3 Campfire Sweets You’ll Crave on Your Finger Lakes Vacation
One of the things we love most about the Finger Lakes is the local product that’s available. There’s so much incredible produce, plus homemade cheeses, preserved foods, breads, meats, and more to enjoy. It’s all so good that we don’t think you should have to wait until you get home to really enjoy it. In fact, we encourage our guests to plan a picnic as part of their stays, or better, yet, turn our backyard into your kitchen (especially with those views!).
If you can’t wait to dig in to your farmer’s market finds or other local gems that you pick up as you explore Seneca Lake, go for it! If you’re staying with us, we’ve got you covered. All of our Finger Lakes vacation rentals have gas grills plus grilling utensils. Plus, you’ll find a fire pit that’s perfect for making s’mores or roasting on skewers.
Looking for a great way to top off a full day of exploring? Here are three sweet dishes for you to make once you get back to your rental after a long day of hiking, wine tasting, and enjoying all the Finger Lakes have to offer:
Banana Boats
If you love the taste of a banana split, then a roasted banana boat is the way to go! Simply grab some aluminum foil, a few bananas, and your favorite ice cream toppings. Think chocolate, marshmallows, peanut butter, shredded coconut, nuts, graham crackers, or your favorite candy bar. Or even better yet, local creations by Oracle Chocolates. If you got berries in season at the farmer’s market, these are great to add into the mix.
With the peel still on, split your banana down the middle and stuff it with your toppings of choice. Then, wrap the banana in aluminum foil. From there, you can roast this on the grill or use a skewer to roast over your campfire for just a few minutes. Your banana will be done when you feel it start to go soft. Unwrap, let cool a bit, and dig in!
Grilled Watermelon Skewers
Looking for something different from traditional grilled veggie kabobs? Fresh watermelon cut into one inch cubes can be threaded on skewers and grilled lightly for the perfect blend of sweet and smoky. Just place your threaded skewers on the grill for 2 or 3 minutes until the watermelon gets grill marks. Some fresh basil sprinkled over the top of the grilled watermelon and you’re ready to enjoy! Add salt and pepper to taste if you want a bit more of a savory kick.
We love pairing the grilled watermelon with a great cheese like halloumi (which grills well!), feta, or Sunset View Creamery’s mozzarella. You can also try out this recipe with other fruits that are in season and can hold up to a little heat. Stone fruits like peaches, plums, or nectarines work perfectly. Heirloom tomatoes (great in combination with watermelon) do too!
Cinnamon Twists
If you’re bringing some provisions with you on your trip, you can do a little baking on the grill and enjoy a sweet treat that’s sure to be a crowd pleaser. For these, you’ll need wooden skewers (make sure to soak them in water before grilling!) and a few things from the pantry:
- Canola oil (for oiling the grill grates)
- Two tablespoons of granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 package of crescent roll dough
- 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup of confectioners’ sugar
In a bowl, mix together your granulated sugar and cinnamon. Then, unroll your crescent roll dough and cut it into four rectangles. Brush the two of the dough rectangles with the melted butter and sprinkle on your cinnamon and sugar mixture. Then, top with the other two rectangles. From the long end, cut each rectangle into 4 long strips. Next, take each strip and twist it around your pre-soaked skewer in a spiral. Pinch the ends to seal.
Grill for about 5 minutes on direct heat, making sure to turn them halfway through if using a gas grill (on medium). Remove from heat and finish on indirect heat on the grill for another 3 or 4 minutes. In another small bowl, combine the confectioner’s sugar with a tablespoon of milk or water to make a glaze. Drizzle over each cinnamon twist and enjoy!
We think every stay should end with something sweet. :)