What Exactly Is A Pudgy Pie?

Camping is among the most effective ways to get in touch with and appreciate nature's bounty. If you ever find yourself pitching a tent out in the wilderness, whether it be for a weekend or several days or weeks, having plenty of sustenance is essential. Perhaps your preferred method of camping is sleeping under the stars in your own backyard. Either way, when you envision a standard spread of outdoor campfire food, items such as hot dogs, s'mores, baked beans, roasted veggies, soups, stews, and perhaps freshly caught fish or game meats likely come to mind. But there is one type of campsite nosh that has become more widespread through the years due to its versatility, convenience, and of course, deliciousness.

Behold the pudgy pie. Despite their alliterative name, pudgy pies aren't conventional pies. Rather, they are hot, gooey, plump sandwiches toasted over crackling flames, according to the Sandwich Tribunal. The tradition behind the beloved pudgy pie — also known as a jaffle or toastie — has been passed down through generations.

To those who have had the pleasure of enjoying a pudgy pie, it can be said that making them is just as fun as eating them. To whip up this bonfire fare, you must gather a few key materials and ingredients. Milwaukee Magazine explains that, at minimum, you'll need a pie iron, a device consisting of two square-shaped cast iron plates connected to a long handle, which allows campers to safely suspend the plates over the blaze. Then, you just need sliced bread of your choice and whatever fillings your heart (and stomach) desire. Butter the outer faces of the bread, assemble the sandwich to your liking, place it inside the cast iron plates, close it tightly, and bake for a few minutes on each side, per SkyAboveUs. Voila! The result is a simple, incredibly tasty meal.

The beauty of pudgy pies is that they can be sweet, savory, or anything in-between. Popular varieties include the classics such as grilled cheese and PB&J, or more creative combos such as pizza (sauce, pepperoni, and cheese), marshmallow fluff, crushed graham crackers, hazelnut spread, and sliced apples with cinnamon sugar, as Taste of Home suggests. For even more inspiration, Rome Industries, the company that manufactures pie irons, has a cookbook filled with thousands of recipes.