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Football Cake Pops
My son loves football! For his eighth birthday, I made cake pops with a rich chocolate cake center and a yummy peanut butter coating. These are sure to be winners at parties, bake sales and sports-watching events. —Jenny Dubinsky, Inwood, WV 2 / 40
Behr Track Cookie Bars
The holidays are the perfect time to indulge in these ooey-gooey, salty-sweet peanut butter bars. A lot of people comment that the pretzels in the filling are a pleasant surprise. Just make sure to cut cookie bars small—they're super rich. —Megan Behr, Marion, Iowa 3 / 40
Bacon Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Blondies
If you're a sweet and savory fan like me, you'll go wild over this bacon cookie bar recipe. You just can't beat a cookie, brownie and cheesecake all mixed up and sprinkled with bacon. —Katie O'Keeffe, Derry, New Hampshire 4 / 40
Tailgate Apple Pies
Made as single servings, these handheld pies are ideal for football games or other parties. They always disappear quickly. You can also use large cookie cutters to create holiday shapes in the tender pastry. For Valentine's Day, I cut a small heart into the top crust. —Jennifer Stoltz, Spring Green, Wisconsin 5 / 40
Chocolate Salted Caramel Bars
I love to experiment with different recipes and combine classic and new flavors. I've been making this shortbread for over 20 years and finally have found the perfect pairing! I love salted caramel, and of course I love dark chocolate, so I layered these two flavors with my favorite shortbread crust. It's melt-in-your-mouth good, and it is quickly becoming a favorite with my family, friends and customers! For even more gooey goodness, drizzle bottled caramel sauce over top. —Lisa Glenn, Sarasota 6 / 40
Potato Chip Clusters
Just three offbeat ingredients add up to one unique, delectable, no-bake treat. These super-easy, sweet-and-salty candy clusters make for merry munching during holiday trips or parties. They travel well in containers without melting or getting soft. —Donna Brockett, Kingfisher, Oklahoma 7 / 40
Not Your Mama's Seven-Layer Bars
The addition of dulce de leche makes this a decadent new take on traditional seven-layer bars. You can cut this recipe in half and make it in an 8x8-in. pan. —Andrea Barlow, Hot Springs, Arkansas 8 / 40
Beer and Pretzel Caramels
Beer and pretzels are a natural combination—mix them with smooth caramel and you have an awesome candy. The guys will go wild over these crunchy, chunky chews. —Jenni Sharp, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 9 / 40
Peanut Butter Popcorn Balls
Friends and family are always happy to receive these tasty peanut butter popcorn balls. I love making them as well as eating them! —Betty Claycomb, Alverton, Pennsylvania 10 / 40
Frosted Turtle Brownies
Homemade brownies are a sweet addition to the appetizer table on game day. Your guests might forget the score, but I guarantee they'll remember these treats! —Sherry Miller, Columbia Heights, Minnesota 11 / 40
Touchdown Cookies
With some simple sweet touches, you can transform regular sugar cookies into a special treat for football fans at your pigskin party. —Sister Judith LaBrozzi, Canton, Ohio 12 / 40
Cream Cheese Cookie Cups
Need a quick dessert? Try these yummy cookie bites. For a pretty look, use an icing bag to pipe the filling into the cups, then top each with mini M&M's. —Rachel Blackston, Mauk, Georgia 13 / 40
Spiced Toffee Cookies
I bake these cookies for family gatherings because my crowd likes cookies thin and chewy with a crispy exterior. The toffee bits make a happy surprise.—Gloria Bradley, Naperville, Illinois 14 / 40
Black Bottom Cupcakes
This recipe's been in our family for years, but these cupcakes still go quick each time I make them. So I always double or triple the ingredients! You'll likely see what I mean if you make them at your place—I can't remember anyone who's tried them for the first time not asking for seconds. —Julie Briceland, Windsor, Pennsylvania 15 / 40
Giant Molasses Cookies
My family always requests these soft molasses cookies. These chewy molasses cookies are also great for shipping as holiday gifts or to troops overseas. —Kristine Chayes, Smithtown, New York 16 / 40
Chunky Blond Brownies
Every bite of these chewy blondies is packed with chunks of white and semisweet chocolate and macadamia nuts. It's a potluck offering that stands out. —Rosemary Dreiske, Lemmon, South Dakota 17 / 40
Contest-Winning Chocolate Truffle Cookies
Here's a snack for serious chocolate lovers. These enticing cookies are crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, somewhat bittersweet and very chocolaty. I usually make them to share at get-togethers. Otherwise, I'd eat them all myself! I'm always asked for the recipe. —Delaine Fortenberry, McComb, Mississippi 18 / 40
Applesauce Spice Cupcakes
I began making these moist cupcakes in grade school and still bake them today. —Edna Hoffman, Hebron, Indiana 19 / 40
Brownie Bourbon Bites
Chocolate and chopped pecans flavor these simple, spirited treats. Make a double batch so you can give some as gifts and savor the rest!—Paula Kirchenbauer, Newton, New Jersey 20 / 40
Caramel Pretzel Bites
I created this recipe wanting to make my own version of a pretzel log dipped in caramel, chocolate and nuts from a popular candy store. These are smothered with homemade caramel. —Michilene Klaver, Grand Rapids, Michigan 21 / 40
Chocolate Chip Blondies
