Blog

Blueberry-Cinnamon Campfire Bread

There’s something about those early spring trips into the Adirondacks that sticks with you. The kind where winter hasn’t fully let go yet—ice still clinging to the shaded edges of the pond, breath hanging in the air, and every piece of gear feeling just a little colder than it should. A few years back, I found myself on one of those trips, paddling into the St. Regis Canoe Area with a group, chasing that first real stretch of open water after ice-out.

The pond we set up on had only lost its ice a few days prior, and you could still see thin sheets tucked back into the coves. It was the kind of cold that works its way into your hands no matter how good your gloves are. But for whatever reason, the fishing didn’t seem to mind one bit. The Lake Trout and Splake were moving, and every slow pass around the islands seemed to produce another fish. None of them were monsters, and none of the Lakers were quite big enough to keep, but it didn’t matter—there’s a certain kind of satisfaction in steady action like that, especially when you’ve had to earn it in tough conditions.

Still, the cold dictated the rhythm of the day. You couldn’t stay out on the water too long before you needed to head back in, warm up, and get some feeling back in your hands. So the trip became a balance—fish for a bit, back to camp, build the fire up, pour some coffee, eat something hot, and then head back out again. And honestly, those moments around the fire ended up being just as memorable as the fishing itself.

One morning, with everyone gathered around the coals and coffee cups in hand, I decided to try out a recipe I had come across not long before—this blueberry cinnamon campfire bread. It was one of those experiments you’re not quite sure about until it comes together, but as soon as it started cooking, you could tell it was going to be something special. Warm, sweet, with that hint of cinnamon drifting through the camp—it cut right through the cold. When it finally came off the fire, it didn’t last long. Somewhere between a loaf of fresh bread and a piece of campfire French toast, it was exactly what we needed in that moment.

Since then, it’s become one of those go-to recipes for trips where you know you’ll be leaning on the fire a little more—cold mornings, shoulder season paddles, or anytime you want to bring a little extra comfort into camp. It’s simple, filling, and just a little bit of a morale boost when the weather isn’t exactly on your side. Give it a try next time you’re out there—you might find it becomes part of your routine, just like it did for us.