Tips and Treats for the Perfect Glamping Fire


There’s something about sitting around a campfire that brings people together. The smell of wood smoke, the crackling of the flames, and the glow of embers against the starry night sky is nothing short of magical. No camping experience is complete without sharing snacks and making memories by firelight; the same goes for glamping. 


Whether you are planning a romantic getaway or a girls’-night-out, the evening fire is going to be a key part of your trip. To make sure you make the most of these precious moments, here are our ultimate tips and tricks to turn your campfire into a glampfire!

Fire Building Tips

The first step in having a magical fireside night is to build your fire. Each of our sites has a firepit for your convenience, so you can skip the first step of finding the perfect spot. However, there are still some things you need to know to build the perfect, safe, fire. 


1. Prepare your Space:

Make sure your space is cleared of any hazardous materials. Anything that is potentially explosive, like alcohol, batteries, etc. should be cleared from the pit. Flammable branches, dried leaves, cloth, etc. should not be hanging over the pit or in a position where they may fall out. 


2. Gather the Goods:

Make sure you have all the materials you need to build, maintain, and extinguish the flames. This includes your burnable materials, a fire starter, and anything you may be using to cook for the night. Fire-starting materials, a pail, and roasting sticks are available at the site! However, you will need to bring your own Dutch Oven or fire-safe skillet.


3. Sort your Firewood:

Firewood is sorted into 3 categories: Tinder, Kindling, and Fuel. 

  • Tinder: small, highly flammable materials that are lit to start the fire (newspaper, dried leaves, etc.).
  • Kindling:  sticks smaller than 2.5 centimeters in diameter used to build the fire.
  • Fuel: larger pieces of wood that keep the fire going.


4. Build the Fire:

The basic concept when building a fire is to start small and go large. First, lay your small tinder in the center of the pit. Next, lay your kindling on and around your tinder. Finally, add your fuel to keep the fire going.


There are many fire structures you can try, each with unique characteristics that suit different purposes. To learn more about specific fire structures, their uses, and how to build them, check out this campfire guide.

5. Start the Spark:

To get the fire going, you’ll need to ignite the tinder. Be careful at this stage! Tinder catches fire quickly, so you’ll need to move your hand out of the way fast. Also, if using a match, please throw the spent match into the fire instead of on the ground outside of the pit. 


6. Feed the Flames:

Once the fire is lit, add more tinder to keep it going. Blow lightly at the base of the first to supply fresh oxygen to aid the burn. As the fire grows, you can start adding larger pieces of kindling. Just be careful not to smother the flames.


7. Keep the Flame Alive:

To keep the flames dancing, you’ll need to keep them fed with kindling and fuel. Keep feeding the fire until you are ready to turn in for the night- at which point you’ll need to take these final steps.


8. Burning Out:

Before you turn into your cozy dome for the night, you’ll need to let the flames die down. Stop feeding the fire and let the fire burn itself out. Depending on your fire’s structure and how much fuel you added, this could take some time- so plan accordingly. 


9. Make Some Steam: 

As the embers burn down, fill your pail with water and pour it over the ashes. BE CAREFUL! Pour away from yourself and stand back, as the steam can burn you. Once doused, stir the wet ashes with a stick until no glow remains. This is to prevent re-ignition. 


Remember that fires are dangerous and should always be treated with caution. During certain times of year, or during times of drought, campfires may be prohibited. Always remember to properly extinguish your fire if you are leaving the site, or going to be. Check out this article for tips on fire maintenance.

Time for Treats:

Now that we have built the fire, and gone over the obligatory safety precautions, it’s time to enjoy our camping snacks! We’ve broken down our top glamping treat recommendations into 3 categories for your enjoyment.


Timeless Treats:

We’ve rounded up some classic snacks that are hard to beat and have stood the test of time. 


  • Smores: 

Roasted marshmallows are a given when it comes to camping, but the basic Graham cracker, marshmallow, and Hershey’s combo could use an update. We recommend making your own gourmet s’mores with high-quality ingredients for a new twist! Check out our gourmet s’mores kit when you glamp with us!


