38 Desserts Perfect for a Summer Picnic

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38 Desserts Perfect for a Summer Picnic2/38 Mini Apple Pies 28 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Mini Apple Pies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 15 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: When I was in high school, my best friend’s mother baked this mini apple pie recipe every year. I was thrilled when she shared it with me—I finally felt like an adult! —Katie Ferrier, Houston, Texas Nutrition Facts: 1 pie: 162 calories, 12g fat (7g saturated fat), 40mg cholesterol, 56mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 0 fiber), 2g protein. 3/38

Super Chunky Cookies 27 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 6-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Chocolate lovers will go crazy over these cookies that feature loads of chocolate! When friends ask me to make “those cookies,” I know exactly what recipe they mean. —Rebecca Jendry, Spring Branch, Texas Nutrition Facts: 1 cookie: 115 calories, 7g fat (3g saturated fat), 10mg cholesterol, 48mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein. 4/38 Picnic Bars 12 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 35 min Servings 3 dozen Go

to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:

to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: You’ll score points with a crowd when you stir together these delicious fudge-like treats. They’re very moist and rich. The chocolate chips and walnuts make a pretty topping. —Frank Bee, Eugene, Oregon Nutrition Facts: 1 each: 173 calories, 9g fat (4g saturated fat), 22mg cholesterol, 44mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein. 5/38 Lemon Coconut Bites 31 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Lemon Coconut Bites Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 4 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: The tangy lemon flavor of this no-fuss

dessert is especially delicious on a warm day

dessert is especially delicious on a warm day. It gives me delightful flashbacks of selling lemonade on the sidewalk as a little girl. —Donna Biddle, Elmira, New York Nutrition Facts: 1 bar: 82 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 25mg cholesterol, 46mg sodium, 11g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein. 6/38 Fudgy Brownie Recipe 34 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Ultimate Fudgy Brownies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Coffee granules enhance the chocolate flavor in these amazingly fudgy brownies. Add chocolate chips to the batter

and you’ve got some seriously irresistible treats

and you’ve got some seriously irresistible treats. —Sarah Farmer, Waukesha, Wisconsin Nutrition Facts: 1 brownie: 344 calories, 18g fat (10g saturated fat), 67mg cholesterol, 197mg sodium, 47g carbohydrate (35g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein. 7/38 Chocolate Chip Blondies 140 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved SARAH TRAMONTE FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 30 min Servings 3 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Folks who adore the classic cookies will enjoy that same beloved flavor in these chocolate chip bars. This blondie recipe can be mixed up in a jiffy, tastes wonderful, and is perfect for occasions when company drops

by unexpectedly or you need a treat in a hurry

by unexpectedly or you need a treat in a hurry. —Rhonda Knight, Hecker, Illinois Nutrition Facts: 1 blondie: 102 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 19mg cholesterol, 72mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein. 8/38 White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies 34 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 2-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Hawaiian nuts and melty morsels make a fantastic combination in these buttery white chocolate macadamia nut cookies. —Cathy Lennon, Newport, Tennessee Nutrition Facts: 1 cookie: 127 calories,

Make sure to continually scrape the side of the bowl with a spatula

8g fat (4g saturated fat), 16mg cholesterol, 69mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 1g fiber), 1g protein. 9/38 Lemon Blueberry Whoopie Pies 10 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Lemon Blueberry Whoopie Pies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 1 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These pies are soft, cakey cookies studded with tart, juicy blueberries and filled with tangy cream cheese frosting. I bring them to family and school events and they are always the first thing gone! Make sure to continually scrape the side of the bowl with a spatula

while mixing the batter and frosting

while mixing the batter and frosting. —Kathy Martino, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Nutrition Facts: 1 whoopie pie: 281 calories, 14g fat (8g saturated fat), 51mg cholesterol, 218mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (26g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein. 10/38 Peach Bars 8 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Peach Crumb Bars Recipe photo by Emily Davis for Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 10 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I had the most beautiful peaches and really wanted to bake with them. I started with my blueberry crumb bar recipe, and after a couple of tries, I was so

