This Two-Ingredient Campfire Banana Boat May Make You Forget About S’mores

Adam Roy
·2 min read

This article originally appeared on Backpacker

After 15 years as a vegetarian, there are very few things I miss. Steaks? Never a fan. Hamburgers? After a decade and a half away from them, I couldn't tell you the difference between an Impossible Whopper and a real one. But there's one thing that I still have a hard time replacing: marshmallows.

For those of you who don't obsessively read over the ingredient lists on your sweets, marshmallows contain gelatin, which is made from processed livestock bones and hides--a no-go for anyone who doesn't eat meat. Yes, there are vegetarian marshmallows out there, which mostly use seaweed-derived agar instead of animal products, and they've come a long way from their gummy beginnings. But finding them in many supermarkets is still tough, and snagging them in a rural gas station on your way to the trailhead is out of the question.

As a s'mores-loving vegetarian, I've had to get creative. My personal favorite substitute: the humble and easy-to-find banana. You can roast slices on a stick just like a marshmallow, then sandwich them with chocolate between two graham crackers for a creamy, caramelized vegetarian s'more. If you're interested in getting just a little bit fancier, though, this two-ingredient take on a classic campfire banana boat cooks right in the banana's peel.

Ingredients:

  • 1 standard-size candy bar of your choice (Milky Ways work well)

  • 1 banana

  • Graham crackers (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Lay the banana on its side, carefully make two cuts along its length, and lift up the resulting flap of peel without tearing it off.

  2. Cut the banana and candy bar into equal-size slices roughly a 1/2 -inch to 3/4 -inch thick. Remove alternating slices from the banana and replace them with slices of candy bar, leaving pieces of banana on either end. Close the peel. Eat any leftover banana or chocolate pieces, or save them for s'mores.

  3. Lay the banana on coals cut side up and cook for about 7 to 10 minutes, or until the banana is softened and the chocolate is creamy but not liquid. Spread on graham crackers, or just eat with a spoon.

Tip: Car camping? You can also cook this over any camp stove with a grill.

For exclusive access to all of our fitness, gear, adventure, and travel stories, plus discounts on trips, events, and gear, sign up for Outside+ today.