Bread Baking

Campfire bread baking is making simple bread dough and cooking it over an open fire instead of in an oven. The best-known way is twisting dough around a stick and slowly toasting it over hot embers until it's golden outside and fluffy inside. It's one of the oldest ways of making bread, and it's a warm, hands-on way for families to cook together outdoors.

Twist bread, also called stick bread, is a long rope of dough wrapped around a stick and turned over the fire. It's the classic for children, and it looks brilliant too.

Damper is a simple soda bread from Australia, traditionally baked in the hot coals.

Bannock is a flat, round bread from Scotland, often cooked in a pan or on a hot stone.

Flatbreads can be slapped straight onto a hot griddle or skillet and are ready in minutes.

First, make the dough. Most campfire breads use just flour, water, a pinch of salt and something to help it rise, like yeast or baking powder. Knead it until it's smooth and stretchy, then roll it into a long sausage and wind it around the end of your stick. The secret is to cook over glowing embers, not tall flames. Hold the dough just above the heat and keep turning it slowly, so it browns evenly without burning. Your Activity Leader will show you how to tell when it's cooked through: it should sound hollow when tapped and slide off the stick easily.

Yes, it's a wonderful one to share. Children love squishing and shaping the dough, and there's real pride in eating something you've cooked yourself over a fire. It's also a gentle way to learn how to behave safely around a campfire, with a grown-up close by. Just be ready for requests to make it at home.

Anything you like. For something sweet, try jam, honey, chocolate spread or a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar. For something savoury, go for garlic butter, soft cheese or a warming soup to dip into. Some families fill the hollow left by the stick with something tasty, which makes it feel like a little treasure.

You might also like Fire Lighting, Forest School and Ice Cream Tasting.

See all Camp Kindling activities