Real woodfired pizza is fantastic – the smoky flavor of the fire complements the soft, sweet mozarella, and allows the dough to crisp nicely. Normally you’d have to pay gourmet prices a at a restaurant or fly all the way to Italy to get this amazing dish, but camping is a unique opportunity to try it, without the high price tag. You’ll need a box oven (find the tutorial here), and some basic ingredients. This is a great, creative dish to serve and makes a break from the stews, hotdogs, and pocket ‘pies’ that make up so much of family camping.

Box Oven Equipment

Campfire Pizza Crust and Bread Mix (recipe below)

Bottled Water

Pizza Sauce, Cheese, Toppings as desired

Mixing bowls, a rolling pin, cutting boards, etc for preparation

Campfire Pizza Crust and bread Mix

This is a great premix to take along with you when you’re camping. Different from traditional pizza crust, this mix cooks fast on an open fire. Add a little more water to it, and some proofing time, and it’s also a fantastic bread mix for Box Oven Fresh Bread.

8 c (2 lb) Better Batter Gluten Free Flour
1/4 c olive oil
1 Tbsp salt
1/4 c sugar
2 tbsp Instant dry yeast

Combine Better Batter flour and olive oil until completely combined. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Store in a sealed airtight container. To use: reconstitute with water. For pizza crust use about 1 c mix for each cup water – this should feel like drop biscuit dough, and allow to proof for 15 minutes. Mix in another cup of crust mix and knead well – it should feel like playdough, once it’s been kneaded well. For bread, use about 2 c each of mix and water – this should mix together into a texture similar to drop biscuits.

Box Oven Pizza, Tutorial

First, light a raging wood fire – we used apple wood! You want enough coals to fill a one gallon mixing bowl, so really roast your campsite.

Then, gather your ingredients

Mix together your crust, using the instructions above. You will need One cup Pizza Crust mix and 1/2 c water for each crust (use instructions above for best results)

See how the finished crust looks a bit like playdough?? Divide dough into

Roll out Crust to about a 10 inch size and about 1/4 inch thick (or less) – this will ensure your pizza cooks properly. Use extra crust mix to prevent sticking.

Fold your crust into quarters, so you can unfold it on the baking rack, easily. Repeat as many times as you have hungry bellies.

Scoop Hot Coals VERY CAREFULLY into the bowl, which should be placed on a fire-safe surface. These coals are probably 800 degrees, so PLEASE BE CAREFUL! Fill the bowl abotu 3/4 full.

Place your Cake/Cookie rack directly on the hot bowl – BE CAREFUL! – and carefully unfold the crusts onto the rack.

Top with desired sauce and toppings and immediately cover with the oven and cook for 10minutes, to allow the bottom to cook and the toppings to melt. Your cooking time will almost certainly vary!!

Check for doneness – you may want to cook for another 5 minutes or so, depending on how you like the pizza done – my boys like ‘white cheese’ while my husband likes it brown and bubbly. Repeat up to three times (the oven will get too cool after about an hour)

Serve immediately.