Whether it’s a large picnic gathering, hiking, or even a simple afternoon tea picnic, no alfresco feast would be complete without a sweet treat.
Sometimes, the thought of picnic desserts can be a little overwhelming. We need portable desserts, preferably make-ahead desserts, and sweets that will last the distance without failing or fouling.
The beauty of the picnic dessert is it doesn’t have to be a lavishly creamy affair.
As my essential picnic tips say, it can be as easy as a homemade cookie to satisfy the sweet tooth or complement a hot cup of tea. A simple yet sophisticated tart that pairs wonderfully with your picnic wine or an elegant Chocolate Snowball that will finish a bottle of red beautifully.
Super Portable Make Ahead Picnic Dessert Ideas
These picnic dessert ideas meet the criteria of the portable feast. They are easy to make, can all be made in advance, are portable, and are all decadently delicious.
Some even err on the healthy side so that you can enjoy an extra bite or slice. There are also sweet options for gluten-free and vegan picnic desserts.
Chocolate Snowball Cookies Without Nuts
A small but decadent Chocolate Snowball Cookie with rich dark cocoa and hints of seasonal spice. These easy-to-make cookies are great for the holiday season and a delicious addition to winter picnics.
Easy Oreo Chocolate Cake
Bring together the iconic crunch and creaminess of Oreo cookies with a moist, rich chocolate loaf cake and you have a decadent picnic dessert that is easy to transport.
Gingerbread Loaf Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting
Enjoy the flavours of gingerbread any time of year with this beautifully moist gingerbread loaf topped with lush cream cheese frosting. An easy dessert to make and transport, especially for the fall and winter picnic months.
Easy Key Lime Truffles
If you love Key Lime Pie, you’ll love these fresh and creamy Key Lime Pie Truffles.
A slightly more portable take on Key Lime Pie, this Key Lime Truffle Recipe is a wonderfully easy make-ahead dessert.
No Bake Key Lime Pie Bars
These no-bake Key Lime Pie Bars are perfect if you are looking for key lime desserts that aren’t pies. Like my Key Lime Truffles, they’re also very portable, making them an excellent dessert for summer picnics and parties.
Easy White Chocolate Fudge
It doesn't get much more portable than fudge. Quick and easy to make, this White Chocolate Fudge recipe is perfect for picnics. It's adaptable to the seasons; switch almonds for macadamia nuts or pecans. Add a sprinkle of sea salt or mint crisps for a grown-up sweet treat or rainbow sprinkles for a kids picnic sweet.
You only need four ingredients and minimal effort for a very portable and elegant picnic sweet.
Dark Chocolate Sweet Potato Fudge
Like a rich, dark chocolate fudge? This Sweet Potato Fudge recipe is soft, super creamy (thanks to the star ingredient - sweet potato) and decadently chocolatey. It is also low carb and no-bake so it's guilt-free and easy.
Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Super moist and subtly spiced, these easy to make Carrot Cake Cup Cakes are a great make-ahead picnic sweet treat. You can even pre-make these cupcakes and keep some in the freezer. Defrost overnight in the fridge and top with fresh cream cheese frosting for a delicious portable picnic cake.
Low Carb Keto Pumpkin Muffins
For a guilt-free fall picnic idea that is easy to make, keeps well and can stand up to an extended period in the picnic basket– look no further than these deliciously seasonal low carb keto pumpkin muffins. With the decadence of a sweet muffin, but without the guilty carbs, you'll love these moist and fluffy muffins for any occasion.
Sweet and Healthy Spinach Banana Muffin Recipe
These sweet spinach muffins with bananas are the perfect blend of moist banana muffins with nutrient-packed spinach and heart-healthy oats. Ready in under 35 minutes, these muffins are easy to whip up, even at the last minute. Best of all, kids love them, so they're a great, healthy, sweet treat for kids' picnics.
Unique Brownie Recipes
Trying to find the world’s best brownie recipe? – well, it could all come down to a matter of taste.
Brownies are such super portable make-ahead picnic desserts, so of course, we were tempted to dive into the diverse world of cakey, fudgy, crackly, and crisp chocolate goodness.
I’ve rounded up unique brownie recipes that appeal to all kinds of brownie aficionados and even cater to a range of dietary requirements.
Keto Chocolate Cake With Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
Delicious chocolate on chocolate. This super easy Keto Chocolate cake with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting is a gorgeous guilt-free indulgence. Make it in advance for a low carb chocolate cake everyone will love.
No Bake Coconut Balls
Little bite-sized truffles are perfect for picnics. These no-bake Coconut Balls come together in under 20 minutes for a sweet treat elegant enough for grown-ups and deliciously sweet for kids. They are also Keto friendly, vegan and dairy, gluten and nut-free with only four ingredients.
No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars
Naturally sweet with crunchy almonds, these no-bake Chocolate Oat bars are about as picnic-friendly as it gets. Whip them up in under half an hour for a deliciously portable picnic sweet treat kids and adults will love.
Cocoa Peanut Butter Fat Bombs
In the realm of energy bites, you can't go past these deliciously decadent yet healthy cocoa peanut butter fat balls. Chocolatey, nutty with hints of coconut, you can whip these satisfying sweet treats up in around 10 minutes for a very portable picnic dessert.
No-Bake Chocolate Chip & Tahini Energy Balls
Another nod to the simplicity of a well made energy ball. These decadently healthy tahini and chocolate chip bites come together in under 15 minutes, are vegan and gluten-free friendly and incredibly delicious. You don't get much more picnic portable than a good protein ball.
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