College Football Cupcakes

By Southern Living
Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Start with a batch of Vanilla Cupcake with Cream Cheese Frosting then choose from this list of team-themed toppings for every SEC school.

Related: Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Footballs

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Alabama: The Alabama Lane Cake

Photo: Jim Bathie

Inspiration: The iconic southern cake

Stir 3/4 cup chopped toasted pecans, 3/4 cup sweerened flaked coconut, 1/2 cup chopped golden raisins, and 1 tsp. orange zest into frosting. Garnish with maraschino cherries with stems.

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Arkansas: The Truly Amazing Maple-Bacon

Photo: Jim Bathie

Inspiration: The pork perfection of the mascot himself

Stir 1/2 tsp. maple extract into frosting. Garnish with cooked bacon pieces.

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Auburn: The Lemonade Stand

Photo: Jim Bathie

Inspiration: Toomer's Corner

Stir 2 tsp. lemon zest, 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice, and desired amount of yellow food coloring paste into frosting. Garnish with mini straws, lemon slices, and fresh mint sprigs.

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Florida: The Hummingbird

Photo: Jim Bathie

Inspiration: Tropical fruits

Stir 1 cup chopped toasted pecans and 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon into frosting. Garnish with fresh pineapple wedges, banana chips, and pecan halves.

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Georgia: The Peanut Gallery

Photo: Jim Bathie

Inspiration: The state's bumper crop

Stir 1/4 cup crunchy peanut butter into frosting. Garnish with peanut brittle.

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Kentucky: The Mint Chocolate Chip

Photo: Jim Bathie

Inspiration: Mint juleps

Stir 1 tsp. peppermint extract and 1 (4-oz.) finely chopped bittersweet chocolate baking bar into frosting. Garnish with shaved thin creme de menthe chocolate mints and fresh mint sprigs.

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LSU: The Mean Mocha Latte

Photo: Jim Bathie

Inspiration: The state's famed French Quarter

Beat 1 Tbsp. instant espresso powder into frosting with butter. Garnish with chocolate-covered coffee beans and cocoa.

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MS State: The Lightning Fast Turtle

Photo: Jim Bathie

Inspiration: The state's pecan orchards

Garnish with toasted pecans and chocolate-covered caramel candies. Note: We tested with Rolo candies.

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Missouri: The Black and White

Photo: Jim Bathie

Inspiration: Tiger stripes

Stir 1/2 cup melted dark chocolate morsels into half of the frosting. Pipe cream cheese and chocolate frosting alternately onto each cupcake.

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Ole Miss: The Italian Cream Dream

Photo: Jim Bathie

Inspiration: Italian cream cake is as lush and indulgent as a tailgate on The Grove

Stir 1 cup chopped toasted pecans and 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut into frosting. Garnish with sweetened flaked coconut and pecan halves.

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South Carolina: The Mile-High Coconut

Photo: Jim Bathie

Inspiration: Lowcountry coconut layer cakes

Stir 1 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut into frosting. Garnish generously with toasted coconut.

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Tennessee: The Rocky (Road) Top

Photo: Jim Bathie

Inspiration: The Great Smoky Mountains along the eastern Tennessee border

Stir 1 cup melted dark chocolate morsels into frosting. Garnish with miniature marshmallows, semisweet morsels, and toasted pecans.

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Texas A&M: The Ambrosia

Photo: Jim Bathie

Inspiration: Ruby red grapefruit

Stir 3 tsp. red grapefruit zest, 1 Tbsp. red grapefruit juice, and 1 1/2 cups sweetened flaked coconut into frosting. Garnish with orange and red grapefruit sections, sweetened flaked coconut, grapefruit rind curls, and fresh mint sprigs.

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Vanderbilt: The Tennessee Jam Session

Photo: Jim Bathie

Inspiration: Tennessee jam cake and the Music City

Melt 15 caramels with 1 Tbsp. milk; stir into frosting. Spread blackberry jam onto cupcakes, pipe with frosting. Garnish with fresh blackberries and fresh mint sprigs.

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The Official SEC Tailgating Cookbook

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Score extra points with more team-themed recipes and tips to create the perfect tailgate, all in our new book, The Official SEC Tailgating Cookbook. On sale now everywhere books are sold!

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