Loaded on game day appetizers and now need something quick and sweet? I have just the right collection of recipes for you to score big!
These game day desserts are great to serve at football nights, bring to tailgating, or even serve for a big Super Bowl party, and most of them don’t even take much time or effort to make.
You will find simple cupcakes, cookies, pies and sheet cakes, and easy desserts that you can even customize with the colors of your favorite team!
Gina’s Recipe Rundown:
Why I love it: I love that each recipe is simple to make yet guaranteed to impress your guests. I’ve included a variety of ideas that can work for tailgating, hosting at home (and making desserts ahead or last-minute), or heading to a Game Day potluck.
Texas Sheet Cake
This Texas Sheet Cake is a rich, moist chocolate cake topped with a warm fudgy glaze and crunchy pecans. It’s quick to make from scratch, crowd-pleasing, and perfect for game days.
Get the recipe: Texas Sheet Cake
Easy Sweet Potato Pie
Another favorite for football season is a homemade sweet potato pie. It is creamy on the inside with a golden, buttery crust and just the right amount of warm spices. Simple to make, it will also be great for your Thanksgiving table.
Get the recipe: Easy Sweet Potato Pie
Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Cheesecake Filling
When first games start around fall, I love making this pumpkin dessert with cream cheese swirls. It is easier to make than it looks, I promise! It is moist, perfectly sweet, and incredibly soft.
Get the recipe: Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Cheesecake Filling
Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookie Bars
Cookie bars are a no-brainer any time of the year, for game day and tailgating. I love making my signature sugar cookie bars with frosting that taste exactly like cinnamon rolls (but without all the effort that goes into making them!). Made completely from scratch, they take barely 20 minutes.
Get the recipe: Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookie Bars
Homemade Caramel Popcorn
No football night goes without popcorn, so to make it “dessert”, I go with the simplest solution – homemade caramel popcorn. Always a crowd-pleaser, easy to make, and I have a secret ingredient that just elevates it immediately 😉
Get the recipe: Homemade Caramel Popcorn
Copycat Hostess Cupcakes
With this super easy recipe, you can bring the famous flavors home! I think cupcakes are often better than a whole cake (and more convenient to eat) for home parties, so I stick with the Hostess cupcakes. Rich, chocolatey, marshmallow filling – can’t say no to that!
Get the recipe: Copycat Hostess Cupcakes
Do-Si-Dos Cookies (Copycat)
These are crisp peanut butter sandwich cookies with a smooth peanut butter filling hidden between—a nostalgic take on the Girl Scout favorite. They’re simple to whip up and great for when you’re craving a sweet, slightly crunchy bite. Perfect for lunchboxes, snack plates, or anytime that peanut butter craving sneaks up on you.
Get the recipe: Do-Si-Dos Cookies
Football Game Day Cookies
Start with a box of chocolate pudding, these vanilla or chocolate cookies are loaded with white chocolate chips, and M&Ms with colors of your team! Chewy, soft, loaded cookies that will be great for game nights in.
Get the recipe: Football Game Day Cookies
Air Fryer Apple Hand Pies
If you have an air fryer and 20 minutes, you can make these golden hand pies that are filled with apple pie filling and air-fried to crispy perfection. They use pre-made dough and come together fast with minimal cleanup. Perfect snack for kids and better than any fast food apple hand pies!
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Apple Hand Pies
Game Day Snickers Cupcakes
Easy sweet cupcakes for football season that don’t need much time or ingredients to make: start with cake mix and you’re good! I use soda cupcakes for the base and add frosting and Snickers candy on top!
Get the recipe: Game Day Snickers Cupcakes
Game Day Brownie Stackers
Brownie mix, marshmallow fluff, chocolate frosting, and crushed pretzels – these over-the-top layered bars are perfect for game days and tailgating. You get sweet, salty, chewy, and crunchy in one bite-sized stack. They hold up well on a party platter and taste even better after halftime.
Get the recipe: Game Day Brownie Stackers
Game Day Crock Pot Brownies
This dump-and-go game day dessert recipe makes moist brownies loaded with chocolate chips, sweetened condensed milk, and shredded coconut. The result is a gooey, fudgy brownie with warm, melty chocolate and a dense texture.
