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Bring the outdoors to your party with this adorable camping cake, complete with edible trees, a frosting river, and a graham cracker tent. Perfect for birthdays or summer celebrations!
If you’re planning a camping-themed birthday or just want to surprise your little adventurer with something fun, this Camping Cake is a total hit. It brings the outdoors to your dessert table with a graham cracker tent, frosting river, chocolate rocks, and even marshmallows ready for roasting.
The best part? The “campfire” made with candles that actually light up like flames. Kids will love pretending they’re sitting around the fire, ready for s’mores.
Here’s how to make your own edible campsite, step by step!
Camping Cake – Ingredients
- 1 round or rectangular cake (baked and cooled or buy a frosted plain cake)
- Chocolate frosting
- Blue icing or gel (for the river)
- Candy rocks
- Chocolate Pirouette cookies
- Green candy melts
- Parchment paper
- Small pretzel sticks
- Graham cracker halves
- Red and yellow birthday candles
- Toothpicks
- Mini marshmallows
Instructions:
Step 1: Frost Your Cake
Start by spreading a generous layer of chocolate frosting over the entire top and sides of your cooled cake. This will be the “ground” of your campsite, giving a rich, earthy base for the decorations.
Step 2: Create the River
Using blue icing or decorating gel, pipe a small winding stream across the top of the cake. Line the edges of the stream with candy rocks for a realistic riverbank look.
Step 3: Make the Candy Trees
Lay 3 chocolate Pirouette cookies flat on a sheet of parchment paper. Drizzle melted green candy melts over the tops in a triangle shape to resemble tree foliage. Let them cool and harden completely before moving.
Step 4: Build the Log Cabin Sides
Snap Pirouette cookies in half and press the flat ends into the frosting along the sides of the cake. Continue until the entire perimeter is covered in cookie “logs,” giving the cake a rustic appearance.
Step 5: Construct the Tent
Stick two small pretzel sticks upright into the cake. Lean two graham cracker halves against the pretzel “posts” to form an A-frame style tent. Use a dab of frosting if needed to secure the crackers in place.
Step 6: Make the Fire Pit
Place 4 red and yellow birthday candles together in a small circle to form the “campfire.” Surround the base with candy rocks to complete the fire pit look. Put a few mini marshmallows on toothpicks and arrange them beside the fire, ready for roasting!
Step 7: Add the Finishing Touches
Place your candy trees around the tent and river, add a few extra rocks here and there for texture.
To Serve:
Just before presenting your Camp Cake, light the birthday candles in the fire pit to bring your edible campsite to life. The glowing “campfire” adds a magical touch and sets the scene for songs, stories, and sweet memories.
Final Thoughts
This Camp Cake is more than just dessert, it’s an adventure in cake form! It’s perfect for campers, explorers, and nature lovers of all ages. With its interactive elements and outdoorsy charm, this treat will light up any celebration. Gather ’round the cake fire and enjoy the wilderness, one slice at a time!
Camping Cake
Ingredients
Method
- Step 1: Frost Your CakeStart by spreading a generous layer of chocolate frosting over the entire top and sides of your cooled cake. This will be the “ground” of your campsite, giving a rich, earthy base for the decorations.
- Step 2: Create the RiverUsing blue icing or decorating gel, pipe a small winding stream across the top of the cake. Line the edges of the stream with candy rocks for a realistic riverbank look.
- Step 3: Make the Candy TreesLay 3 chocolate Pirouette cookies flat on a sheet of parchment paper. Drizzle melted green candy melts over the tops in a triangle shape to resemble tree foliage. Let them cool and harden completely before moving.
- Step 4: Build the Log Cabin SidesSnap Pirouette cookies in half and press the flat ends into the frosting along the sides of the cake. Continue until the entire perimeter is covered in cookie “logs,” giving the cake a rustic appearance.
- Step 5: Construct the TentStick two small pretzel sticks upright into the cake. Lean two graham cracker halves against the pretzel “posts” to form an A-frame style tent. Use a dab of frosting if needed to secure the crackers in place.
- Step 6: Make the Fire PitPlace 4 red and yellow birthday candles together in a small circle to form the “campfire.” Surround the base with candy rocks to complete the fire pit look. Put a few mini marshmallows on toothpicks and arrange them beside the fire, ready for roasting!
- Step 7: Add the Finishing TouchesPlace your candy trees around the tent and river, add a few extra rocks here and there for texture.
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Agnes Hsu is a mom of three and has been inspiring parents and kids to get creative with easy activities and family friendly recipes for over 10 years. She shares her love for creative play and kids food to her 2MM+ followers online. Agnes' commitment to playful learning and kindness has not only raised funds for charity but also earned features in prestigious nationwide publications.