Food and Recipes Desserts 25 Football Dessert Ideas That Will Score A Touchdown On Game Day By Hallie Milstein Hallie Milstein Hallie Milstein is an Editorial Fellow for Southern Living covering food and culture. She has been published in Modern Luxury magazines, Our State Magazine, and Hudson Valley Magazine. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on September 22, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit