Woof ‘Ems (campfire éclairs) are an easy, three-ingredient camping treat that disappears fast and is always a hit.
*This post is sponsored by Rhodes Bake-N-Serv. Thank you to the brands that support Dessert Now Dinner Later.
My husband has been a scout leader for many years, and one of his favorite campfire recipes to teach the scouts is woof ’ems. If you haven’t heard of them, woof ’ems are a simple roasted-dough dessert with a creamy filling—think of a cream pie inside a warm, golden dough shell. They’re straightforward to make, kid-friendly, and get eaten almost as quickly as they come off the fire.
The ingredient list is tiny: uncooked dough (many use canned biscuit dough; we prefer thawed Rhodes white dinner rolls), pudding, and whipped cream. That’s it. For gear, you can buy specialty woof ’em sticks, but if you don’t have one, a standard two-pronged hot dog roasting stick plus heavy-duty aluminum foil makes a perfect DIY substitute.
To make a DIY stick, roll small pieces of foil to fill the gap between the prongs of the hot dog stick, then wrap more foil around the entire end until it measures about 1½ to 2 inches thick. It takes a fair amount of foil, but the result works well and makes a sturdy roasting surface for the dough.
These are so simple that even young children can help assemble and roast them. My seven-year-old loves to roast his own and devours them whenever he gets the chance.
If you’re not at a campsite, you can still make these at home. Roast them over a gas grill or carefully over a gas burner on the stovetop. The slow, even heat is the key—cook until the dough is golden all the way through without burning the exterior.
The easiest filling is single-serve pudding cups and canned whipped cream. You can also customize them: use pie filling, fresh fruit, Nutella, or even savory fillings like chili and cheese for a different take. No matter which combination you choose, these are a crowd-pleaser—don’t be surprised if everyone goes back for seconds.
Woof ‘Ems (Camping Recipe)
Ingredients
- Hot dog roasting sticks
- Heavy-duty aluminum foil
- Cooking spray
- Rhodes white dinner rolls, thawed (1 roll per person)
- Pudding cups (chocolate, vanilla, coconut, etc.) — 1 pudding cup per roll
- Canned whipped cream
Instructions
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Make the woof ’em stick by rolling foil to fill the gap between the two prongs of a hot dog stick. Wrap additional foil around the prongs and center foil until the end is about 1½–2 inches thick.
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Lightly spray the foil end with cooking spray. Flatten a thawed Rhodes roll with your hands and gently cup it around the end of the stick, forming an even layer so it cooks through.
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Roast slowly over hot coals or a gas grill for about 15 minutes, turning as needed, until the dough is golden brown. Avoid browning too quickly so the interior cooks fully.
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Slide the cooked dough off the stick, fill it with a pudding cup, top with whipped cream, and serve warm.
Notes
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