We purchased our Dutch ovens about twenty years ago, with the thought in mind we would use the Dutch ovens for cooking in the wilderness.
Grant is a big time: camper/hiker/backpacker/bowhunter/all around guy’s guy. Whatever that means. He loves anything that has to do with the out-of-doors. Me, on the other hand…
Well.
Let’s just say a couple of days at our cabin fills my quota for getting in touch with nature.That said, once every three or four years, I dust off the Dutch ovens and channel my inner pioneer.
While I was at Stake Girl’s Camp last week, my new friend Kash (who I was privileged to work with in the kitchen) provided this recipe and all of the ingredients (right down to the briquettes) for all the Young Women and their leaders at camp. Yikes. That was a lot of work. Thanks Kash.
The recipe was a winner! Everyone loved the gooey, rich, chocolaty-cherry dessert. It takes about two minutes to throw in the Dutch oven and cooks in about 30-40 mins. We made this at our cabin for the Fourth, and everyone loved it. I also made Kash’s Red Raspberry Dutch Oven Cobbler
Get on your pioneer. You’ll love this dessert.
Kash’s Black Cherry Chocolate Dutch Oven Cobbler
Ingredients
- one 12-14 inch dutch oven
- 2 cans cherry pie filling
- 1 box Devils Food Cake
- 1-12 oz can Black Cherry Soda I used Shasta
- 1-12 oz bag chocolate chips semi sweet or milk
- heavy duty foil optional
Instructions
About 1/2 hour before cooking:
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Heat briquettes in chimney for 15-30 minutes until briquettes turn white. Directions here.
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Line the dutch oven with heavy duty foil*. Spray foil lightly with cooking spray.
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Spoon cherry pie filling into foil lined pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix evenly on top of fruit.
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Pour Black Cherry Soda over dry cake mix. Mix gently with fork so the soda doesn’t mix too deep into the cherry layer. Don’t worry about mixing too much, the moisture will even out during baking.
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Place the dutch oven lid on.
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Place 7-10 coals below the oven, and 16 coals on top of the oven in a circular fashion.
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Bake 25-35 minutes for a 14 inch oven and 30-40 for a 12 inch oven.
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Check after about 15 minutes. When cake is done, remove from heat and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Place lid back on and allow chocolate to melt. Serve warmwith cream or ice cream.
Recipe Notes
-Dutch Oven purists will probably frown upon the use of foil to line the pan. I say easier is better while camping. You may make this dessert without lining the pan, but be prepared to clean up a sticky mess off the bottom of the pan 🙂
-I suggest preparing this dish before dinner. After the cobbler is done cooking, remove from heat. It will keep warm for at least a couple of hours with the lid on.
-When we first started Dutch oven cooking, we (I use the term “we” loosely) thought if 10 coals on the bottom were good, 20 were better. Not so. If the recipe calls for 10 on the bottom and 16 on the top, follow the recipe suggestion. Or you’ll have blackened cobbler.
-When baking in a Dutch oven, more of the coals should be on top (or on the lid) of the oven to prevent burning the bottom of the dish.
-Briquettes vs other brands- Kash only likes to use Kingsford. I agree. We have experimented with other brands, Kingsford is best.
I used a 12 inch Dutch Oven to make this dish. I highly recommend the Lodge brand, which we have had for years. They’ll outlast any camper 🙂
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i am going to "channel my inner pioneer" and walk and walk and walk and walk til i find all the ingredients to make this delicious looking cobbler. can't wait to try it…no wait, the pioneer in me says i CAN wait, but not long:)
Funny Lindsay. Walk and walk and walk. Down 5th South?
can you post oven directions for those of us that don't camp?
Hi Chris. I am not sure about oven directions, but I think making this as directed, then pouring it into two greased 9 or 10 inch round cake pans will work, or possibly a large (12-14 inch) cast iron skillet. If using a cast iron skillet, I would probably try covering it loosely with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes, or until cake is done. Let me know if you try this, and if it works. Thanks!
I have used my dutch oven in my kitchen oven for similar recipes without any issues. Just keep an eye on it so it doesn't over cook.
What oven temp did you use, please?
Heidi,
For this recipe I used a dutch oven and cooked it with charcoal. The directions for cooking with charcoal are in the recipe. If you were to cook it in the oven, I would try 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes. Let me know how that works for you!
xo,
Si
This looks awesome! I wonder if you can make it in the crock-pot!
I'm sure this would work in a crock pot! the cook time would be doble or triple on low maybe?
i'm sooooo hungry.
<3 <3 <3
I follow your blog and I am serving a mission in the UK and have to cook all the time..Young Single Adults eat alot. As I was reading I saw Kash Castleberry. She's an old friend! Now I think I'll make some Baked Ziti for the masses. Great recipes. Thank you!
How fun to find Kash through A Bountiful Kitchen! Everyone who knows Kash is a blessed person 🙂 Thanks for reading and cooking along with us!
ps- you'll love the baked Ziti!
Sounds yummers
Sounds yummers!
Sounds yummy!
Sounds yummy!
I’m in charge of girls camp food this year. I want the girls to make cobbler like this. Can it be removed from the Dutch oven before serving? I’d like to use each Dutch oven 2-3 times and keep it warm in the oven until serving but I don’t know how to do that.
Hi Darlene,
Hopefully you read our Girls Camp post! If not, look for Girl’s Camp using the search bar.
If you line the Dutch oven with foil so it covers the bottom of the pan and sides, or better yet, purchase a Dutch Oven liner found online and in stores, you can easily remove and keep warm. Wrap with foil over the top as well and place in a 200 oven until ready to serve. If it were me, I would gather as many Dutch ovens from ward members as possible and cook all at one time. The amount of time it will take to heat up briquettes and get to the right temperature in a Dutch oven and properly cook this dish will be hours as opposed to one time! Good luck and let us know how this works for you!
My Scout made this recipe for the Klondike Dutch Oven Dessert competition and won first place with his crew, not only for the dessert competition, but this also elevated them to first place overall. The next entry was not even close.
Oh wow, that’s great to hear Robert! This recipe would definitely be a tough one to beat, thank you so much for sharing,
Si
Make this cobbler for a Troop campout with a twist. It was devoured, loved by boys and adults alike. Used Dr Pepper instead of black cherry soda, one can of cherry pie filling instead of two, we added chips on top when it was done baking. Totally awesome.
We make this every time we go camping! We love Dutch oven desserts and chocolate desserts are always the first ones gone.