410073 Sun Jun 10 17:35:20 -0700 2007 10 31 Home Cooking 0 2647426 I am baking the desserts for a bridal shower that is 3 hours away on a sunday morning. so I need baked goods that can be done (or mostly done) the night before, and hold up in the car. I've always served in my home, so travel wasn't an issue. I am thinking cupcakes instead of big cakes for easy service, and its trendy now. but I need help- what else should I make that will withstand an overnight sit and a 3 hour cartrip. chowhounds, help! Sun Jun 10 17:35:20 -0700 2007 54662 dcish 1 2647484 I think Cupcakes is a great idea. What I've seen at several bakeries and a few supermarkets is an arrangement of cupcakes which is then frosted like a cake. Picture a couple dozen cupcakes arranged on a tray into a circle, then the tops frosted together as thought was one height challenged cake... Another idea is to make petit fours, or, if you're doing a whole cake, use fondant instead of frosting. The fondant will seal the cake, keeping it from getting stale overnight, and it will travel better than a buttercream frosting. You can make fondant or gumpaste decorations and for travel, place them on toothpicks wedged into a foam block, then stabilize the block in the car...perhaps in a box and then strap the box win with a seatbelt. Sun Jun 10 18:02:17 -0700 2007 2647426 22627 MaspethMaven 1 2652071 brownies are always a good bet. and chocolate dipped coconut macaroons are quick and easy but look fancy and time intensive. Tue Jun 12 08:24:37 -0700 2007 2647426 62689 ag2037 2 2652522 same with chocolate covered strawberries - or make sugar cookies with cute cookie cutters and dip in choc or white choc for a finished look that takes less time than actually decorating. Tue Jun 12 10:18:53 -0700 2007 2652071 29973 KeriT 3 2659319 i would recommend against chocolate covered strawberries, they dont last well especially overnight. Thu Jun 14 08:19:56 -0700 2007 2652522 15175 Produce Addict 1 2659884 If you have a fondue pot, you could also throw together a fondue when you get there very easily. Thu Jun 14 10:32:31 -0700 2007 2647426 73451 bebevonbernstein 2 2660707 Thanks everyone for your advice. I really appreciate it. Thu Jun 14 13:38:15 -0700 2007 2659884 54662 dcish 1 2660776 Hi DCish! Here are some ideas: Our local gourmet grocer is having their only sale (during the month of June) right now. I can assure you that (1) ANYTHING they have is as good as homemade, and I do NOT say that lightly. Here are their bakery sale items: http://www.southernseason.com/ppf/id/6/cat.asp. You can have your dessert(s) shipped and mark that off your list. (and I love to bake, so I promise you that this will not have an icky-store-bought-taste) (2) love cupcakes ideas! do something a little different like red-velvet cupcakes or carrot cake cupcakes with buttercream icing. or another cake and ice it with Tiffany-blue icing... something to just make them standout (3) white chocolate-dipped rice crispie treats (you can put these on a decorative stick and make them even more special) (4) go for a multi-tiered cake, frosted, and held together with dowels and serve each tier to make up for the # of guests you are serving (5) Alton Brown's sugar cookie recipe + royal frosting. - make sure you roll the dough extra thick and after frosting, refrigerate the decorated cookies to make the royal frosting "set". These are delicious and easy! http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_25187,00.html?rsrc=search Decorate them with some gorgeous cookie decorations (6) love the idea above re: maccaroons. reminds me of my Grandmamma! they are alway a hit! Thu Jun 14 13:51:05 -0700 2007 2647426 101616 Tehama 1 2660821 How about a crumb coffee cake? It tastes better the next day and it's easy to transport. There's a terrific recipe for one in The Best Recipe. Thu Jun 14 14:01:42 -0700 2007 2647426 16865 twinmommy 2 2660980 The Outrageous Brownies and Pecan Bars from The Barefood Contessa travel exceptionally well and should be made the night before for ease in cutting. Her Coconut Cupcake recipe is great and could be made the night before. I love the chocolate dipped macaroon idea posted above. Thu Jun 14 14:32:49 -0700 2007 2660821 12658 zataar 1 2664522 I just made Double Chocolate Banana Bread for a dessert at a party, and everyone loved it! It turned out more like rich chocolate cake than bread, and the bananas added a light enough taste you could hardly tell they were in there. Here's the recipe: 1 cup suagar (I used Splenda) 2 eggs 1/3 cup veg oil 1 tsp vanilla 1 1/2 cup flour 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa 1 tsp baking soda 1 1/4 cups mashed bananas (about 3) 1 cup choc. chips Heat to 350 degrees, spray loaf pan with Pam or butter spray. Beat sugar, eggs, and oil until mixed. ( I used a hand mixer) Beat in vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix flour, cocoa, and baking soda, and then beat into sugar mixture just until combined. Then stri in bananas and chocolate chips. Spoon into pan and bake 60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. (If you are a fan of nuts, they would probably taste good in here, I just didn't try it) Fri Jun 15 14:55:24 -0700 2007 2647426 98537 shalisah