A Thanksgiving Dish That Can Travel Across the Country? Good Questions

Q: I'm driving from DC to Chicago to visit my husband's family for Thanksgiving. I want to bring something delicious for the holiday but driving across the country makes it tough.

What can I make ahead and bring with me?

Sent by Heather

Editor: Heather, one thought is to make cinnamon rolls! There will probably be plenty of food for dinner; be the brunch hero. You can make the rolls ahead and freeze them, then pack them in a cooler. (Just make the rolls, bake — although I suggest underbaking a bit — and then warm in a 300°F oven.)

• Try these: Recipe: No-Knead Pumpkin Rolls with Brown Sugar Glaze

Readers, what else would you suggest?

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(Image: Emma Christensen)

Comments (8)

Gourmet's cranberry pistachio biscotti -it's amazing and just needs to be stored in an airtight container.

Heartily recommend those pumpkin rolls. They are A MA ZING.

Cranberry relish, the fresh kind, would be easy to make and pack in jars for transport. Also fresh bread, both quick and yeast breads, are perfect to bring along. If you want to contribute to breakfast but not as sweet as cinnamon rolls, may I recommend homemade bagels? Maybe with the pumpkin cream cheese spread featured earlier?

I agree with a baked good. Also, consider making butter (as long as you have a cooler to store it in). I had some left over heavy cream in my fridge before a Christmas party last year, so I threw it into the food processor and made some salted butter to take with me. You would have thought I brought along pure gold with the way people went wild over it.

One year for Easter I gave jars of homemade jam to each family in attendance at our family gathering. They loved it!

This Caramel Spice Pear Butter would be just the thing for Thanksgiving:
http://www.food.com/recipe/caramel-spice-pear-butter-256372

I'm bringing homemade marshmallos and gourmet hot chocolate.

I'm bringing a powdered dip mix and a box of crackers along just in case for our 11 hour drive to the grandparents' for Thanksgiving. I figure I can make it tomorrow night, stick it in the fridge, and it'll be ready for pre-dinner snacking tomorrow Thursday afternoon.

I second cookies or anything baked, however. Can't go wrong with homemade, yeasted goods.

Most unrefrigerated desserts would travel just fine. Plus even average desserts tend to get love! :)