Folks who love the flavor of the classic cookie will enjoy that same great flavor in these chocolate chip bars. This blondie recipe can be mixed up in a jiffy, tastes wonderful, and is perfect for occasions when company drops by unexpectedly or you need a treat in a hurry. —Rhonda Knight, Hecker, Illinois 22 / 40
White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies
White baking chips and macadamia nuts are a fantastic duo in these buttery cookies. They are a nice change from the classic chocolate chip ones. —Cathy Lennon, Newport, Tennessee 23 / 40
Brown Sugar Cutout Cookies
Our neighbor made these for me when I was little, and now I make them for my kids, grandkids and for the children at school. Serve them with milk for the kids and tea for the grown-ups. —Nancy Lynch, Somerset, Pennsylvania 24 / 40
Peanut Butter & Jelly Cupcakes
My husband's love for classic peanut butter and jelly inspired this recipe. The strawberry buttercream and peanut butter frosting are a delicious combination. —Kelly McCrea, North Kingsville, Ohio 25 / 40
Rocky Road Cookie Cups
Traditional rocky road ice cream has nuts, marshmallows and chocolate. Using prepared cookie dough makes it easy to put the flavors together in these fast, kid-friendly cups. —Charlotte McDaniel, Jacksonville, AL 26 / 40
Cinnamon Brownies
For Christmas one year, a friend gave us a pan of these delicious brownies. Before I figured out their secret was cinnamon, half the pan was already gone! —Gail Mehle, Rock Springs, Wyoming 27 / 40
Gooey Chocolate Caramel Bars
These rich, gooey bars are my most requested treats. They're popular at school functions, family barbecues and picnics. We like them alone or topped with a scoop of ice cream. —Betty Hagerty, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 28 / 40
S'more Sandwich Cookies
Capture the taste of campfire s'mores in your kitchen. Graham cracker crumbs added to chocolate chip cookie dough bring out the flavor of the fireside favorite. Melting the cookies' marshmallow centers in the microwave makes them simple to assemble. —Abby Metzger, Larchwood, Iowa 29 / 40
Fudgy Oat Brownies
These cakelike brownies have a rich, crunchy oat crust and a smooth homemade chocolate frosting. A packaged brownie mix makes the recipe easy to prepare. You can make it even easier by using canned frosting. —Diana Otterson, Canandaigua, New York 30 / 40
Caramel Snickerdoodle Bars
What did I do when I couldn’t decide between two of my favorite desserts? I combined them! This snickerdoodle-blondie hybrid proved even better with caramel, always a favorite ingredient. —Niki Plourde, Gardner, Massachusetts 31 / 40
Marshmallow Pops
Making these pops is a fun activity for a children's party because any age can participate. Customize them for holidays or special occasions by rolling them in coordinating colored sprinkles. —Marcia Porch, Winter Park, Florida 32 / 40
Popcorn Cookies
It's so much fun to surprise people with the crushed popcorn in these yummy cookies. They're definitely a distinctive cookie on the holiday tray.—Leigh Anne Preston, Palmyra, Indiana 33 / 40
Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Bars
Lower in fat and calories than you might ever guess, these sweet bars couldn't be easier to whip up, boast a great chocolaty flavor, and make a fun, quick dessert to bring to parties or serve to company! —Jennifer Rafferty, Milford, Ohio 34 / 40
Peanut Butter Truffle Cupcakes
Everybody loves cupcakes, and these have a wonderfully tasty hidden treasure inside. They're rich and delicious! —Marlene Schollenberger, Bloomington, Indiana 35 / 40
Layered Chocolate Marshmallow Peanut Butter Brownies
A friend gave me the recipe for these layered brownies, but I added my own touch--chunky peanut butter. Every time I take them to a group gathering, I get requests for the recipe. It's a real crowd-pleaser! —Judy Sims, Weatherford, Texas 36 / 40
Frosted Fudge Brownies
A neighbor brought over a pan of these rich fudge brownies along with the recipe when I came home from the hospital with our baby daughter. I asked her how to make brownie frosting like that, and I've made them ever since for family occasions, potlucks and parties at work. —Sue Soderlund, Elgin, Illinois
Waffle-Iron Cookies
The recipe for these cookies is the easiest to find in my book because it's a beautiful mess. It's covered with fingerprints, flour smudges and memories of more than 30 Christmases! I made these with my daughters, and now I make them with my granddaughters. —Judy Taylor, Quarryville, Pennsylvania 37 / 40
Red Star Cookies
These super stars are plenty sweet and sturdy, making them great for shipping. Slip decorated cookies in stacks of three inside plastic storage bags then rest stacks in disposable plastic containers. Put containers in a cardboard box, then add crumpled newspaper so everything is tightly packed. Seal it with a kiss—or a card. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen 38 / 40
Crispy Pretzel Bars
I often make a big batch of these peanut butter-flavored cereal bars on days that I don't want to heat up the kitchen. Kids especially love them, so they're great for picnics, potlucks and school bake sales. —Jane Thompson, Eureka, Illinois 39 / 40
Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter & Pretzel Truffles
Sweet chocolate, creamy peanut butter and salty pretzels create a to-die-for truffle. It’s a little bite of decadence and a special indulgence for the holiday season.—Ashley Wisniewski, Champaign, Illinois 40 / 40
Big & Buttery Chocolate Chip Cookies
My take on the classic cookie is inspired by a bakery in California called Hungry Bear. It's big, thick and chewy—truly the best chocolate chip cookie recipe. —Irene Yeh, Mequon, Wisconsin Originally Published: December 02, 2019