Easy Camp Dutch Oven Coffee Cake Recipe
We love camping breakfast ideas that can be served as camping dessert recipes too! Leisurely catch a beautiful sunrise at the campsite with a cup of coffee and warm piece of cinnamon and brown sugar Easy Camp Dutch Oven Coffee Cake! I like to serve it with something savory on the side too.
Baking Tips
I want to share a few tips for baking this recipe including:
- Oven size
- Using Dutch oven liners
- Advanced prep
- Even baking
- Handling hot Dutch oven equipment safely
Oven Size
This easy recipe requires a 10-inch Dutch oven. If you only have larger sized ovens, just use a 10-inch pan (like a deep pie tin) and place it inside your bigger Dutch oven.
Lining Your Oven
To reduce or possibly eliminate the need for cleaning your gear after making Dutch oven camping recipes, you can use disposable Dutch oven liners. Coleman and Lodge have parchment paper liners, you can also get aluminum foil liners that come in different sizes so be sure to get the right size for your oven.
If you have never used a parchment one, I’ve got tips on how to use Dutch oven liners that includes making your own for pennies!
Advance Prep
Rubbermaid Easy Find Vented Lids Food Storage Container Set
I like to measure and mix the dry ingredients at home and transport only what I need to the campsite in lid-locking food storage containers. Then, I combine the dry and wet ingredients at the campsite just before baking.
Even Baking
Lodge Camp Dutch Oven Lid Lifter
In order to ensure your coffee cake is evenly baked, you should rotate the oven and lid in opposite directions during the cooking process. Using a Cast Iron Dutch Oven Lid Lifter makes that task easy.
Protection From Hot Cooking Equipment
932°F Heat Resistant Leather Long Sleeve Insulated Grill Gloves
Stressing the importance of campfire cooking safety can’t be done enough. When handling hot equipment around the campfire, be sure to avoid burns by using the right campfire cooking equipment like heat resistant gloves.
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Pairings
Can you even think of eating coffee cake without enjoying a good cup of java at the same time? See how to make coffee when camping so you get the perfect brew every time!
When you need easy camping meals for large groups, consider making a complimentary recipe. I like serving this coffee cake with a hearty slice of my Dutch Oven Breakfast Pizza. The two make a great sweet and savory combination. If you are camping with a smaller group, you can still make the two as a “pair” because they make great leftovers too!
Meal Planning
Use my camping menu planner to stay organized when planning meals for your next trip. It’s FREE and you’ll get it delivered instantly to your inbox!
Similar Recipes
If you like this coffee cake, here are a few more ideas you’ll want to try.
- The cinnamon and sugar flavor combination is fabulous in these fresh baked Dutch Oven Cinnamon Rolls. No yeast or rolling is required because you start with ready-to-bake dinner roll dough from the freezer!
- This Dutch Oven Monkey Bread is sweet, simple and yummy!
- My Dutch Oven French Toast is a great meal that can be prepped-ahead. You bake it like a casserole, then, slice and serve family style. The powdered sugar glaze is a nice finishing touch.
- I love using boxed cake mixes that do the measuring and mixing for me. This Dutch Oven Apple Dump Cake requires almost no effort at all and produces a super-simple dessert recipe that’s a sweet, gooey mess.
- Restaurant-quality fluffy homemade pancakes don’t have to be difficult. These Sweet Cream Pancakes are simple to make. It’s the only pancake recipe you’ll ever need
- Need a special occasion cake? Try this adorable Camper Cake!
Recipe
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Camp Dutch Oven Coffee Cake Recipe
Equipment
- 10-Inch, 4 Quart Cast Iron Camp Dutch Oven (see Note 1)
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 4 eggs beaten
- 1 (8 oz) container sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup brown sugar
For serving
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
For baking without a parchment paper liner
- Vegetable spray (use non-stick spray if baking directly in your Dutch oven, or, line it with a parchment paper liner)
Instructions
- In a medium size bowl, mix the cake mix, cinnamon, pecans, vegetable oil, eggs, sour cream and vanilla set aside.
- If using a parchment paper liner, place it inside the oven. Preheat 10-inch camp Dutch oven to 325 degrees (19 total charcoal briquettes = 13 top of lid / 6 below bottom of oven.)
- If not using a parchment paper liner, spray the inside of your pre-heated Dutch oven with vegetable spray.
- Pour the batter in the bottom of the oven.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar over the batter in the oven.
- Cover and bake at 325 degrees until done, about 20-30 minutes depending on your outside air temperature and altitude so adjust the baking time accordingly.
- Rotate the oven and lid 1/4 turn in opposite directions throughout the cooking process. (see Note 2) This easy coffee cake is done when a knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
- Take the Dutch oven off of the coals and remove lid to cool slightly. If using parchment paper liner, lift the cake out of the oven to cool.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar, slice and serve.
Notes
- If you are using a different size of oven, check this post for the number of briquettes you will need. Dutch Oven Temperature Chart https://www.campingforfoodies.com/dutch-oven-temperature-chart/
- To ensure even baking in your Dutch oven camping recipes, rotate the camp oven throughout the cooking time so everything cooks evenly. 1/4 turn for the bottom (say clockwise) then 1/4 turn in the opposite direction for the lid (this would be counterclockwise.) I like using a lid-lifter for this process but you can also use heat-resistant gloves or another favorite flameproof tool.
Do you crack eggs ahead of time and keep for days in a zip lock bag with no shell? I’m wondering if this is an ok way to transport eggs.
Hi Sue,
Thanks for the question! I have transported eggs in and out of their shells on camping trips. I like transporting them in their shells because they last longer … but, if I am concerned about the shells being accidentally cracked during transportation, I avoid that problem by cracking them ahead of time and keeping them refrigerated in a tightly sealed food storage container. They will last 2 to 4 days if they are kept at the proper temperature in a refrigerator or cooler. I have used heavy duty locking freezer bags too but find it easier to manage them in the food storage containers.
Happy camping, Kim
The recipe is very yummy, but I’ve made it in a dutch oven at camp and in my own oven and the 325 degrees has it taking WAY longer than the time suggested. Is this a typo? I have put it in those foil pans to make life a little easier, but i have a hard time believing that is causing it to take almost twice as long to bake.
Hi Sonja, Thanks for the question! The timing on this recipe may change a bit depending on the altitude where you are when you are baking it in your camp Dutch oven. It should not take twice as long to bake. If you are using a foil liner inside your Dutch oven, make sure you are inserting it into the Dutch oven before the pre-heating process. If your oven and liner are up to the pre-heat temperature of 325 degrees, your baking time should be about 20-30 minutes (depending on your outside air temperature and altitude). If your oven and liner are not up to the pre-heat temperature, you should expect a much longer baking time. Rotate the oven and lid in opposite directions throughout the cooking process with a Dutch Oven Lid Lifter to ensure the cake is baked evenly. Hope that helps and thanks again for the question.