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I grew up at Girl Scout camp, and that meant a lot of campfire meals. Bananas stuffed with chocolate and marshmallows, that we called “banana boats,” quickly became my favorite campfire treat. Today, I’m pulling from my scouting days, and making this gooey sweet dessert even more perfect for summer, with banana boat ice cream sundaes.
Banana boats are such a fun interactive summer dessert already: everyone can stuff their own banana to their heart’s delight. With these sundaes, you can pair off and work in teams to make the most fun and indulgent banana boat before tossing them in the fire.
Then take it to the next level with a DIY ice cream bar. Use the roasted fruits as a base, like a banana split. The recipe I’m sharing is pretty basic, but you can go crazy here with ice cream flavors and toppings. Chocolate ice cream, strawberry sauce, wet walnuts? Why not, do it all!
Plus this recipe is versatile. You can cook these bananas in the campfire as it settles down or throw them on the grill. If the weather isn’t cooperating, you can also bake them for an indoor treat. Any way you cook these, they will be tasty and fun.
Banana Boat Ice Cream Sundaes
Ingredients
Banana Boats
- 2 Bananas
- 1/4 cup Chocolate Chips
- 1/4 cup Mini Marshmallows
- 2 Tbsp Caramel Sauce (store bought or your favorite recipe)
Sundaes
- 2 cups Vanilla Ice Cream (store bought or your favorite recipe)
- 1 Tbsp Caramel Sauce
- 4 Tbsp Whipped Cream
Instructions
- Lay each banana (with the peel on) on a sheet of aluminium foil, folding it slightly so the banana stands on its curve with the ends pointing up, like a boat. Cut the bananas in half long-wise with a sharp knife, careful not to cut all the way through the bottom peel.
- Pull apart the banana halves slightly, and fill with the chocolate chips and marshmallows. Drizzle with caramel sauce.
- Wrap the topped banana in the foil completely. Cook your banana boats in one of three ways:Bake: Preheat oven to 350F and bake for 10 minutes, placing bananas directly on the oven rackGrill: Add wrapped bananas to the grill and close, cooking for about 10 minutes.Campfire: Toss wrapped bananas into a late night campfire, which has more embers that flames. Cook for 10-15 minutes until the chocolate has melted.
- Carefully unwrap, and cut each banana in half cross-wise. Unpeel and place the bananas in a small glass dish. Top with the ice cream, caramel sauce, and whipped cream.
Notes
- Each of the three cooking methods will create a slightly different flavor profile for your bananas. The oven is the most neutral, and I think the campfire is the best!
- Feel free to add additional toppings to your sundaes such as chocolate syrup, marshmallow sauce, rainbow sprinkles, and maraschino cherries!
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Oh My God! This banana boat ice cream sundae looks sooo GOOD! Also, it’s perfect for summer. I’m going to try this recipe for sure, you can’t imagine how much I love banana and ice cream.
Thank you! It really is the best for a summer evening with friends. I hope you enjoy!
Two words: YES PLEASE! These look absolutely amazing and delicious. I love having sweet treats like this. Plus, I am one of those people who thinks it’s healthier when fruit is involved in a dessert, HAHA! Thanks for sharing!
I agree that fruit makes everything feel healthier! I hope you get a chance to try these.
Everything about this looks amazing. I’m a huge ice cream lover and I definitely need to try this!
I love ice cream too! I hope you get a chance to try these this summer!
What a delicious post! Such a great recipe and lovely pictures!
Yum! The perfect summer dessert!
Oh my goodness this looks like heaven and I’m going camping with a big group for Memorial Day weekend this weekend…guess what we’ll be making?? 🙂
I hope you got to make some of these this past weekend! How did they turn out?
I’m not sure how I’ve never heard of a banana boat, but it sounds delicious! I think I’ll try adding a little peanut butter to mine!
Ooh peanut butter sounds amazing! You could put some inside the banana boat before cooking, or add a peanut butter ice cream topping to the sundae at the end. Love this idea!
How awesome does this look?!? My family will love this summer treat!