Try the buckeyes, cowboy cookies, and s'mores bars!
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It's football season! And this just so happens to be Ree Drummond's favorite time of the year. After all, she has three boys playing football and a family who loves to cheer them on! And to make game day even more exciting, The Pioneer Woman has a whole slew of fun tailgating menus. Of course, no game day would be complete without dessert. That's why we've rounded up the best tailgate dessert recipes that are worthy of a touchdown.
Just like with other game day foods', tailgate desserts need to be easy to pack up and even easier to share with a crowd. So, weve included tons of cookie recipes, brownies, bars, and other hand-held treats that your friends and family will love. Think: Dr Pepper cupcakes, cowboy cookies, and Nutella Krispie treats. Some of these recipes take the fuss out of cooking with no-bake desserts. And others embrace the crave-worthy flavors of sweet and salty treats. But no matter which recipe you choose, these game day desserts will give you the boost you need to cheer on your favorite team. From football-shaped cookies to crowd-pleasing chocolate sheet cake, this list will bring the sweetness to your tailgate spread.
1
Football Cookies
A simple chocolate cookie dough becomes a game-winning dessert when shaped into mini footballs. Each cookie is also loaded with crunchy pecans and topped with white icing for the perfect finishing touch.
Get the Football Cookies recipe.
2
Buckeyes
You don't have to be an Ohio State football fan to make these tasty treats. The buckeyes (which is the same name as the Ohio State team) are simple chocolate-covered peanut butter candies that everyone will love.
Get the Buckeyes recipe.
3
Cowboy Cookies
Another treat that shares a name with a popular football team, these cowboy cookies are chock-full of tasty mix-ins. There's chocolate chips, of course, along with pecans, coconut flakes, and old-fashioned oats.
Get the Cowboy Cookies recipe.
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4
Pumpkin Dip
You can easily stash this fluffy pumpkin cream cheese dip in a food storage container and bring zip-top bags filled with apple slices, pretzels, and graham crackers for your tailgate dessert.
Get the Pumpkin Dip recipe.
5
Nutella Krispie Treats
Cereal treats are a childhood classic no matter how you make 'em, but Ree's version with Nutella, chocolate chips, and toasted pecans is an all-time favorite. If packing them up, be sure to stack them in an airtight container with wax paper between each layer.
Get Ree's Nutella Krispie Treats recipe.
6
Rainbow Fruit Skewers
After all the nachos and chicken wings, these fruit skewers will be a refreshing treat. The hand-held sticks are a great way to serve fruit at a tailgate.
Get the Rainbow Fruit Skewers recipe.
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7
Brookies
Team cookie meets team brownie in this popular rival mash-up. They're both fudgy and chewy, so basically they're an all-around crowd-pleaser.
Get the Brookies recipe.
8
Apple Fritters
Loaded with Granny Smith apples and toped with powdered sugar, these crispy fried fritters are hard to resist. If you want to make them even sweeter, try dunking them in a doughnut glaze.
Get Ree's Apple Fritters recipe.
9
Homemade Cookie Cake
A giant cookie cake is always a winning dessert! Swap the rainbow sprinkles for sprinkles or candies in your team's colors.
Get the Homemade Cookie Cake recipe.
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10
S'mores Bars
Even without a portable grill, you can enjoy the flavors of s'mores for your tailgating party. Just turn them into bars with this easy recipe.
Get the S'mores Bars recipe.
11
Dr Pepper Cupcakes
Reserve a couple of cans of Dr Pepper from your cooler to make these homemade cupcakes infused with the popular soda. They'll help keep them light, moist, and flavorful.
Get Ree's Dr Pepper Cupcakes recipe.
12
Blondies
These bars have a nutty, butterscotch flavor that simply can't compare to anything else. For extra sweetness, just add white chocolate chips to the mix!
Get the Blondies recipe.
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13
Peanut Butter Cookies
Making this classic peanut butter cookies stand out is easy. Just use a potato masher to give the cookies a pretty pattern.
Get the Peanut Butter Cookies recipe.
14
Homemade Choco Tacos
Just like the kind you might remember from your ice cream truck days, these waffle cone "tacos" are filled with ice cream, covered in chocolate, and sprinkled with peanuts!
Get the Homemade Choco Tacos recipe.
15
Chocolate Sheet Cake
This cake is one of those recipes that the Drummonds put on repeat for every occasion. It's rich, chocolate-y, and feeds a crowd!
Get Ree's Chocolate Sheet Cake recipe.
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16
Peanut Butter Brownies
These brownies are layered with a smooth creamy peanut butter filling that makes them all the more rich and decadent. You'll feel like the MVP of the game with this treat in hand!
Get the Peanut Butter Brownies recipe.
17
Oreo Cheesecake Bites
Each one of these cookies and cream cheesecake bites has a whole Oreo cookie as the crust. The best part? They don't even require you to turn on the oven!
Get the Oreo Cheesecake Bites recipe.
18
Pretzel Turtles
These sweet and salty bites are so good that we can practically eat them by the handful! They come together in 15 minutes and you can even give them out to your friends as a takeaway after the game.
Get Ree's Pretzel Turtles recipe.
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19
Cheesecake Brownies
Take your brownie game to the next level by adding a topping of creamy cheesecake. The swirl is an easy added touch by using a toothpick or paring knife to create a pretty design.
Get the Cheesecake Brownies recipe.
20
Concession Stand Crackers
Skip the lines at the concession stand and make these sweet and salty treats instead! You can top them with your favorite chopped up candies.
Get the Concession Stand Crackers recipe.
