This Sweet Potato Pizza Pie Is the Most Ingenious Fall Camping Dessert

Sweet potato pie is a Thanksgiving staple, but unluckily for your backcountry Friendsgiving, it doesn’t travel well unless you’re a fan of baby food. Instead, sub it out for this ingenious creation from reader Shelli Snyder, which uses a combo of graham crackers, instant sweet potatoes, marshmallows, and fall spices to recreate all the flavor you love in a significantly more hike-friendly package.

Recipe: Sweet Potato Pizza Pie

• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons whole wheat pastry flour
• 2 1/2 sheets graham crackers, crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 package instant mashed sweet potatoes
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 package active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon pure olive oil
• 1/2 cup mini marshmallows
• 2 tablespoons honey

At home

Mix crust items in a zip-top bag (one cup flour, 1½ sheets crushed crackers, salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg). Put taters, rest of cinnamon, one tablespoon sugar, ½ sheet cracker, and walnuts in a bag.

In camp

Bake in a pan, or find a flat stone, and place over fire. Allow stone to heat. Dust with two tablespoons flour. Bring 1/2 cup water to at least 110°F, and dissolve yeast in water. Let stand until creamy (a few minutes), then add it and the oil to pie-crust bag. Mix until smooth, and let sit for five minutes. Meanwhile, add enough boiling water (follow package directions) plus 1 tablespoon more to potato bag. Let rehydrate. Turn dough and place in pan or on stone. Spread mashie mix on dough; top with marshmallows, brown sugar, and remaining graham crumbs. Bake until almost done (crust to your liking; about 15 to 20 minutes), then drizzle with honey. Bake a few minutes longer, then dig in. Serves 2.

Originally published December 2010; last updated November 2021