Make Ahead / No-refridgerate Desserts

Updated on June 13, 2011
K.R. asks from Fort Collins, CO
13 answers

Hi ladies. We are taking a road trip for a family reunion, and I'm in charge of desserts for 2 nights. I'd like to make something, rather than just buy store bought stuff, but we are having to drive 12 hours or so to our destination, and refridgeration is going to be an issue. Can anyone think of good, fun dessert recipes? There are going to be lots of little ones there (4 and under), so anything kid friendly would be good. But also this is a "foodie" family, so great desserts will be appreciated.

I could buy groceries once we get there, but I'm not sure what kind of tools the kitchen will be stocked with, and I also don't want to have to buy staples like flour/sugar, etc, and then waste what we don't use.

Thanks!
K

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You guys are AMAZING!! I love these ideas!! THank you so much!

Featured Answers

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S.!.

answers from Los Angeles on

My favorite is Angel Food cake... once you get there gets some fresh strawberries and Voila! Yummy healthier dessert!

1 mom found this helpful

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L.!.

answers from Austin on

I like offering a big plate of fruit skewers and various chocolate samples. You can bring the fruit (uncut) in the car and cut/skewer them on the evening of the dinner.

Since the adults are foodies, find 1-2 good dessert wines (maybe a German Guertz) or port that compliments the chocolate and let them do a "taster".

At the last dinner I did, I put out strawberries and 5 or 6 different types of gourmet chocolate bars (broken up in pieces). And I do mean the expensive European chocolate... You can do a white chocolate, carmel filled, touch of sea salt (that one was the favorite), chocolate & almonds, chocolate mint, etc. Put out a few European butter cookies if you think they need more munchies.

5 moms found this helpful
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M.V.

answers from New York on

My first thought was an angel food cake - it travels well, and when you get to your destination you could serve it with fresh berries, or drizzle with chocolate (or both!) and whip up some cream to go with it. You could also do the same with pound cake if you prefer. My other thought was an apple cake or crumb cake - I make those often for school bake sales and they seem to travel pretty well.

2 moms found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

This si my husbands favorite dessert. Once you bake it and it cools, it does not need to be refrigerated you can cut it into squares when you get there.

Apple Kuchin
½ cup butter or margarine
1 pkg yellow cake mix
½ cup flaked coconut
4 granny smith apples peeled and sliced
¼ cup brown sugar
1 cup sour cream
1 tsp cinnamon
1 egg

Preheat oven 350
Mix butter (or margarine) into cake mix, add in coconut. Press into ungreased
9 x 13 baking pan. Build up sides. Bake for 10 minutes.

Arrange apple slices on top of cake.

Mix sugar, cinnamon. Sprinkle over apples.

Blend sour cream and egg yolk. Drizzle over apples. (this will not cover the entire top, it is just drizzled around,. Bake 25 minutes until edges are brown.
Cool completely then cut into squares.

2 moms found this helpful

M.M.

answers from Detroit on

You could make sugar cookies ahead of time for the kids and buy a few cans of white frosting. Take the frosting, some food coloring, sprinkles, plastic knives and bowls with you. Let each child frost and decorate their cookie. Kids always have fun with this little activity.

1 mom found this helpful

T.K.

answers from Dallas on

One night I would go for an upscale S'more. For the kids just traditonal marshmallows, hershey bars and graham crackers.
But for the grown up foodies get more creative. Maybe a Ghiradelli chocolate or go for flavored chocolates, like rasbery or orange flavored dark chocolate. Use a good quality cookie, like Pecan Sandies, White chocloate Macademias from your bakery, or Snickerdoodles.

The next night I would do a strawberry shortcake. Wait until you get there and buy pound cake from the freezer section, make whipped cream from scratch - add a little extract to make it special. I'm thinking champagne, almond, hazlenut, orange. Just something to make the whipt cream special. Then buy tons of local berries. Doesn't have to be strawberries. Maybe a berry medley. Sugar them overnight so they're good and sweet and make thier own syrup. Slice the pound cake and set it up as a dessert bar.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.N.

answers from Minneapolis on

I'm hungry after reading these responses...... ;)

1 mom found this helpful
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D.K.

answers from State College on

Brownies, cupcakes or a cake, seven layer bars, cookies. If there is any freezer space you could get ice cream to go with the dessert. Sorry nothing to exciting, maybe flip through a cook book and see if anything jumps out at you. Pudding might work, but you will need milk.

1 mom found this helpful

H.S.

answers from Cincinnati on

Cupcakes. If you don't use cream cheese in the icing, they will be fine in an airtight container without refrigeration. And kids LOVE them.

Brownies
Rice crispie treats- u can use cookie cutters to make kids shapes.
Lemon squares
Pie
Cookies- Make something special for the little ones with M&M's, or make cookie sandwiches with icing between 2 cookies.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.R.

answers from Tulsa on

when I first saw this question my PB cookie recipe came to mind right away...but it has peanut butter in it...so may not be great for the little ones. But if you're interested it's gluten free...very easy to make and can be stored for a few days without any problem.

1 cup PB
1 cup white sugar
1 large egg
combine and cook at 375 for 12 min makes one dozen or make slightly larger cookies and cook for 14 min and you get 10. If you like them soft keep it at 12min.

Jigglers are aways a blast at parties especially for kids but unfortunatly require some refrideration. instructions are on the box, they need to "set up" for 5 hours before cutting them out.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.F.

answers from Tallahassee on

Cookies, brownies, rice krispie treats.

1 mom found this helpful

A.W.

answers from Kalamazoo on

Brownie sundaes! You could make the brownies ahead of time. Then when you get there, buy ice cream, bananas, sprinkle, choc sauce, whip cream etc!!!

F.H.

answers from Phoenix on

I have a word doc that has a few no bake cookies. Message me your email address (or anyone else that wants it!) and I will email it to you. Good luck!!!

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