Cooking Dessert in a Wood Fired Oven: Baked Apples with a Smoky Twist

Wood fired ovens aren't just for pizza and roasts it's time to take dessert up a notch.
If you've never tried baking dessert in your wood fired pizza oven, you're seriously missing out. The smoky heat that gives your roasts their flavour can do the same for sweet treats. And today, we’re making one of the simplest (and most underrated) campfire style desserts: wood fired baked apples.

Juicy, sweet, and spiced to perfection this is the kind of cook up that makes the neighbours jealous.

Why Cook Dessert in a Wood Fired Pizza Oven?

Wood fired ovens offer dry, radiant heat ideal for roasting and baking. The bonus?
You get a gentle wood smoke flavour that turns everyday ingredients into something truly special. It's the perfect way to finish a BBQ session on a high note.

And because you’re already cooking pizzas, roasts or breads in the oven, why not use the leftover heat to bake dessert?

What You’ll Need

Ingredients:

• Pink Lady apples (or your preferred variety)
• ½ cup chopped walnuts
• ⅓ cup sultanas
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• Extra cinnamon for dusting

Equipment:

• Flaming Coals Wood Fired Pizza Oven
• Raised log holder or fire grate
• Small baking dish or cast iron pan

Step 1: Fire Up Your Wood Fired Oven

You know the drill log teepee formation, natural firelighters, and quality red gum wood.
Start your fire with the door and chimney flue fully open for the first 10 minutes to draw maximum oxygen. After that, close the door most of the way and close the flue halfway to stabilise the temperature.

You’re aiming for 200-220°C similar to your indoor oven, but with way more flavour.

Step 2: Prep the Apples

While your oven heats up, let’s get stuck into prep.
Remove the core from your apples.

In a mixing bowl, combine:

• Walnuts
• Sultanas
• Honey
• Cinnamon

Fill each apple generously and give them a dusting of cinnamon on top.

Step 3: Bake to Perfection

Place the stuffed apples in your baking dish and pop them into the oven.
Rotate every 10 minutes for around 30 minutes to ensure even cooking.

You’ll know they’re nearly ready when:

• The skin starts to wrinkle
• The flesh softens and begins to collapse slightly
• That irresistible aroma fills your backyard

Step 4: Serve and Impress

Serve hot straight from the oven or even better, pair with vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of cream or maple syrup.

You’ll get sweetness from the fruit, crunch from the nuts, a touch of spice, and a smoky finish that only a wood fired oven can deliver.

Why This Dessert Works in a Wood Fired Oven

• Low maintenance: Just prep and let the oven do the magic
• Uses residual heat: Ideal after your roast or pizza session
• Epic flavour: Smoky + sweet = next level dessert
• Impress your guests: Looks fancy, but it’s dead easy

Ready to Master Wood Fired Cooking?

You’ve seen how easy it is to go beyond pizza with your wood fired oven so why stop here?

Explore our full range of wood fired ovens and accessories at BBQ Spit Rotisseries
Built for Aussie backyards, tested by real BBQ lovers, and perfect for your next cook up.

FAQs

Q: Can I bake other desserts in a wood fired oven?
A: Absolutely. Try apple crumble, cobbler, banana boats, or even brownies in cast iron.

Q: Do I need a specific type of apple for baking?
A: Not really but Pink Lady, Granny Smith, or Fuji work best for their balance of sweetness and structure.

Q: Can I bake dessert using residual heat after pizza or meat?
A: Yes! Once the oven drops to around 200°C, it’s the perfect time to bake dessert without wasting heat.

Check out our Roast Lamb recipe and our Roast Chicken recipe for more inspiration and ammo to tell the other half why you need a wood fired oven!

by: Caleb Barker