happy with the results

happy with the results. My co-worker taste testers were, too! —Amy Burns, Newman, Illinois Nutrition Facts: 1 bar: 207 calories, 9g fat (2g saturated fat), 8mg cholesterol, 73mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein. 11/38 Dipped Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies 13 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 15 sandwich cookies Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: You’ll love to give tins of these chocolate-coated cookies to your lucky friends. The shortcut holiday recipe is almost too simple to believe! Here’s how to make peanut butter cookies without eggs. —Jackie Howell,

Gordo, Alabama Nutrition Facts: 1 sandwich cookie: 151 calories, 11g fat (4g saturated fat), 2mg cholesterol, 103mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein. 12/38 Nutella Hand Pies 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Nutella Hand Pies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 9 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These pint-sized Nutella hand pies made with puff pastry are too good to keep to yourself! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen Nutrition Facts: 1 hand pie: 190 calories, 10g fat (2g saturated fat), 21mg cholesterol, 100mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 2g

fiber), 3g protein

fiber), 3g protein. 13/38 Coconut, Lime and Pistachio Cookies 10 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Coconut, Lime and Pistachio Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings about 5-1/2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Perfect for freezing, these cookies look like Christmas but taste like summer. —Barbara Crusan, Pass Christian, Mississippi Nutrition Facts: 1 cookie: 82 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 5mg cholesterol, 59mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein. 14/38 Mini Chocolate Chip Sandwich Cookies 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour

10 min Servings about 5 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I love baking cookies to give as gifts to my family and friends. I created this recipe for my annual holiday cookie platter and it received rave reviews from both children and adults. If the buttercream doesn’t come together after all of the butter has been incorporated, add some shortening one tablespoon at a time until the mixture starts to transform. —Julie Thomas, Saukville, Wisconsin Nutrition Facts: 1 sandwich cookie: 120 calories, 7g fat (3g saturated fat), 12mg cholesterol, 67mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 0 fiber),

1g protein

1g protein. 15/38 Blueberry Lattice Bars 10 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Blueberry Lattice Bars Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 55 min Servings 2 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Since our area has an annual blueberry festival, my daughters and I are always looking for amazing new recipes to enter in the cooking contest. These lovely bars won a blue ribbon one year. —Debbie Ayers, Baileyville, Maine Nutrition Facts: 1 bar: 233 calories, 11g fat (7g saturated fat), 35mg cholesterol, 109mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (16g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein. 16/38 Zucchini Bread

75 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Zucchini Nut Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 10 min Servings 2 loaves (12 pieces each) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Lighter and fluffier than most zucchini breads, this is a great way to put that vegetable to good use! —Kevin Bruckerhoff, Columbia, Missouri Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 229 calories, 11g fat (1g saturated fat), 26mg cholesterol, 165mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein. 17/38 Amish Sugar Cookies 299 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Amish Sugar Cookies Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 20

I’ve passed this recipe around to many friends

min Servings about 5 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These easy-to-make, old-fashioned Amish sugar cookies simply melt in your mouth! I’ve passed this recipe around to many friends. After I gave it to my sister, she entered the cookies in a local fair and won best of show. —Sylvia Ford, Kennett, Missouri Nutrition Facts: 1 cookie: 117 calories, 7g fat (2g saturated fat), 14mg cholesterol, 48mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein. 18/38 Loaded M&M Oreo Cookie Bars 5 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Loaded M&M Oreo Cookie Bars Recipe photo by Taste of Home

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⭐ Expert Tips

• Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.

• Highlight prep shortcuts or time-saving techniques for busy cooks.

• Consider dietary restrictions and include substitution suggestions.

✅ Key Takeaways

• These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.

• Choose recipes that match your skill level and available kitchen tools.

• Presentation and taste both contribute to a memorable dining experience.

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