Recipe: Campfire-cooked Jaffle Iron Toastie

The simple things in life are often the best. These good-old jaffle iron toasties are proof of that.

A Man’s jaffle

Ingredients
For each jaffle you’ll need:

• 2 slices of bread
• A little butter
• 1 slice of cheese
• 1 to 2 tbs baked beans – drained (whatever flavour you want)
• 1 slice of ham

Cooking It
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: 3 to 5 minutes for each side (timing will depend on the heat from your coals).

Step 1: Preheat your jaffle. Lightly spread each bread slice with a little butter.
Step 2: Place the bread buttered-side down into the jaffle iron. Spoon in the baked beans and spread out evenly, but don’t go all the way to the sides! Add the ham and cheese.
Step 3: Top with the remaining bread slice, butter-side up.
Step 4: Cook for a few minutes on each side until golden brown.
Step 5: While the jaffles are still in the irons, cut off any burnt edges.
Step 6: Cool slightly before eating so you don’t burn the inside of your mouth.

Best to drain the baked beans if the mixture has a lot of liquid.

Apple jaffle

Ingredients
*Quantities are just a guide; you may like to use more or less

• 2 slices of bread
• A little butter
• 1 to 2 tsps of cream cheese (amount depends on how thick you want it on the bread)
• Apple slices cut thinly – you’ll need about a 1/3 of a medium apple for each jaffle (or use canned apple slices)
• A pinch of ground cinnamon (optional) – if you use it sparingly it adds a lovely flavour to the apple
• 1 tsp of maple syrup (more or less to taste)
• 1 tbs of dried cranberries
• ½ to 1 tbs of roasted chopped walnuts/pecans or toasted slivered almonds

Cooking It
Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 3 to 5 minutes for each side (timing will depend on the heat from your coals).
Step 1: Preheat your jaffle. Lightly spread each bread slice with a little butter.
Step 2: Place the bread buttered-side down into the jaffle iron. Spread the bread with a little cream cheese, then add the apple slices and spread out evenly, but don’t go all the way to the sides!
Step 3: Sprinkle a little ground cinnamon over the apple slices and then pour over a little maple syrup. Finish with a sprinkling of dried cranberries and nuts.
Step 4: Top with the remaining bread slice, butter-side up. Cook for a few minutes on each side until golden brown.
Step 5: While the jaffles are still in the irons, cut off any burnt edges.
Step 6: Cool slightly before eating so you don’t burn the inside of your mouth.

Viv's hints
You need to cut the apple slices thinly or they won’t soften quickly enough in the short cooking time. Also try using fruit loaf slices instead of white or brown bread. Use sultanas instead of dried cranberries. Use honey instead of maple syrup. You can also serve them with a dollop of vanilla yoghurt or cream on the side.

A few Jaffle iron tips
Let the fire burn down to coals. Pre-heat jaffle iron. Flip it regularly.