11 Make-Ahead Picnic Desserts

Poke cake is one dessert that actually often gets better after several hours in the fridge. That's the strategy we call for in this mash-up recipe, which combines everything you love about sheet cake, cheesecake, and a berry pie all in one semi-homemade recipe. No one will guess that you started with a boxed cake mix once they taste the fruit-infused, cheesecake-frosted, and graham cracker crumble-topped masterpiece. Before you frost the cake and dive in, chill it for three hours up to overnight to allow the fruit to soak into the "pokes."

Apple pie à la mode sings, "Summer!" if you ask us, but toting a whole pie to a picnic (then fussing with slicing and serving it without dumping said slices on the ground) sounds like a potentially frustrating endeavor. Enter: Single-serving hand pies that start with store-bought pie crust, are filled with buttery, warmly-spiced apples, and finish with a dusting of sugar on top. To save time the day-of, mix the apple filling and refrigerate overnight, then assemble and bake the hand pies up to four hours ahead. Chill until picnic time.

Zero oven time and zero picnic day work is required to bring these pretty parfaits to the picnic. A sherry-spiked lemon sauce, lemon curd, and lemon zest offer a triple-play of freshness that pairs beautifully with cubes of store-bought pound cake and fresh strawberries. Layer that all in two-cup jars (such as Ball 16-Ounce Mason Jars), refrigerate overnight, then top with a generous amount of whipped cream just before serving.

Bar cookies are among the best make-ahead dessert ideas for every occasion. From bake sales to backyard picnics, you can't go wrong with a classic Scotcheroo recipe. Assemble the no-bake bars up to four days ahead, then store, covered, at room temperature or in the refrigerator if your kitchen runs warm. If you and your fellow picnickers enjoy chocolate as much as we do, try doubling the topping ingredients.

We love the trick recipe creator Shawnee uses to perk up the lemon-flavored boxed cake mix even more. Instead of using milk or water in the cake batter, incorporate lemonade instead. Along with a luscious strawberry cheesecake-like filling and a lemon glaze on top, we bet you can't stop at just one square. Bake these four to 12 hours ahead, then refrigerate, unfrosted, until picnic time.

On the steamiest days of summer, we frequently find ourselves craving something minty fresh. These tender, cream cheese-infused cookies offer flavors reminiscent of mint-chocolate chip ice cream, just without the fear of them melting all over the picnic basket. To achieve the eye-catching marble pattern, divide the cookie dough into two halves, then add cocoa powder to one and mint extract (like Watkins Peppermint Extract) and green food coloring, if desired, to the other. Then follow the instructions to smash the pieces together and bake up to three days ahead.

Recipe creator RuthE certainly caught our eye when she declared this no-bake summer dessert "perfect for summer picnics." Since it is constructed in travel-friendly jars, you won't risk spilling any of the irresistible pecan shortbread cookie crust or the strawberry cream cheese topping. Layer them up at least two hours (or up to three days) in advance, then refrigerate until it's time to pack for the picnic.

"Reminds me of Samoas Girl Scout Cookies, but fresher tasting," says Allrecipes fan willis05, who deemed this easy coconut dessert worthy of five stars. Since the coconut-pecan cookie bars are topped with a melted caramel topping and chocolate chips, you'll want to prep this at least four hours early. That way, the pan cools entirely so you can slice evenly-shaped squares.

For another play on the popular Scout cookies, whip up a batch of these no-bake cookies. Stuff a couple vanilla wafer cookies with a vanilla-scented peanut butter filling, dunk in melted chocolate and allow to chill until the chocolate hardens. So the cookies reach a nice bite-friendly texture, we prefer making these the day before, then refrigerate until picnic o'clock. (Psst! Check out 4 more unique ways to use vanilla wafer cookies.)

"Cool and refreshing like the orange cream frozen treat. Great for picnics; travels well," explains Bea Glassman, who was kind enough to share her how-to for this make-ahead dessert recipe. Surprise: It's another poke cake recipe. Follow package directions to bake a box of orange cake mix, then while the cake is still hot, poke holes and pour orange Jell-O on top. Allow the cake to cool completely, then frost with a creamsicle-flavored pudding topping. Refrigerate at least one hour (we suggest four or more).

Skip the sausage and top your next pizza with strawberries instead. Trust us: Dessert pizza is totally a thing — and totally perfect as a make-ahead picnic dessert. "For a quick crust, use one package of ready-made sugar cookie dough rolled out to fit a pizza pan," suggests recipe creator Anna. "Use an assortment of fresh fruit such as bananas, peaches, blueberries, kiwi, pineapple and strawberries," to decorate the cream cheese-topped pie, then refrigerate the supersized cookie for up to four hours. Slice and store in a food storage container so sharing the pizza is a breeze.