Dutch oven chocolate brownie
Outdoor Inspiration › Outdoor Cooking › Dutch oven chocolate brownie
Makes 6–8 portions · Around 45–60 minutes including preparation
Use a lidded Dutch oven designed for charcoal cooking, with a 20 cm metal baking tin on a trivet inside. Follow the cookware maker’s guidance for charcoal placement and temperature control. Aim for an oven temperature of about 175°C; charcoal quantities depend on the oven size, charcoal and weather.
Ingredients
- 100 g butter
- 100 g dark chocolate, chopped
- 150 g caster sugar
- 2 eggs
- 70 g plain flour
- 25 g cocoa powder
- A pinch of salt
Method
- Grease the baking tin. Keep eggs and butter chilled until needed. Gently melt the butter and chocolate, remove from the heat and let cool until just warm.
- Stir in the sugar. Beat in the eggs, then fold in the flour, cocoa and salt until combined.
- Pour into the tin and place on the trivet in the preheated Dutch oven. Close the lid and bake with controlled heat above and below, following the maker’s instructions. Rotate the lid and oven as recommended to reduce hot spots.
- Begin checking after 25 minutes. Baking may take 25–40 minutes or longer outdoors. The edges should be set and the centre should no longer wobble; a skewer should show moist crumbs, not liquid batter. Continue cooking if needed.
- Use heat-resistant gloves to remove the tin. Cool for at least 15 minutes before cutting.
Home practice: The same batter can be baked in a 20 cm tin in a conventional oven at 175°C. Trying it at home first helps you recognise when it is done before cooking with charcoal outdoors.
Before you begin
Use a stable camping stove or an established cooking area where fires are permitted. Check current local fire restrictions, including rules for stoves. Keep water nearby and never cook inside a tent. Bring drinking water, wash your hands and utensils, and pack out all scraps and rubbish. Cooking times vary with your stove, pan and weather.
You will need a pot or frying pan suitable for your heat source, a stirring spoon, a chopping board and eating utensils. Check each tool’s intended use: an outdoor utility knife is not a substitute for heat-resistant cookware.