  • Banana Boats: 

The concept behind banana boats is simple: “What if we had a banana split, but made it with fire?” A classic boat is a banana split down the middle, stuffed with delicious goodies (chocolate, nuts, mini marshmallows, etc.), then wrapped in foil and roasted on the embers. Almost any goodie will do, but we recommend loading your boat with premium ingredients like candied fruits, roasted nuts, baking spices, and whole candies.


  • Baked Apples:

Let's go even older than old-school with baked apples. This delicious treat has been enjoyed in fireplaces and campfires for countless generations for a reason. The premise is simple: make your apple soft and sweet by baking it in the embers of the fire. More modern recipes up the ante by coring the apple, stuffing it with sugar, nuts, spices, and more- then serving the cooked apple with ice cream. Whether you like it simple or stuffed, this treat is sure to please.

Savory Snacks

Don’t have much of a sweet tooth? Don’t worry, we have you covered. Sometimes you need to skip the sweet and enjoy the heat with a savory treat instead. We recommend trying some of these campfire meals:


  • Loaded Fire Fries: 

If you like street fries, you’ll love fire fries, because you can make them however you want! Start with making a thick boat out of aluminum foil. Fill your boat with frozen fries, cheese, and whatever else you want cooked. Place your boat on the embers and let it cook! Once they’re done, top them with whatever you want! Chili, bacon bits, jalapenos, sour cream, and green onions are some popular choices.


  • Campfire Nachos: 

Have you ever had wood-smoked queso? If not, you should! To make this Tex-Mex classic, fill your Dutch oven with chips, queso, and pre-cooked protein. The trick is to layer these ingredients like lasagna: chips, queso + protein, chips, queso, etc. Once filled, place the oven over the embers and let her cook! Service with your usual nacho fixings: salsa, sour cream, guac, etc.



  • Grilled Corn: 

Let’s wrap this section up with another street food classic: grilled corn. This is another one you can make to fit any taste palette. For best results, use a fresh ear of sweet corn, with some of the husk still attached. Peel back the husk to cover the kernels in butter, salt, spices, and herbs of your choice. Pull the husk back up, and wrap the ear in foil before cooking on the embers. The result? Juicy, savory, wood-smoked corn that will make your tastebuds tingle. 

Delectable Delights

We’ve saved the best for last in this final section. If you are really interested in putting the “glam” into “glamping”, this section is for you. Here are our top picks for the ultimate glamping food list:


  • Campfire Orange Brownies: 

If you want a glamping dessert worthy of any Michelin restaurant, you need to try Campfire Orange Brownies. Start with a box of brownie mix, fresh oranges, and foil. First, slice your oranges in half. Clean the fruit out of the orange using a spoon and be careful to keep the peel intact! The goal is to make little orange-peel bowls. 


Mix your brownie mix and pour it into the peel bowls. Wrap the filled orange-bowls in foil, and roast over the embers. Once cooked, you can enjoy the aroma and taste of delicious baked chocolate and citrus oils mingling with fresh woodsmoke. 


  • Campfire Caprese Brie:

Who doesn’t love brie? The rich and creamy goodness is the ultimate accompaniment to wine, fruits, bread, meats, and more. Now, imagine adding a delicious note of wood smoke to your favorite brie pairing. Amazing, right? To make the ultimate Glampfire Brie, you will need a Dutch oven, olive oil, salt, pepper, and whatever other flavorings you desire. If you are looking for a new recipe, we recommend trying this one from Delish.



  • Glampfire Charcuterie: 

Charcuterie boards have been all the rage online for the last few years, and that’s because they are amazing for every occasion. Campfire charcuterie is a category all its own. Everything tastes better when it’s roasted over a fire. Don’t believe me? Try toasting your bread over the fire with a slice of cheese to make a “better than grilled cheese” sandwich. Feeling really fancy? Try roasted grapes paired with peppered salami- you’ll never be the same again. Get a board and start experimenting.

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Enjoy a drink at Back Forty Glamping

For a beautiful and glamorous campfire night- stay with us at Back Forty Glamping. Each of our glamping domes has a private hot tub, and fire pit so you can relax under the stars in peace. Experience nature, connect with your loved one, and restore your spirit in a place where the outdoors meets luxury. Book today!