Camping Dutch Oven French Toast Campfire Recipe (2024)

Are you ready for some sweet camping breakfast ideas? How about French toast! There are many French toast camping recipes that start with an entire loaf of bread in a piece of foil, pour over an egg mixture, place over a campfire till done then top with diced strawberries … those are delish!

But, I was in the mood forFrench toast campingin the middle of December (yes, we really do camp all year-round) and there was not a single fresh strawberry in sight! Soooo, I decided to do a “warmer” version with winter spices including cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, bake it in my camp Dutch oven then top it with a drizzle of sweet powdered sugar glaze … my Camping Dutch Oven French Toast Campfire Recipe was a HIT!

Psstwe’re compensated…see ourdisclosures.

How To Make Dutch Oven Breakfast French Toast

You can prep-ahead much of this recipe so you just have to “dump and bake” in the morning which is really great when you are making it as one of your winter camping recipes on cold mornings!

Non-Soggy Cast Iron French Toast Casserole

You’ve probably heard me say before that I love making Dutch oven recipes for camping that make big batches of food instead of cook one-at-a-time single servings … especially for breakfast. That’s why this is one of my top picks for easy camping meals for large groups.

I make one pot camping meals when I want our entire family to sit down together to eat a meal before we start our daytime activities of hiking, fishing, biking and whatever other exciting activities we have planned!

For this almost-gourmet camping breakfast, I want a crispy french toast on the bottom with a sweet, gooey top.

One of my secrets is using bread cubes instead of bread slices.

Prep-Ahead

One of the best things about this camping breakfast recipe is the amount ofprep you can do ahead of time. I always like measuring and mixing my dry ingredient at home, especially when I’m making from-scratch homemade recipes like these Sweet Cream Pancakes.

So, in the morning, you canleisurely start your campfireand enjoy your ever-so-important morning java before you need to“dump” these ingredients together to begin baking!

Make Ahead Campfire French Toast Casserole

When I am making a breakfast meal that requires a little more time in the cooking set-up … like starting a campfire or charcoal briquettes … I like todo as much prep the night before as possible.

So, this camping French toast casserole breakfast is great because I cancombine the egg mixture and store it in the refrigeratoror cooler.

I alsomake the powdered sugar glaze and keep it stored in a cool placetoo … make sure you useFood Storage Containers With Tight-Fitting Lids.

Lastly, Icube all of the breadand store it in a container at room temperature … so, in themorning my routine is simple.

I get mycampfire goingafter I have my first cup of coffee LOL!

While those coals are getting ready, Ispray my 12-inch Dutch ovenwith a little cooking spray andadd the bread cubesto the bottom of the pan.

Next, Ipour the egg mixtureover bread cubes, pressing down all of the cubes so they all take a bath … you know, they are all wet.

Stir the mixture if needed in order to have all of the cubes coated in the egg mixture.

You’ll let thisstand for about 20-30 minutes, giving the bread cubes time to get well-soaked in the egg mixture.

Now, it istime to bake!

Bake The French Toast Casserole Camping Recipe

I recommend using a12-inch regular depth campfire Dutch ovenwhich I consider to be one of the most important pieces ofcampfire cooking equipmentI own.

If you use a “deep” Dutch oven, you will have a hard time getting the top of this cast iron French toastcasserole done before you burn the bottom.

You’ll be baking at350 degrees F(if you are using charcoal briquettes, you’ll need 24 total with 9 placed on the bottom and 15 on the top of your Dutch oven lid.)

If you are using a different size camp Dutch oven, check out ourDutch Oven Temperature Chartpost for more information.

Bake this recipe until theegg mixture is cooked through, approximately40-50 minutes.

Camp Cooking Tip: If you notice theedges of theDutchoven French toast casserole getting browned too quickly, you are probably going to end up with a burnt bottom while you wait for the center to get cooked through … no worries … justmove some of the coals from the bottom to the topof the Dutch oven to even out the cooking.

Even Baking Of This Dutch Oven Camping French Toast Recipe

Because thebaking time is 40-50 minutes, you shouldexpect to add coalsduring the cooking process.

Whether you are using campfire coals or charcoal briquettes, they will not last long enough to finish this French toast casserole Dutch oven recipe with a single set of coals, so be prepared with a second set of hot coals in the middle of the baking time.

Also, be sure to use yourDutch Oven Lid Liftertorotate your Dutch oven throughout the cooking process. Every10-15 minutes, turn the Dutch ovenbottom 1/4 turn in one directionand turn the Dutch ovenlid 1/4 turn in the opposite direction… that willensure even bakingthroughout the cooking time without having hot or cold spots.

Serve This French Toast Campfire Recipe

We are not using maple syrup or sliced strawberries … instead, we are using a POWERED SUGAR GLAZE to top this camping Dutch oven breakfast!

This kids will love you for this!

I make a generous amount of glaze and add a fair amount to the entire recipe … then, I reserve the rest so my hungry campers can add more to the serving on their plate if they want their portion extra sweet.

And … because no camping trip would be complete without bacon (just ask my husband) … I like to serve a thick pepper bacon on the side to give this sweet breakfast a savory balance.

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