Banana Boats
Campfire banana boats are one of our favorite camping desserts! They are easy to make and take 5 minutes. Heat them up in a campfire, on a grill or even in your oven at home.
Campfire Banana Boats
There are few things I enjoy more in life than gathering around a campfire with people I love and making tin foil dinners, s'mores and banana boats!
If you have never had banana boats before, you're missing out. They are an elevation of classic s'mores.
Some of our other favorite s'mores-inspired recipes include these No-Bake Golden Grahams S'mores Bars and Spicy S'mores Quesadillas! Browse our dessert page for more of our fave desserts.
What is a Banana Boat?
Banana Boats are what you get when you slice a banana lengthwise, stuff it with marshmallows and chocolate, and then heat it up until the marshmallows are soft and the chocolate is melted.
You can make them in a campfire, on a grill, or in the oven. In just minutes, you have an incredibly delicious camping dessert.
Banana Boat Ingredients
- Ripe bananas
- Mini marshmallows
- Candy bars
Our favorite candy bars for banana boats are Symphony, Snickers, Reeses or classic Hershey bars!
Supplies Needed
- Tin foil
- Plastic knife, forks, and spoons
- Wax Paper* (optional)
*If you are uncomfortable cooking food directly in tin foil, you can put a layer of wax paper on top of the tin foil so that the banana is not touching the foil while it cooks.
How to Make Banana Boats
- Cut two squares of aluminum foil and slice a banana lengthwise. Cut all the way through the banana but keep the bottom of the banana peel in-tact.
- Stuff mini marshmallows and candy bars into the banana. Mini unwrapped candy bars work great, and larger candy bars can be chopped up to fit easily.
- Wrap the banana up in tin foil leaving a few inches of head space at the top. Seal the openings well.
- Heat the banana boats up in a campfire, on a grill or in the oven for a few minutes until marshmallows are soft and chocolate is melty.
Use tongs or oven mitts to check the banana boats and get them out of the fire/grill/oven. The foil gets hot!
The banana peel will turn black from the heat. A finished banana boat is not gorgeous, but it is delicious.
You can add more toppings to it at this point as well, I love adding shredded coconut and salted caramel sauce!
Banana Boat Dessert FAQs
Here are a few answers to commonly asked questions about our recipe.
Can I cook banana boats on a grill?
Totally! Toss the tinfoil-wrapped bananas on the grill, and cook until insides are warm and gooey.
Can I cook banana boats in the oven?
To cook banana boats in the oven, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake for 10-15 minutes until desired gooeyness.
How long should I cook campfire banana boats over a campfire?
Cook them over medium heat for approximately 5-10 minutes, turning occasionally until the fillings are melted and the banana is soft.
Can I make campfire banana boats in advance?
You can prepare them in advance and keep them in the refrigerator until you're ready to cook them.
More Banana Boat Recipe Topping Ideas
- Chopped nuts
- Sprinkles
- Finely chopped strawberries
- Chocolate Syrup
- Caramel Sauce
- Shredded Coconut
If you make this recipe, we would love it if you leave us a commend and a positive review. They mean a lot to us!
Campfire Banana Boats
Equipment
- Wax Paper (optional)
- Plastic Knives and Forks
Ingredients
Banana Boat Ingredients
- 4 Bananas Ripe bananas work best
- Candy Bars mini size or chopped up
- Mini Marshmallows
Favorite Candy Bars for Banana Boats
- Symphony
- Snickers
- Reeses
- Hershey Bar
Optional Banana Boat Toppings
- Chocolate Syrup
- Caramel Sauce
- Shredded Coconut
- Chopped Nuts
- Chopped Strawberries
Instructions
How to Assemble Banana Boats
- For each banana, cut two squares of aluminum foil.
- Place banana in the middle of the square.
- Slice banana down the middle length-wise, leaving the bottom banana peel in tact.
- Stuff banana with chopped candy bars, mini marshmallows and any other preferred toppings, until it is just about bursting.
- Wrap the foil around the banana leaving 2 or 3 inches of headspace. Make sure that it is sealed tightly at all of the edges.
Campfire Instructions
- Put banana boats around the edge of the campfire (not directly in the flames.)
- Cook for a few minutes, just until the marshmallows are soft and chocolate is melty.
- Use hot pads or tongs to open the top of the foil boats to check if they are done.
Oven Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Place banana boats in foil into the oven. Cook for 5 minutes or until marshmallows and chocolate are soft.
Grill Instructions
- Place on grill over medium heat. Cover grill and cook 8 to 10 minutes or until marshmallows are soft.
Notes
FAQs
Here are a few answers to commonly asked questions about our recipe.Can I cook them on a grill?
Totally! Toss the tinfoil-wrapped bananas on the grill, and cook until insides are warm and gooey.Can I cook them in the oven?
To cook banana boats in the oven, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake for 10-15 minutes until desired gooeyness.How long should I cook campfire banana boats over a campfire?
Cook them over medium heat for approximately 5-10 minutes, turning occasionally until the fillings are melted and the banana is soft.Can I make them in advance?
You can prepare them in advance and keep them in the refrigerator until you're ready to cook them. For less mess while camping: chop nuts, candy bars, and so on before you leave and keep the toppings in snack-size plastic bags.Nutrition
You may also like these practical camping hacks from our friend Pam.
This recipe was originally published in May 2015 and has since been updated with new photos, a printable recipe card and more detailed information.
We made these at a family reunion, everyone created their own, they were so good, and were such a big hit with both the kids and the adults, we did it again the next night!
we had so much fun making these. hit with all ages! five stars!
We are going camping for the first time next month. To survive, I think we will have to make these! I bet there won't be any complaining.
Yes! Do it!!! And have so much fun!
What a fun and yummy treat! Can't wait to try it!
You will love it! Especially the easy clean up ????