There’s no reason to put away the picnic hamper when the temperature drops. I’ve rounded up some easy and delicious winter picnic food ideas to get you outdoors when the cool hits.
I’ve got traditional picnic foods and some very portable dishes you may not have thought to pack in the picnic hamper. There’s hot and cold picnic food suitable for cooler weather, from hearty meals to winter-worthy picnic snacks.
If you need picnic tips beyond a winter picnic menu, I also have fantastic picnic ideas for winter. From location ideas to how to keep warm and winter picnic essentials, I have everything you need to make every cool-weather picnic successful.
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Tips for Winter Picnics
From a family picnic in the snow to a romantic picnic on a cozy rug or feeding a crowd.
I’ve got you covered, from how to keep your food hot for your winter picnic to ideas for practical picnic soup menus.
Winter Picnic FAQs
How do I plan a winter picnic menu that’s kid-friendly?
Look for recipes that are hearty and appealing to children, such as warming soups like this simple chicken soup, sandwiches like a tasty club sandwich, and easy-to-eat finger foods. See my selection of kid-friendly picnic foods for ideas. Also, ensure kids are dressed for the conditions and bring extra picnic rugs. They make great warmers for cold picnic seats.
What are the best foods to pack for a winter picnic?
People often look for hearty, warm dishes like stews and casseroles. But I also like portable classics with a seasonal twist: hearty winter salads, hot and cold dips, simple soups, hot and cold finger food, and cozy sweet treats like gingerbread loaf and comforting chocolate fudge desserts.
What are some warm drink ideas for a winter picnic?
Hot chocolate, mulled wine, and hot cider are favorites and are easy to keep warm and transport in a thermos.
What desserts work well for a winter picnic?
Winter’s beauty is that you worry less about desserts spoiling in the heat. In the spirit of portability, I enjoy cozy winter cakes like Gingerbread Cake with Orange Glaze, warming Mini Bundt Cakes with Coffee and Irish Cream, seasonal jumbo pumpkin muffins, or easy-to-make Snowball Cookies. Try my gorgeous Orange Upside Down Cake for a fresh twist on winter produce.
Winter Picnic Recipes
Soups, pies, sandwiches and salads. I’ve even got winter picnic sweets and some very warming picnic drinks.
Delicious and simple winter picnic menu ideas to suit all styles of picnics.
Winter Salads
Pear and Goat Cheese Salad with Candied Pecans
This quick Pear and Goat Cheese Winter Salad pays homage to the season's produce with a burst of texture and flavor with sweet pears, salty goat cheese, maple-glazed nuts, and a hint of spice for chilly days.
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Cauliflower Salad
If you are looking for a low-carb alternative to a traditional creamy potato salad, this cauliflower salad with tasty sundried tomatoes hits the mark.A great make-ahead salad that keeps well for days, it's easy to make and make a hearty winter salad.
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Balsamic Roasted Beetroot Salad With Feta & Walnuts
Add a splash of color to your winter picnic salads with this Balsamic Roasted Beet Salad. This salad is so easy to make, as you can have all the components ready to go, and it takes minutes to put it together – A perfect make-ahead salad, especially for picnics.
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Broccoli Potato Salad With Roast Garlic Vinaigrette
Broccoli shines in winter picnic salads. Pair it with roast potatoes for a heart warming, mayo-free option that can be served warm or cold and gets better over time—perfect for making ahead.
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Brussel Sprouts Salad
Enjoy a hearty winter Brussels sprout salad with crunchy pecans, sweet-tart apples, crisp beets, and creamy cheddar, all tossed in a balsamic dressing for the ultimate flavor.
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Photo credit: joyfoodsunshine.com
Winter Sandwiches
Roast Beef Sandwich Recipe with Slow Roasted Tomatoes
A roast beef sandwich on a cold day hits the spot. My winter picnic version features rare roast beef (with cooking tips), slow-roasted vine tomatoes, and sweet caramelized onions for a fresh twist on the classic, complete with mustard.
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Classic Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich
Few things surpass the satisfaction of a classic chicken club sandwich. This delicious creation elegantly blends grilled chicken and crispy bacon, perfect as a hearty meal or delightful finger food.
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Olive Cheese Bread with (or without) Turkey
This Mediterranean-inspired Olive Cheese Bread is the perfect companion to a winter picnic soup or as a winter appetizer. Make it with turkey slices or as a vegetarian sandwich.
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Warm Picnic Foods
Simple Chicken Soup
There's nothing as warming and comforting as a thermos of steaming chicken soup. This simple chicken soup recipe is perfect for winter picnics and can be whipped up in no time.
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Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Mushrooms – No Cream
Creamy and flavorful, this easy cauliflower soup doesn't use cream to make it delicious. Instead, it has a delicious umami-rich flavor thanks to a topping of golden fried mushrooms.
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Crispy Cheese Pastry Rolls (Sigara Boregi)
These Turkish-inspired Crispy Cheese Rolls are filled with soft, creamy cheese and fragrant herbs wrapped in flaky pastry for an easy-to-make winter picnic snack. These are also great as a side to a picnic soup.
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Australian Party Pies
Millions of Australians turn to the classic Aussie meat pie on chilly days. With its crispy pastry and savory beef gravy, these mini pies are the perfect portable snack for cold weather. Pack them hot in your picnic basket for a cozy outdoor feast – they're ideal finger food.
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Cornish Beef Pasty with Burgundy Gravy
Beloved in the UK, Australia, and parts of the US, pasties provide a portable, utensil-free alternative to meat pies. These Cornish Beef Pasties, a refined twist on the traditional, feature rosemary burgundy steak in a flaky pie crust, perfect for a winter picnic.
