- Nov 25, 2013
- 3 min read

Easy Dutch Oven Cake

Easy Dutch Oven Cake – Only 3 Ingredients!

Cooking in a Dutch oven has easily become one of my favorite things to do while camping and while at home. This cake is so easy and you only need 3 ingredients and a Dutch oven.

This weekend I went camping with some great friends at Dinosaur Valley State Park. I try and volunteer as much as I can with Texas Outdoor Family because I learn so many great tips and tricks for camping. Before I met the rangers, I honestly had no idea how to start a good fire, cook in a Dutch oven, or do many outdoorsy things.

Additionally, I’ve made green chicken chile enchiladas, Shepard’s pie, chili and cornbread, and delicious, easy cakes using Ranger Cassie’s recipe!

This past weekend, we made a Dutch oven cake using marble cake mix, Sprite, and strawberry filling. Forgot to take pictures, sorry! We made the cakes in the pictures a year ago during the Dinosaur Valley trip and we have made other variations since then!

This recipe is so simple and yummy, you’ll have to try it in your backyard or on your next camping trip!

Want to bake this Dutch oven cake at home?

Just follow the same directions, mix it in a cake pan, and pop it in the oven! Delicious cake in minutes.

Camping Directions

Ingredients

1 box cake mix (any flavor)

1 12oz can soda (any flavor)

1 can pie filling (any flavor)

1 Dutch Oven

1 pair tongs

1 pair leather gloves

Charcoal briquettes

Can opener

Serving/Mixing spoon

Spoons

Bowls

Directions

First, start your charcoal and get it red hot. You may see that it becomes ashy. That’s no problem, it’ll be extremely hot, so take care if you have little ones or pets nearby.
Next, pour the cake mix in your seasoned Dutch oven. Pour the can of soda into the mix and stir well, making sure to remove as many clumps as possible. Mix for about a minute.
Then, pour the pie filling directly into the center of the batter. Don’t stir anything, just put the lid on your Dutch oven. Easy, right?!
Using the tongs, place the coals in a ring for the bottom and place your oven over them. Place your coals spread out across the lid on top of the oven.
Cook for about 40-45 minutes.
Finally, every 15 minutes, turn your Dutch oven about 1/4 turn. Use your gloves when you grab the handle, or you can invest in a handy lifter!

Cooking Tips from the Park Rangers

Ranger Cassie gives a tip to know about how many charcoal briquettes you will place on your Dutch oven lid and beneath the oven. Find out the diameter of your oven. We used a 10-inch oven in the picture. Use two more coals than the diameter of your oven on top and 2 less coals than the diameter on the bottom. For example, we used 10+2= 12 coals on top and 10-2= 8 coals on bottom.

Variations We’ve Tried

Red Velvet Cake Mix, Sprite, and Mixed Berry Pie Filling

Chocolate Cake Mix, Dr. Pepper, Chocolate Pie Filling

Yellow Cake Mix, Sprite, Blueberry Pie Filling

Marble Cake Mix, Sprite, Strawberry Pie Filling

White Cake Mix, Sprite, Apple Pie Filling

Have you baked any desserts in your Dutch oven?

I’d love to hear your experience. Let me know what recipes we need to try!

Dutch Oven Green Chile Chicken and Spinach Enchiladas

Easy Dutch Oven Cake