Summer Kickoff Bake: Merely 4 ingredients required. I pop this in the oven when I need a fuss-free sweet treat ready for the backyard cookout.

This Summer Kickoff Bake is the kind of fuss-free sweet I lean on when the yard is full of grandkids and the grill is already going. It uses just four pantry ingredients and bakes up in one metal pan: a puffed, golden-brown top with a gooey, molten middle that you pull apart while it’s still steaming. It reminds me of the simple cobbler-style bakes my mother made on hot Midwestern evenings, when turning on the oven was a small price to pay for something warm and caramelized to end a cookout.

Serve this bake warm right out of the pan, spooned into bowls so everyone gets a bit of the caramelized edges and the molten middle. A scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream melts into the hot pockets and makes a simple backyard supper feel special. It pairs well with grilled burgers, brats, and corn on the cob, and a pot of coffee or a pitcher of iced tea on the picnic table. Let folks tear off pieces as they wander between the yard games and the porch, the way we’ve always done at summer get-togethers.

Servings: 8

1 can (16.3 oz) refrigerated jumbo buttermilk biscuits

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Set a metal 9x13-inch baking pan or rimmed metal baking sheet (about the same size) on the counter so it’s ready. A metal pan helps the bottom caramelize and the center stay molten.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Once melted, stir in the brown sugar and cook, stirring gently, until the mixture looks glossy and just begins to bubble around the edges, 1–2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. The mixture will be thick and syrupy.

Pour the warm brown sugar–butter mixture into the metal pan and tilt the pan carefully so the bottom is evenly coated. It does not need to be perfect; it will spread more as it bakes.

Open the can of biscuits and separate them. Tear each biscuit into 3–4 rough pieces with your fingers. Scatter the biscuit pieces evenly over the caramel layer in the pan, leaving a few small gaps so the caramel can bubble up between them.

Gently press the biscuit pieces down just enough so the bottoms touch the caramel, but keep the tops puffed and uneven. This helps create that golden, textured crust with a gooey interior.

Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the biscuit pieces are puffed, deep golden-brown on top, and you can see the caramel bubbling thickly around the edges. The center should still look a bit soft and molten underneath the crust.

Carefully remove the pan from the oven and let it rest on a heatproof surface for 5–10 minutes. The caramel will be extremely hot and will thicken slightly as it stands, but the middle will stay gooey and pull apart in long, sticky strands.

Serve warm, scooping or pulling apart pieces of biscuit with the molten caramel underneath. Enjoy straight from the pan on the picnic table, or spoon into bowls if you’d like to catch every bit of sauce.

For a nutty twist, scatter 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts over the caramel layer before adding the biscuit pieces; this gives a praline-style crunch that fits right in with Midwestern potluck tables. If you like a hint of spice, add 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon or apple pie spice to the brown sugar before melting it with the butter. To make it feel more like a campfire treat, sprinkle a small handful of mini chocolate chips over the caramel layer right before baking; they’ll melt into the molten middle. You can also swap in dark brown sugar for a deeper, almost molasses flavor. If using a smaller pan, the bake will be thicker and may need a few extra minutes to cook through—watch for a well-browned top and steady bubbling at the edges. For food safety, handle the hot caramel with care; it can cause serious burns, so keep children and pets back when you pull the pan from the oven and while it rests. Use oven mitts, place the hot pan on a sturdy, heatproof surface, and avoid tasting the caramel until it has cooled slightly. Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat portions gently in a low oven until warm and soft again.