Get the recipe: Game Day Crock Pot Brownies
Peanut Butter Whip Brownies
These fudgy brownies, topped with a light peanut butter whipped topping and M&Ms, are easy to customize with the colors of your team! Every bite is creamy, rich, and packed with flavor. They are easy to make in advance for game nights and even Super Bowl parties.
Get the recipe: PB whip brownies
Banana Split Cake
This no-bake layered dessert is a classic! Think graham cracker crust, cream cheese-whipped topping layer, and fresh banana, pineapple, and strawberry layers. YUM! It finishes with banana pudding and even more whipped topping for a cool, fruity treat. Perfect for hosting a big Super Bowl and game night parties.
Get the recipe: Banana Split Cake
Cinnamon & Sugar Pretzel Bites
Half snack half dessert, these soft buttery bites are baked until golden, and then tossed in cinnamon sugar. Perfect for dipping in cream cheese or caramel sauce. Great finger food for game day grazing—plus, they’re easy to transport to a tailgate.
Get the recipe: Cinnamon & Sugar Pretzel Bites
Nutella Filled Cupcakes
Oh, Nutella! If I could, I would eat the whole jar! But I can do you one better – you can fill these moist cupcakes with a surprise Nutella center, and top them with hazelnut frosting. Their rich, creamy filling adds a decadent touch to your dessert table any time of the year.
Get the recipe: Nutella Filled Cupcakes
Rocky Road Krispies Treats
These no-bake bars combine crispy rice cereal, marshmallows, M&Ms, and walnuts in one crunchy, gooey square. They’re fast, kid-friendly, and easy to cut and stack. Bring a tray to a tailgate or prep them last-minute for game day nights.
Get the recipe: Rocky Road Krispies Treats
Buckeyes
Made with peanut butter, powdered sugar, and chocolate chips, these no-bake buckeyes have a creamy center and rich chocolate shell. They come together fast and will be great for tailgating and game day.
Get the recipe: Buckeyes
Carrot Cake Cookies
These soft cookies are made with spice cake mix and packed with shredded carrots and walnuts, and will get you the favorite carrot cake flavor without baking the whole cake! Perfect for any occasion, honestly, they are always a hit at football nights at our house.
Get the recipe: Carrot Cake Cookies
Monster Cookie Dough
This edible cookie dough is made with oats, peanut butter, M&M’s, and chocolate chips—no baking required. It’s thick, sweet, and totally safe to eat by the spoonful. It works great for both Halloween and Game Day!
Get the recipe: Monster Cookie Dough
Cosmic Brownie Lush
A nostalgic dessert that layers boxed brownie, chocolate pudding, whipped topping, and colorful candy sprinkles. It’s creamy, chocolatey, and stupid-simple to make!
Get the recipe: Cosmic Brownie Lush
M&M Chocolate Fudge Bars
Decadent chocolate bars made with sweetened condensed milk and chocolate chips, and finished with crunchy M&M’s. They’re rich, colorful, and sturdy enough to pack for tailgating. Plus, you only need 40 minutes to make these.
Get the recipe: M&M Chocolate Fudge Bars
Apple Cider Donut Holes
Soft and cakey with cinnamon sugar coating, these donut holes are baked—not fried—and flavored with apple cider, vanilla, and spices. You can mix the batter by hand and have it ready in under 20 minutes. A quick and cozy fall snack that goes great with coffee or cocoa.
Get the recipe: Apple Cider Donut Holes
Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies
Sweet and salty flavors pair amazingly in these chewy cookies packed with chocolate chips and crunchy pretzel bits. They come together fast and require just a 30-minute chill time. Yummy fall cookies recipe for movie nights or after-school treats.
Get the recipe: Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies
Caramel Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting
These moist cupcakes infused with caramel flavor are topped with smooth caramel frosting and caramel popcorn for an extra touch. Their sweet, buttery flavor makes them so good for brunch and dessert boxes!
Get the recipe: Caramel Cupcakes with Caramel Frosting
Whether you’re cheering from the couch or hosting the ultimate watch party, these 25 game day desserts are guaranteed to score big with every bite!
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