Grilled Banana Boats

5 from 5 votes
7 Comments

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These Campfire Banana Boats are a fun dessert and delightful twist on a classic banana split or s’mores. It’s the perfect backyard treat for summertime.

Top view of campfire banana boats in a dish.

Campfire Banana Boats

This campfire banana boat recipe is so much fun to make and eat! Whether you’re camping in your backyard or out in the wilderness, you can treat yourself and your family to one of these scrumptious desserts. I’ve seen variations all over Pinterest and Facebook and they’re so yummy! These banana boats are one of my husband’s favorite desserts. If I can be totally transparent, I don’t think I have made this recipe a single time! He is always the one grilling these up and I just get to sit back and enjoy. Why does food taste better when someone else makes it for you? Kids love these too! They’re so fun to let the kids get creative with their toppings.

And the best part? They only take about 15 minutes to prepare and cook over a fire. Cover the bananas in foil, and place them on hot coals or smoldering firewood for about five or so minutes. That’s it!

Three campfire banana boats side by side.


Grilled Banana Boats

No campfire? No problem! You can easily make these on an outdoor grill too when you aren’t around a campfire and want to make these delicious treats at home. All you have to do is cut a slit in the banana peel, wrap each banana in a foil packets and throw them on the grill for about five minutes, turning once about halfway through. When it’s done, use tongs or oven mitts to remove each banana from the grill, then carefully unwrap the foil and place your banana in a bowl, leaving the peel on. Then top with ice cream and all your favorite toppings. 

Looking for more summertime desserts to serve hungry kiddos? Try this delicious S’mores Dip or our Firecracker Sugar Cookie Bars. Or keep the grill hot and make some Grilled Fruit Kabobs for your next backyard barbecue.

Chocolate bars pushed into banana to make campfire boats.

Ingredients in Campfire Banana Boats

If you haven’t tried them before, the recipe is simple. Basically, it is a grilled banana with melted chocolate inside topped with ice cream and yummy topping. Similar to a banana split but way better! Just think of bananas as the new graham crackers – this makes a great s’mores substitute! Here’s how we start our banana boats, then you can add on from here:

  • One banana for each person in your group
  • Chocolate – we love using a large Symphony milk chocolate bar, either the plain or toffee and almonds. But you could use chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, candy bars, butterscotch chips, white chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, anything you like!
  • Cinnamon – this smoky spice really enhances the flavor of the chocolate. It’s delicious!
  • Any flavor ice cream
  • Raspberries (optional)
  • Roasted almonds (optional)

Secret Ingredient

Do you want to know the secret that sets these over the top? My husband always sprinkles on a little cinnamon before grilling. Yum. I included the photo above so you can see how the bananas are assembled before grilling.

Ingredients to make campfire banana boats.

Toppings for Grilled Banana Boats

Now the really fun part…toppings! Just like with a banana split, banana boats can be totally customized depending on what kind of toppings you add. Here are some of my favorites to pick and choose from:

  • Your favorite ice cream (this vanilla ice cream is fantastic!)
  • Raspberries
  • Strawberries
  • Cherries
  • Almonds
  • Cashews
  • Peanuts
  • Peanut butter
  • Caramel sauce
  • Nutella
  • Mini marshmallows
  • Pineapple
  • Hazelnuts
  • Blueberries
  • A drizzle of honey
  • Fresh whipped cream
Three campfire banana boats in a dish.

What Readers are Saying About this Recipe

“Ok , grilling the bananas?! Brilliant idea and adding the slivers of chocolate. I bet this would be amazing to make smores with as well.” – Whitney

“I found this delicious recipe on Pinterest while scrolling through banana split ideas! Our family will be enjoying these this tonight while cooling off after a hot afternoon.” – Denay

“This is absolutely marvelous and great recipe to serve for backyard barbecues. Kids will have a blast enjoying this with their favorite topping. I am including this for my weekend menu.” -Sandhya

Top view of campfire banana boats in a dish.

Grilled Banana Boats

5 from 5 votes
These Grilled Banana Boats are the perfect dessert after a BBQ. Warm bananas and melty chocolate, they are like a banana split but way better!
Prep Time 7 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American, Grill/BBQ
Servings 6

Equipment

  • Outdoor Barbecue Grill

Ingredients

  • 6 bananas 1 for each person
  • 2 large Symphony chocolate bars (plain or with toffee and almonds)
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 3 cups ice cream any flavor
  • 1/2 cup raspberries (optional)
  • 1/2 cup roasted almonds chopped (optional)

Instructions

  • Get a ripe banana and cut a slit through it lengthwise (do not cut all the way through the banana). Stuff two pieces of chocolate in the slit.
    Chocolate bars pushed into banana to make campfire boats.
  • Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon and cover the banana completely in aluminum foil.
    Single banana stuffed with chocolate and dusted with cinnamon.
  • Grill on high approximately 5 to 8 minutes turning once during the grill time. Carefully remove foil and place banana in a bowl, top with ice cream and your favorite toppings.
    Six wrapped banana boats ready for the campfire.

Banana Boats on the Campfire

  • Place aluminum foil covered bananas on hot coals for the same amount of cooking time.
    Fire pit cooking campfire banana boats.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 372kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 7gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 56mgPotassium: 720mgFiber: 7gSugar: 32gVitamin A: 353IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 135mgIron: 2mg

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About the author

Emily Walker

Emily lives in Meridian, Idaho, with her husband, Beau, a physician assistant, and her three incredible children: a son and two daughters. Travel is one of her favorite ways to experience new cultures and cuisines, and she has a love for all things Disney.

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Comments

  1. We used to make these when we went camping. We would take all kinds of things to put on them and wrap them up in aluminum foil, place them over the camp fire and then eat them. They were wonderful and the kids had a lot of fun making their own.

  2. Ok , grilling the bananas?! Brilliant idea and adding the slivers of chocolate. I bet this would be amazing to make smores with as well.

  3. 5 stars
    I found this delicious recipe on Pinterest while scrolling through banana split ideas! Our family will be enjoying these this tonight while cooling off after a hot afternoon.

  4. 5 stars
    I’ve never tried to grill my banana splits before, but this looks so amazing! I can’t wait to buy the ingredients to try it out!

  5. 5 stars
    This is absolutely marvelous and great recipe to serve for backyard barbecues. Kids will have a blast enjoying this with their favorite topping. I am including this for my weekend menu.