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Campfire apple crisp is fun to make if you’re camping, and it’s also a tasty dessert idea if you’re not! Juicy apples are sweetened with sugar and flavored with cinnamon, and this campfire apple dessert is topped with a sweet and crunchy crumb topping. It’s a decadent campfire dessert which everyone will love. So, if you’re looking for something other than s’mores (which are also great!) try these apple crisp foil packets instead.
Sweet juicy apples are always a treat and this campfire apple crisp showcases their wonderful flavor. It’s so good it’s sure to be a highlight of your next camping trip.
If you love apples, maybe also consider apple pie muffin top cookies, my apple pie jello shots or what about apple pie cheesecake dip?
Why You’ll Love Campfire Apple Crisp
Simple to prepare: Making campfire apple crisp is really easy. Nobody wants to mess around with complicated ingredients while camping, and you aren’t going to have your whole kitchen with you, so make apple crisp foil packets and you’ll be making a great choice!
Oh so tasty: Every component in these apple crisp foil packs is delicious, so you can imagine how amazing the finished dish is going to be. If you love hot desserts served with vanilla ice cream, this is perfect.
Ideal for campers: As long as you have a large mixing bowl and some aluminum foil with you, you can prepare these amazing apple crisp foil packets on the campfire.
Best Campfire Apple Crisp Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Apples: The star of this easy foil packets dessert. Choose from Granny Smith apples, Honey Crisp, Golden Delicious, or your favorite kind of sweet or tart apples. Sugar: Brown sugar as well as white is used to sweeten them.
Ground cinnamon: Adds warm, earthy spice flavor.
Oats: For the apple crumb topping.
How to Make Campfire Apple Crisp Foil Packets
For more detailed instructions, with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Prepare the apple mixture: Core the apples, cut them into slices and toss them with the sugar and ground cinnamon.
Prepare the crumb topping: Mix the remaining ingredients together for the crumb topping.
Make the foil packets: Next, divide the apples between squares of foil, then add the crumb mixture on top, before bringing the edges together to make the foil packets, leaving a little vent hole in each one.
Cook the apple crisp: Cook the campfire apple crisp foil packets for about 15 minutes, then open one foil packet to see whether the apples are soft and the topping is bubbling hot, and cook some more if needed.
Serve the campfire apple pie packets: Carefully open foil packets and serve with ice cream, whipped cream, caramel sundae topping, or anything else you like.
Substitutions and Variations
Apples: You can use any kind of sweet juicy apples you want in this campfire cooking favorite. The tart flavor of Granny Smith apples works nicely here or perhaps you have another preference.
Lemon juice: If you’re using a sweeter apple, you can add a squirt of lemon juice to counter the sweetness.
Ground cinnamon: Apple pie spice works in place of the cinnamon if you want to use that, or even pumpkin pie spice.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Munch on some cool ranch jerky trail mix or ocean medley trail mix, always a wonderful camping staple.
Main courses: Next up, shrimp scampi foil packs or pineapple BBQ chicken foil packs would be ideal.
Dessert: Apple crisp can be served with ice cream or, if you aren’t hauling a mobile freezer or camping near a grocery store, aerosol whipped cream will be fine! Oh, and some fudge, chocolate or caramel sundae topping is always a treat. Apple crisp is also nice with another flavor of ice cream such as cinnamon bourbon peach.
How to Store Campfire Apple Crisp
Store: This campfire apple crisp foil packets dessert is best served as soon as it’s made. If you do have leftovers, they will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freeze: It’s unlikely you’ll be taking a freezer on your next camping trip, but if you’re making these at home you can freeze them in portions for future desserts.
Thaw: Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Reheat: Leftovers can be reheated for a minute or so in the microwave.
Top Tips
Slice the apples thinly: Thin slices cook and soften quicker.
Check for doneness: This dessert is done when the apples are tender and the topping is bubbling hot.
Let them rest for a bit: These are very hot when they come off the campfire, so let them sit for a few minutes before serving.
Grilled Apple Crisp FAQs
Campfire apple crumble is pretty easy to make but it’s important not to burn them. Campfires aren’t as easy to control as, say, the oven. The best way to make sure your apple crisp foil packets don’t burn is to put them over a hot part of the campfire (over hot embers) rather than in the direct flame or over a cooler part of the fire.
If the weather isn’t on your side, you can always bake your apple crisp foil packets instead of cooking them over an open fire. About 20 minutes in a 350 degrees F oven should do it.
Campfire Apple Crisp Recipe
Campfire Apple Crisp
Ingredients
- 6 apples, large, any variety but I suggest a tart apple like Honey Crisp or Granny Smith
- 3 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon white sugar
- 2 Teaspoons ground cinnamon
Crumb Topping:
- 1 Cup all purpose flour
- 1 Cup brown sugar
- 1 Cup quick oats
- 1 Stick butter, melted
- ½ Teaspoon ground cinnamon
Optional Toppings:
- vanilla ice cream
- caramel sundae topping
Instructions
- Preheat the grill for 350 degrees F or get your campfire going.
- Core and cut the apples into thin slices. You should have around 8 to 10 slices per apple.
- In a large bowl, toss the apple slices with the brown sugar, sugar, and cinnamon until well coated.
- Make the crumb topping by combining the flour, brown sugar, quick oats, butter and cinnamon together until it resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.
- Lay out six large pieces of heavy-duty aluminum foil. (12-inch square pieces). Evenly distribute the sugared apples onto the center of each piece of foil.
- Generously sprinkle the crumb topping over each pile of apples. You want enough to cover the apples completely.
- Bring the edges of the foil together to make a packet. Seal the packets well but leave some room for the heat to circulate inside.
- Place the foil packets on the grill or over the campfire on a grate. Cook for about 15 to 20 minutes, until the apples are tender. If you're using a campfire, try to keep the packets out of the flames and in a hotter part of the embers to avoid burning.
- Carefully open a packet to check if the apples are done. They should be tender and the topping should be bubbly and golden. If not, reseal the packet and continue cooking, checking every few minutes.
- Once the apple crisps are done, let them cool for a few minutes before carefully opening the packets. The contents will be very hot.
- Serve the apple crisp directly from the packets. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sundae topping, if desired.
Notes
Check for doneness: This dessert is done when the apples are tender and the topping is bubbling hot.
Let them rest for a bit: These are very hot when they come off the campfire, so let them sit for a few minutes before serving.
Nutrition
Campfire apple crisp, or campfire apple cobbler, is a wonderful recipe made with thinly sliced apples, sugar, cinnamon, and a wonderful crumb topping. It’s a great dessert whether you’re camping or grilling at home. Everyone loves camping apple crisp and this is one of the tastiest (and most fun!) ways to make the classic dessert.
Other Recipes to Try
- Caramel Pretzel Apple Bark blends sweet, salty, crunchy and chewy.
- An Orange BBQ Salmon delivers bright citrus flavor and tender fish.
- These tasty Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bites are the perfect autumn dessert.
- A Strawberry Crisp is a cozy dessert filled with the sweet taste of summer.
- This spiked Salted Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate is perfect for chilly evenings.
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
This was a total hit with our guests! Excited to make this again. 🙂