For campers who want a sweet finish after a camping dinner, Foil Packet Pineapple Upside-Down Cakes bring warm, buttery, caramelized, fruity bites to the fire ring without a sink full of dishes. The packets can be assembled close to serving time, cooked over steady coals, and eaten straight from the foil once they cool enough to handle.
Why Campers Like This Recipe
As a Foil Packet Pineapple Upside-Down Cakes camping recipe, the format is easy to manage when the picnic table is crowded with lanterns, mugs, and the last few dinner plates. Each portion cooks in its own packet, so there is no cake pan to scrub and no need to slice servings in the dark. The foil traps heat around the fruit and cake, while the bottom edges can take on a toasted, sugary finish. It is also a useful camp desserts option when you want something warm after dinner but do not want to set up a full baking station.
Camp Equipment Notes
Use heavy-duty foil or a double layer of regular foil so the packets can be moved with tongs without tearing. A small grill grate over coals gives you more control than burying the packets directly in the hottest part of the fire. If you are working with campfire cooking after dinner, keep a cooler nearby for any chilled toppings or fruit components until you are ready to assemble. Mugs, insulated cups, or small bowls work well for serving if the foil is too hot to hold. During cleanup, let the packets cool, scrape any sticky bits into your trash bag, and pack out the foil.
Storage Tips
Keep dry cake components sealed away from cooler meltwater, and store fruit or dairy-based extras cold until close to cooking time. Once assembled, foil packets are best cooked the same evening so the cake does not soak up too much juice before it hits the heat. Leftover cakes can be cooled, wrapped tightly, and kept in the cooler overnight, but the texture will soften. Rewarm leftovers gently in foil near low coals or eat them chilled before breaking camp. Sticky foil attracts ants and curious wildlife, so bag it promptly after dinner.
Before You Make Foil Packet Pineapple Upside-Down Cakes
What can be packed ahead for Foil Packet Pineapple Upside-Down Cakes without making the cake soggy?
Pack the dry portion in a sealed container or zip-top bag, and keep the fruit and any syrupy elements separate until you are at the campsite. If you measure small topping amounts at home, label the containers so assembly goes quickly after dinner. Wait to build the packets until the fire has settled into coals; that keeps the cake from absorbing too much liquid while everyone is still cleaning up the main meal.
How do I keep the caramelized pineapple from scorching in foil packets over the campfire?
Cook over steady coals instead of tall flames, and rotate the packets once or twice with tongs. If your fire is running hot, set the packets on a grate or on the edge of the coal bed rather than directly in the center. A little space between the foil and the hottest coals helps the pineapple caramelize instead of burning, which is the main trick with this campfire foil packet recipe.
Foil Packet Pineapple Upside-Down Cakes
Equipment
- Heavy-duty aluminum foil
- Mixing bowl
- Spoon
Ingredients
- 4 pineapple rings canned or fresh
- 4 maraschino cherries
- 4 tbsp brown sugar
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 cup yellow cake mix
- 1/3 cup water
Instructions
- Lay out 4 sheets of foil, each about 10x10 inches.
- Place 1 tbsp brown sugar and 1 tbsp butter in the center of each sheet. Top with a pineapple ring and place a cherry in the center.
- In a bowl, combine cake mix and water to make a thick batter.
- Spoon 2-3 tbsp batter over each pineapple ring, spreading gently to mostly cover.
- Fold foil into packets, sealing tightly.
- Place packets on hot campfire coals and cook for 12-15 minutes, rotating halfway through, until cakes are set and aromatic.
- Remove from the fire, let cool slightly, then carefully open and invert cakes onto plates so pineapple is on top.