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Ham and Cheese Biscuits
Another perfectly portable snack or side, these cheesy snacks are perfect with a mug of hot picnic soup or turned into a teeny snack-size sandwich – simply fill with slices of meat, cheese, tomatoes, or whatever tickles your fancy.
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Cauliflower Hash Browns
Airy and crispy, these diet-friendly Cauliflower Hash Browns make an excellent picnic brunch or lunch addition. I like to make them cracker-sized to serve them with dipping sauces or top with whipped feta as an appetizer. Serve them hot or cold.
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Quiche with Chorizo and Goat’s Cheese
A versatile, crustless quiche ideal for picnics. Filled with chorizo, mushrooms, spinach, and goat's cheese, it's a low-carb option that can be enjoyed hot or cold and customized with your desired fillings.
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Photo credit: supergoldenbakes.com
Mushroom Tart
I love picnic tarts because they are so easy to make and are a lovely addition to the picnic spread. Filled with cheese and mushrooms, this vegetarian mushroom tart is so easy to make. Pair it with a salad and crusty bread, or serve it as a side to a picnic soup.
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Photo credit: littlesunnykitchen.com
Winter Picnic Dips
Warm Broccoli Cheese Dip
This baked broccoli cheese dip is a winter winner. Super hearty and toasty warm, serve this broccoli dip with crusty bread or a simple raw veggie platter. I like this dip as an addition to a charcuterie board with a nice bottle of red for a delicious winter picnic menu.
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Cauliflower Buffalo Dip
This decadent Cauliflower Buffalo Dip is a vegetarian twist on the classic, perfect for winter picnics. Pair it with crusty bread, a cheese board, or veggie sticks for a hearty, indulgent appetizer.
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Vegan Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Want a hearty, vegan dip recipe? This creamy Spinach and Artichoke Dip is a healthier alternative to the classic, full of flavor without vegan cheese substitutes—perfect for a vegan picnic menu or any occasion.
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Roasted Red Pepper Hummus with Chipotle
A deliciously smoky roasted red pepper hummus with chipotle for a little extra winter warmth. This hummus recipe without tahini has a smooth sweetness thanks to sweet roasted peppers and all the flavors we love in hummus.
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Roasted Eggplant Dip – Baba Ganoush Recipe
Smokey eggplant Baba ganoush dip is perfect for any season. Serve it with crackers, mezze-style like hummus, or as a dip for mini spiced lamb or chicken kebabs.
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Winter Desserts
Orange Upside Down Cake
With its vibrant flavors and effortless charm, this eye-catching upside-down cake is a seasonal nod to winter’s citrus harvest, making it a sweet and fresh addition to your winter picnic.
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Easy White Chocolate Fudge
My White Chocolate Fudge is the perfect winter picnic treat. With just four ingredients, it's easy to make and customize with flavors and additions to suit your taste.
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Gingerbread Cake with Orange Glaze and Candied Walnuts
Get in the festive spirit any time of year with this easy Gingerbread Cake recipe. It has a splash of orange and garnished with candied walnuts for a fresh zest and a crunchy twist to a seasonal favorite.
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Dark Chocolate Sweet Potato Fudge
No-bake and low-carb, this Dark Chocolate Fudge recipe has a lot going for it – guilt-free and easy to make. Thanks to the star ingredient – sweet potato, this fudge recipe is beautifully soft and creamy and decadently delicious.
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Gingerbread Loaf With Cream Cheese Frosting
Winter is the perfect season for this deliciously moist gingerbread loaf topped with rich cream cheese frosting. All the flavors of gingerbread with creamy, sweet, and tangy lashings of cream cheese topping – a perfect dessert for a cold-weather picnic.
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Jumbo Pumpkin Muffins
If you want a winter muffin with pumpkin and spice and all things nice, these plus-sized pumpkin muffins make a very welcome sweet treat on a cold day.
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Coffee & Irish Cream Mini Bundt Cakes
What's cozier than coffee and a tipple of Baileys Irish cream? These Coffee and Irish Cream Mini Bundt Cakes are an effortlessly elegant dessert ready in under an hour.
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Tiramisu Cookies
Nothing says cozy like bundling creamy Tiramisu into a cookie. Enjoy all the flavors of the classic dessert in a convenient, elegant Tiramisu Cookie.
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Chocolate Snowball Cookies
With a rich cocoa base and a hint of seasonal spices, these decadent and very portable Chocolate Snowball Cookies without nuts are perfect for the holiday season and winter picnics. Best of all, they're so easy to make.
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Winter Drinks
Non-Alcoholic Mulled Grape Juice
Hot mulled grape juice full of spices associated with autumn, winter and Christmas. This non-alcoholic take on mulled wine is a warm and cozy winter picnic drink for the whole family.
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Photo credit: littlesugarsnaps.com
Instant Pot Homemade Warm Apple Cider
There’s something about a cup of warm apple cider on a chilly fall or winter day. This homemade apple cider is easy to make and pop in a thermos for a cool-weather picnic.
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Photo credit: healthyfamilyproject.com
Gingerbread Hot Chocolate
Who doesn't love hot chocolate, especially on a cold day? A perfect drink to throw in a thermos, especially for family picnics. Warm and comforting, this gingerbread hot chocolate is full of flavor with a slight kick. Make it with whole or plant-based milk of your choice for a vegan version.
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Photo credit: tinandthyme.uk
Winter picnics offer a unique and delightful way to enjoy the outdoors in the cooler months. With the right menu and a few practical tips to keep you and your food warm, you can easily transform a chilly day into a cozy outdoor feast.
Did you try any of these winter picnic recipes?
Please let me know in the comments how you enjoyed them.
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