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Nothing tops a delicious picnic like a tasty dessert. Check out some great picnic desert recipes.

Nothing puts the finishing touches on a picnic outing better than a delicious dessert. Whether you’re feasting on a mountain peak or snacking on a box lunch at your local park, there’s no need to ignore your sweet tooth. Here are a number of delectable, easy-to-make desserts for your next picnic outing.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Not many things taste better than munching on chocolate chip cookies after a refreshing picnic meal. Here’s a great recipe for whipping up a batch of soft, chocolate chip cookies:

Ingredients

4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups butter, softened
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
2 (3.4 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour and baking soda, set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. Beat in the instant pudding mix until blended. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Blend in the flour mixture. Finally, stir in the chocolate chips and nuts. Drop cookies by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
  3. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Edges should be golden brown

Lemon Squares

Sweet, tart and scrumptious, lemon squares cap off any meal. This lemon square recipe will satisfy everyone in your picnic party.

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 lemon
6 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (160 degrees C). Grease a 9×13 inch pan.
  2. To make crust: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter, 2 cups of the flour, and confectioners’ sugar until fluffy. Scrape mixture into the pan and smooth. Bake 15 minutes.
  3. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs and sugar. Grate the rind of the lemon and add the rind, along with 6 tablespoons of lemon juice, to the egg mixture. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of flour and the baking powder over the mixture. Fold in the nuts and mix until well blended. Pour the lemon mixture into the crust.
  4. Bake for another 35 minutes, until filling is set. Let cool before cutting.

Apple Pie

Nothing is as American as apple pie. Whether it’s Fourth of July or just a regular Sunday, an apple pie is a great way to finish off a picnic.

Ingredients

3/4 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
7 cups thinly sliced apples
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon butter
1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie
4 tablespoons milk (optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
  2. Mix together the sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon peel.
  3. Line one crust in a 9-inch deep-dish pie pan. Layer 1/3 of apples into pie crust. Sprinkle with sugar mixture and repeat until done. Sprinkle with lemon juice and dot with butter.
  4. Place second pie crust on top of filling and flute the edges.
  5. Cut vents in top crust and brush with milk for a glazed appearance if desired.
  6. Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 40 to 50 minutes.