25 Football Dessert Ideas That Will Score A Touchdown On Game Day

Football Brownies

Whether your crowd is celebrating a victory or consoling each other over a loss, these football desserts will put the finishing touch on a winning tailgate menu. Fit for the hustle and bustle of game day, we've found that there is an art to a successful tailgate event. Whether you are watching the game in the comfort of your home, or tailgating with a crowd on campus, good food is an integral part of the game-day experience, and we've got all the tailgate food ideas you need for desserts right here. Not just any menu will do for a football party: Easy to bake, store, and transport, our top-rated game-day desserts are also fuss-free, so it's ok to load up a napkin with a slice of cake and a couple of cookies and head back to the sidelines. A pick from this lineup of fan-favorite football desserts will guarantee that your party gets out of the red zone and finishes with a win.

01 of 25

Deep-Dish Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

Deep-Dish Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie
Alison Miksch

Recipe: Deep-Dish Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

How do you improve on a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie? Make it a deep-dish treat and bake in a cast-iron skillet. It'll be perfectly soft and gooey on the inside with a crisp bite around the edges.

02 of 25

Chocolate-Mayonnaise Cake

Chocolate-Mayonnaise Cake

Recipe: Chocolate-Mayonnaise Cake

The humble pantry staple, mayonnaise, is the secret ingredient in this ultra-moist chocolate cake. You can't go wrong bringing this guaranteed crowd-pleaser as your plus one.

03 of 25

Luscious Lemon Bars

Lemon Bar Recipe
Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Luscious Lemon Bars

This classic treat is always a favorite at brunches, picnics, potlucks, and tailgate events. Make a big batch in advance to keep in the freezer and last you for tailgates all month.

04 of 25

Texas Sheet Cake with Fudge Icing

Texas Sheet Cake with Fudge Icing
Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Texas Sheet Cake with Fudge Icing

The warm fudge icing is poured on the just-out-of-the-oven cake. Just add a glass of cold milk. This dessert will be iconic in Texas or any tailgate you take it to.

05 of 25

Sweet Potato Pound Cake

Sweet Potato Pound Cake
Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Sweet Potato Pound Cake

The addition of nutrient-rich sweet potatoes create a delicious twist on the traditional pound cake. Super seasonal and easy to grab a slice and go, this potato pound cake will be a game day hit.

06 of 25

Cranberry-Apple-Pumpkin Bundt

Cranberry-Apple-Pumpkin Bundt
Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Cranberry-Apple-Pumpkin Bundt

Beautiful on the dessert sideboard or a picnic table, this recipe includes everything good about the fall: cranberries, apples, and pumpkins. A crunchy pecan top and maple glaze drizzle seal the ideal fall cake to enjoy over football.

07 of 25

Coca-Cola Cake

Coca-Cola Cake
Southern Living

Recipe: Coca-Cola Cake

The carbonated soft drink is the secret to this recipe; it helps create an extra tender texture to the cake and adds extra sweetness to the chocolate frosting. The result is a cake so moist and flavorful that it might just get louder cheers than the game itself.

08 of 25

Spiced Pear Hand Pies

Spiced Pear Hand Pies
Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Spiced Pear Hand Pies

Save your trusty apple pie recipe for another occasion and give this hand-held pear version a go. These pastry pockets of fall flavor are easily portable to be enjoyed while wrapped up in the game.

09 of 25

Chocolate Peanut Butter-Fudge Bars

Peanut Butter-Fudge Bars
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter-Fudge Bars

When you bring these fudgy, nutty dessert bars to the game day celebration, two cheers will be in order: one for the team (of course) and one dedicated just to these treats. Three layers guarantee dynamically sweet flavor in every bite.

10 of 25

Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

Red-Velvet Cake Mix Cookies
Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

These hand-held treats are especially perfect for groups celebrating a team with red jerseys. No matter what your team's spirit colors are, these cakey cookies with pops of white chocolate will be a game day favorite.

11 of 25

Football Cake

football cake
Photgrapher: Frederick Hardy II, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Kay Clarke

Recipe: Football Cake

It's hard to get easier or more festive for game day than this. Football Cake will impress everyone at the tailgate from its pigskin frosting design to its rich, straightforward center.

12 of 25

Bourbon Balls

Bourbon Balls
Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Recipe: Bourbon Balls

Everything's better with bourbon and this recipe goes a long way to prove that rule. To make a sweet deal even sweeter, Bourbon Balls are also no-bake and easily portable for nibbling while watching the game.

