Make-Ahead and Travel-Friendly
When you’re planning to hit the road for the holidays, the last thing you want to deal with is figuring out how to transport a fussy dessert. Nobody wants to hold a pie plate on their lap the entire ride—or worry about a sheet pan or casserole dish sliding around in the trunk. But don’t give up on gifting your host a homemade Thanksgiving dessert just yet. We’ve got plenty of travel-friendly ideas that you can make in advance and take on the go, including Thanksgiving cookies, fall-themed cupcakes and even pumpkin bread. One of our favorites? These decadent chocolate brownies, topped with a sweet and crunchy layer of pecan pie. To ensure the layers stay distinct when these two classic desserts come together, the brownie is baked first then the nut filling is layered over it and baked again. In the oven, the syrup seeps into the brownies, keeping them moist and rich.
