Not having an oven in your camper doesn't mean giving up a sweet treat. Quite the opposite: no-bake desserts are ideal for travelling, with easy sweets made in a pan, in the fridge or with few ingredients. Perfect for spoiling yourself, for the children, or for a special after-dinner treat wherever you are. Here are the ideas and tricks.
Fridge desserts (the easiest)
The kings of camper baking: all you need is to mix and chill (key: a good fridge; see keeping food cold).
- Biscuit cake (layers of biscuit and cream), a classic that never fails.
- Mousses, custards, flan (using mixes or homemade, no baking).
- No-bake cheesecake (biscuit base and cheese filling, chilled).
- Yoghurt with fruit, nuts and honey: healthy and quick.
Pan or stovetop desserts
- Pancakes and crêpes: with fruit, chocolate or jam; children love them (see cooking with children).
- Griddled fruit (banana, apple) with cinnamon or honey.
- Rice pudding or other stovetop spoon desserts.
- Melted chocolate for dipping fruit.
Make the most of local produce
One of the joys of travelling: the fruit and sweets of each region. A fruit salad with seasonal market produce, or making the most of local honey, nuts or pastries, turns a simple dessert into something special (see buying local).
Practical tips
- Few, basic ingredients: biscuits, milk, chocolate, fruit, yoghurt go a long way.
- Individual containers (glasses, jars) for fridge desserts, easy to store and serve.
- Make the most of the pressure cooker for some spoon desserts (see the pressure cooker).
In summary
No-bake desserts (fridge, pan or few-ingredient treats) let you enjoy tasty sweets in your camper without needing an oven. The step to take today: try an easy fridge dessert (a biscuit cake or a no-bake cheesecake) using local fruit, and keep the basics to hand (biscuits, milk, chocolate, fruit) to improvise a treat; you'll be the star of the after-dinner spread.