Campfires are a quintessential part of Canadian summers. Add in some good friends, a couple guitars and the night is sure to be rounded out by delicious camp-fire snacks. Classic treats include S'mores and hotdogs on sticks, but what if you could elevate your campfire treats, all the while keeping that fun casual feel of a fun summer night by the fire with friends.

A couple things to consider:

  • We all have that one friend who sticks there marshmallow on the end of a stick and goes right for an open flame, rendering the cloudy white marshmallow a black crispy carbon bite. Then there are those who wait patiently for the fire to soften, for glowing embers to appear so they can cook the marshmallow into a perfectly caramel colored bite of perfection. I'm not saying one way is better than the other…we all have our preferences.
  • Some food lends itself to cooking on a grate that's been place over the open fire. Some food can be placed directly on the grate or in a cast iron or fire safe pan/pot.
  • Another option is to skewer your food and again, depending on your preference, the food can be heated near an open flame or at the edge of those glowing embers. Finally, heavy duty tin-foil can be used to wrap food in, again cook it at the edge of the burning campfire.

Here are some ideas to get you going:

Campfire Fondue

Place a wheel of 100% Canadian Brie in a cast iron pan. Cut a large X into the top of the Brie. Pour about ¼ cup white wine over the cheese and let it sit for 5 minutes. Place the cast iron pan over grate and allow the cheese the melt. This will take about 10-20 minutes depending on how hot your fire is. Serve with crusty bread and apple slices.

Roasted Shisito/Padron Peppers

These peppers are the perfect size, not spicy and don't have to be peeled. They yield a sweet buttery pepper. Eat everything but the stem! Place cast iron pan on grate and drizzle with oil. Place peppers in the pan and cook until the peppers are brown and well blistered. Sprinkle with sea salt and serve.

Roasted Pineapple Skewers with Coconut & Dulce de Leche

Place thick lengths of pineapple on a skewer lengthwise. Roast over the fire. When the pineapple is cooked to your liking roll in toasted coconuts (have toasted coconut in a Ziploc bag for easy dipping) and drizzle with the dulce de leche or caramel sauce.

Roasted Strawberries on Pound Cake

Place about 3 cups of strawberries on a large piece of heavy duty tin foil. Drizzle with honey and add a sprig of rosemary. Close the package up tightly and place at the edge of the fire, turning the package every 4 minutes. When the strawberries are softened and warm they are ready. Place a piece of pound cake on a plate (you can also toast the pound cake over the fire) top with berries and a whip cream (but the real whip cream in a can - after all we are trying to make this campfire friendly!)

Grilled Spiced Panner

Campfire Coffee Cocktail

  • 1 cup of cooled coffee (you can also serve this hot)
  • 1.5 oz Irish Cream Liquor
  • Chocolate sauce
  • Crushed graham crackers
  • 1-2 roasted marshmallows

Dip you cup into chocolate sauce and roll in crushed graham crackers. Add ice to the bottom of your glass and top with coffee and Irish Cream. Roast a marshmallow and place it in your drink!