Dutch Oven Apple Cobbler {with Gluten and Dairy-Free Options}

Last updated on April 28th, 2023

Looking for an easy camping dessert everyone will love? It doesn’t get any easier than this four-ingredient dutch oven apple cobbler! This super-simple yet incredibly delicious apple cobbler can be assembled in under 10 minutes and bakes to sweet, golden perfection using charcoal. The warm, apple cinnamon sugar flavors are perfect for any season and pair well with vanilla ice cream.

If you’re not camping and want to make this recipe at home, it can be cooked in an indoor oven in a baking dish. It is also easily adapted to be gluten and dairy-free, but it’s so good no one would ever know! (Trust me, I’ve tried it 🙂 )

While this recipe specifically uses apple filling, you can use any fruit and cake mix flavor combo you’d like. Here are some popular choices:

• Cherry filling and chocolate cake mix
• Blueberry filling and lemon cake mix
• Peach filling and yellow cake mix,
• Strawberry filling with white cake mix
• Apple filling with spice cake mix

Equipment

• 10 or 12-inch Camp Dutch Oven
• Lid Lifter Tool (optional but recommended)
• Parchment Dutch Oven Liners (optional but recommended)
• Charcoal, Chimney Starter, and Lighter
• Long-handled tongs
• Heat-Resistant Gloves
• Knife and Mixing Spoon
• Toothpick to check for doneness

Ingredients

• 2 21-oz Cans Apple Pie Filling (regular or lower-sugar, check for gluten-free if needed)
• 1 16-oz Box Yellow Cake Mix (regular or gluten-free)
• 1 12-oz Can Lemon-Lime Soda (ex – Sprite, 7-up; Regular or Diet)
• 1/2 Stick Butter- cold (or vegan butter for dairy-free)
• Cinnamon (optional but recommended)

Cooking Instructions

1. First, consult this dutch oven temperature chart to determine how many charcoal briquettes you’ll need to heat your dutch oven to 425 degrees. Then, place the charcoal in the chimney starter and light it. If you’re unsure how to use a chimney starter, refer to this instructional article. You will have about 8-10 minutes to assemble the apple cobbler before the charcoal will be ready to use.

2. Line your dutch oven with a parchment or aluminum liner. If you don’t have dutch oven liners, grease the inside of the dutch oven with butter or cooking spray to prevent the cobbler from sticking.

3. Open both cans of apple pie filling and pour them into the dutch oven. Spread the filling around evenly with a spoon.

4. Evenly sprinkle the dry cake mix over the apple filling, making sure to cover it completely. Use a spoon to spread the dry cake mix so it is level.

5. Sprinkle ground cinnamon over the dry cake mix to taste, if desired. (Photo of this step coming soon!)

6. Slowly pour the can of soda evenly over the dry cake mix. Lightly mix the soda into the cake mix with a spoon so it’s fairly wet. Avoid digging down into the fruit filling. (Photo of this step coming soon!)

7. Cut the cold butter into 1/4″ squares and place them in an even pattern all around the top of the cake mix.

8. Place the lid on the dutch oven. Using heat-resistant gloves and long-handled tongs, place the required number of charcoal briquettes under and on top of the dutch oven in an evenly-spaced pattern.

9. Bake the apple cobbler for approximately 40-50 minutes. Rotate the lid and body of the dutch oven a quarter-turn each in opposite directions every 15 minutes to help with even cooking. Try to avoid opening the lid, as this will delay the cooking time. You’ll be able to smell the sweet, delicious scent of the cobbler when it’s almost done. I love this lid lifter tool for rotating and removing the lid.

10. The cobbler is done when the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the cake portion comes out clean. Carefully remove the lid and set it on a heat-resistant surface. Then, remove the dutch oven from the coals and set it aside to cool. Serve the apple cobbler with ice cream, if desired, and enjoy!

Recipe Card

Want more camp cooking inspiration? Be sure to check out the Recipes section of the blog for more delicious and easy camping recipes!