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How to Make Blueberry Bacon Pancakes while Camping

Make that next camping breakfast more elaborate and leave your camping partners speechless.

By: Alex E + Save to a List

This recipe doesn't even need an introduction to convince you to make it. Whats not to love about taking blueberry pancakes made from scratch over a wood fire, adding bacon, smothering them in butter and covering them in maple syrup. It doesn't get any better than that. Add these blueberry bacon pancakes to your camping cookbook! They will leave your camping partners astonished when they crawl out of their tents in the morning. This meal takes about 1-2 hours with wood prep/cooking and serves 4-6 people.

Step 1

Buy all your ingredients and prep your fire. Good hot coals are great for cooking but with this recipe, you don't have to get a good bed of coals before you start cooking. Just make sure the fire is hot and wont die out very quickly and you can access the fire to add wood. You will want to pre-heat your skillet for 10-15 minutes if its a cold winter morning. You can remove it once it warms up.

You don't want the fire hitting the skillet, but close enough to keep it very hot. The skillet should be hot enough that when you pour your pancake batter on the skillet, it doesn't run on you and immediately gets a nice golden crust on the bottom. You also want to cook your bacon ahead of time if you didn't buy the bag of bacon crumbles.

If you are working with others to make breakfast, you can get your fire started while your friends run to the store or make coffee. The sooner you start your fire, the sooner everyone can eat. You can follow my recipe, or change it up and make a recipe that is more your style. This is the recipe I have made my own, however feel free to try out your own variations such as with bananas, strawberries or blackberries (which is delicious). The entire process should only take about 1-2 hours. Cooking time should only take about 15 minutes.

Ingredients and gear for pancakes:

  • 1 Box of Blueberries
  • 1 Large Egg
  • 1/2 TSP Vanilla Extract
  • 2 TBSP Melted Butter
  • 3/4 Cup + 1 TBSP All Purpose Flour
  • 2 TBSP Finely Ground Cornmeal
  • 2 TBSP Granulated Sugar
  • 1 TBSP Baking Powder
  • 1/2 TSP Baking Soda
  • 1 Cup Buttermilk
  • 1/2 TSP Salt
  • 6 Slices of Cooked Bacon Crumbles (or just buy bacon crumbled in a bag to save time)
  • Non-Stick Cooking Spray
  • Cast Iron Cooking Skillet
  • Whisk
  • Knife
  • Gloves
  • Cutting board
  • Large Spoon to help pour batter
  • Tongs/Spatula
  • 2 Large Bowls to mix Batter

Ingredients and gear for serving:

  • Maple Syrup
  • Butter
  • More Blueberries
  • More Bacon Crumbles
  • Plates and Forks
  • *You can add slices of Banana or Strawberries on top for a little extra flavor*

Step 2

Prep all your ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup buttermilk, 1 large egg and the 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract. Whisk thoroughly. Once the batter is well whisked, whisk in the 2 tbsp of melted butter.

Step 3

In another large mixing bowl, combine the 3/4 cup + 1 tbsp of all purpose flour, 2 tbsp of finely ground cornmeal, 2 tbsp granulated sugar, 1 tbsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, and 1/2 tsp salt and whisk thoroughly.

Step 4

Make a small indention in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the wet ingredients in. Whisk the batter thoroughly until it is well mixed and smooth. Stir in the blueberries and bacon crumbles.

If you plan on cooking the bacon on the skillet, do that while you prep the pancake batter, so it will be done and you can chop up the bacon. Wipe down the skillet after cooking the bacon and add more nonstick spray.

Step 5

Lightly spray your skillet. If your skillet isn't hot from just cooking bacon, place it over the fire to get hot for about 5-10 minutes. Pour the batter out onto the skillet to the size of the pancake you desire. 1/4 cup is usually a normal size pancake.

Step 6

If the skillet is the right temperature, the batter wont run on you or become to thin. Cook the bottom side of the pancake until it is a nice golden brown. When the pancake is golden, firm and has some bubbles on top, it is usually ready to flip. Flip the pancake and give it the same amount of time it took the first side.

Step 7

Pile up those pancakes on a plate, adding bacon crumbles, a slice of butter, maple syrup and more blueberries between every pancake. Cover the top in the same ingredients, add some fresh coffee, serve and enjoy. You can add other fruit like banana slices or strawberries for added flavor.

We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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