13 of 25

No-Bake Fudgy Toffee Bars

No-Bake Fudgy Toffee Bars
Iain Bagwell

Recipe: No-Bake Fudgy Toffee Bars

These no-bake treats are an easy way to impress for novice and masterful bakers alike heading to a tailgate. These gooey bars are great to eat while otherwise engaged with the game, especially when served chilled for less mess.

14 of 25

Homemade Moon Pies

Homemade Moon Pies
Shelbie Tunnell

Recipe: Homemade Moon Pies

These swoon-worthy moon pies will take you back to your childhood. Leave your guests nostalgic and practically begging for your secret to an even-better moon pie than the boxed kind.

15 of 25

Pecan Praline Dip

Pecan Praline Dip

Recipe: Pecan Praline Dip

Kick off the tailgate with a savory dip and top it off with this sweet one. You might want to make more than one batch to cater to double-dippers eager for a second helping scooped with vanilla wafers.

16 of 25

Cookie Dough Egg Rolls

Cookie Dough Egg Rolls
Southern Living

Recipe: Cookie Dough Egg Rolls

This fusion recipe is what sugary sweet dreams are made of. A crunchy egg rolls wrap is the ideal hand-held vessel for rich chocolate chip cookie dough, especially when served with a powdered sugar dusting and some chocolate dipping sauce.

17 of 25

Potato Chip Cookies

Potato Chip Cookies

Recipe: Potato Chip Cookies

You're probably already stocking up on potato chips to snack on during the game, so make sure to buy an extra bag of crinkle-cuts for dessert. Salty-sweet cookies will fly off the plate, satisfyingly chewy and with more depth than an average chocolate chip cookie.

18 of 25

Cookie Ball Helmets

Make dessert balls that are geared up for game day. Oreos and cream cheese are coated with melted chocolate and a pretzel "face mask" to look like a helmet but taste like heaven. Use food coloring to dye white chocolate in your team's colors for an extra-festive touch.

19 of 25

Mini Bourbon-and-Cola Bundt Cakes

Mini Bourbon-and-Cola Bundt Cakes
Iain Bagwell; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Recipe: Mini Bourbon-and-Cola Bundt Cakes

It's hard to beat these miniature desserts: They're individually served for easy entertaining, chocolatey, and combine the best two beverages for baking—coke and bourbon. On their own, these drinks will elevate any dessert, but together? Now that's a game-changer.

20 of 25

Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting

Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner

Recipe: Cheerwine Cherry Cupcakes with Cherry-Swirl Frosting

Seal game day with some bubbly; No need to pop champagne—dessert has got you covered. Cupcakes flavored with Carolina-hailing cherry soda will be a smash hit from the pale pink cherry and almond cake to the swirled frosting and cherry on top.

21 of 25

Praline Mini Cakes

Praline Mini Cakes
Southern Living

Recipe: Praline Mini Cakes

There's no sharing required with these miniature, individually portioned cakes. Good thing too—competition for pecan and toffee Bundts with Brown Sugar Icing can get as as fierce as the one on the field.

22 of 25

Magic Cookie Bars

Magic Cookie Bars
Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Magic Cookie Bars

Set down a tray of these at the tailgate and watch the magic happen. Caramelized just right, these classic hand-held treats with graham cracker crumbles, coconut flakes, pecans, ad caramel are a show-stopper.

23 of 25

Pecan Pie Brownies

Pecan Pie Brownies
Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Pecan Pie Brownies

Every Southerner can appreciate a classic pecan pie, but all that slicing and plating can be a hassle at a rowdy tailgate. Instead, try these Pecan Pie Brownies. Pecan pie lovers and chocolate aficionados alike will be thanking you.

24 of 25

Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls

Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls Recipe
Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley

Recipe: Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls

We made chocolate truffles supremely Southern with this perfect party recipe. Serve Fudgy Pecan Bourbon Balls in mini baking cups for easy transport from the buffet to the sidelines.

25 of 25

Football Brownies

football brownies
Frederick Hardy II

Recipe: Football Brownies

Make a big batch of these festive handhelds because they'll be tackled up in no time. Fudgy dark chocolate brownies with a football motif couldn't be more delicious or perfect for the occasion.

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