Picnic cake?
I am having a picnic tomorrow in the park and would like to bring some sort of cake/cupcake sweet tooth treat. Any suggestions for easily portable/serve-able sweets?
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8 Comments:
Chiffon cake has always been one of my favorites as a child when we went to picnics all year 'round. I used to eat them a lot without it being dressed up with messy whipped cream and fruits...easy to rip out a piece, run off to play on the beach, and munch. It's not extremely sweet too.
Carrot cupcakes are good too, but not sure if people like carrot cakes much. I love them, but I know a lot of people who hate carrot cake...
I suppose nothing with frosting that will lose it's cool out in the sun.
Cassaendra at 10:14AM on 07/29/08
For a picnic in the summer I would probably make blondies or brownies -- they hold up well for transport and to the heat.
lakeloverhh at 10:18AM on 07/29/08
Something in a big pan, I agree. I have a Texas sheet cake recipe somewhere that is a cross between a brownie and a cake which is good. Or a bar cookie.
As a big picnic-er, my favorite piece of equipment for transporting desserts is a disposable or trusty old metal pan tucked inside of one of those Hot/Cold bags you can get at the grocery store. It's not glamorous, it doesn't look like 50's picnic with linens and milk glass to be sure--but...
Desserts really hold up in there!
HappyHoarfrost at 11:05AM on 07/29/08
I like to make a fruit-studded cake in a 9x13 pan, cut it into squares while still in the pan, and transport it in the pan. If there's no topping or icing, it travels much easier, and the chunks of fruit (peaches, berries, cherries) make it special. You can also lug a pint of ice cream or fruit compote to top the cake, or if you're really devoted to fresh whipped cream, bring a bowl and a whisk to whip it on site.
butterface at 11:09AM on 07/29/08
I'll second butterface's suggestion of a cake with fruit instead of icing. One of my favorites is a fruit upside down cake--I love making it in the summer with nectarines or other in-season stone fruits. The Baking Illustrated/Cooks Illustrated recipe is a winner!
ChristineB at 11:42AM on 07/29/08
Definitely go with cupcakes, if you find a suitable flavor -- they are so much logistically easier (no need for a knife/spatula, plates, forks, or that whole slicing debacle).
And I have dazzled everytime with simple Molten Chocolate Cupcakes -- that site is great for adjusting the recipe to fit the amount you need to make, and if you can, follow the addition of the raspberries to the top. Benefits: no icing, incorporates fruit, easily transportable, and if they get a little warm in the sun/heat before consumption, that's even better!
savecara at 12:03PM on 07/29/08
Picnic time is sheetcake time. They are big, they serve many and you can put it out and forget about it. Easy to carry and easy to serve. Ina has a good recipe for hers and I make it with some adaptions of flavor and icing often. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/flag-cake-recipe/index.html
JerzeeTomato at 3:33PM on 07/29/08
thank you all so much!
i think i will definitely try the molten chocolate cupcakes, and maybe some sort of fruit bar (fig bars?) as well.
:)
in dubious batter at 4:02PM on 07/29/08