while the fillings melt. Nothing to wash after, which is the actual argument for cooking dessert in fruit.
Firm bananas matter more than the chocolate does. A ripe one turns to liquid and leaks out of the slit before the marshmallows are anywhere near melted. Coals, not flame — foil over open fire burns through and the sugar scorches. This is car-camping food most of the time, but bananas will survive day one in a pack if you keep them on top.
Packing
Bananas go on top of the food bag or they arrive as pudding. Pre-cut foil sheets at home and fold them flat with the chocolate.
Variations
- Swap half the chocolate for caramel bits or peanut butter cups if nut allergies are not a concern.
- A spoonful of instant coffee granules in the slit cuts the sweetness.
- Crushed graham crackers over the top after opening makes it a s'more, but it stops being gluten-free.
https://camprecipes.com/classic-recipes/banana-boats-2