Show up with the best dessert in the parking lot.
49 Awesome Desserts to Bring to Your Tailgate
1/49
Snickerdoodle Blondies
Total Time
50 min
Servings
20 bars
From the Recipe Creator:
When asked to bring a dessert for my boys' football team to share, I whipped up these unique blondies and was instantly named "the greatest mom" by all. —Valonda Seward, Coarsegold, California
Make sure to bring these game-day foods and tailgate appetizers to the big game, too!
2/49
Chocolate Pretzel Rings
Total Time
30 min
Servings
about 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
If you like chocolate-covered pretzels, you'll love these simple snacks. They're fun to make any time of year because you can color-coordinate the M&M's to each holiday. —Kim Scurio, Carol Stream, Illinois
3/49
Touchdown Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
4-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
With some simple touches, you can transform regular sugar cookies into a special sweet treat for the football fans at your party. —Sister Judith LaBrozzi, Canton, Ohio
4/49
Crock-Pot Lava Cake
Total Time
3 hours 15 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Everyone who tries this dessert falls in love with it. Using a slow cooker liner makes cleanup a breeze. —Latona Dwyer, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
5/49
Lemon Bars
Total Time
55 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This delightful lemon bar recipe is from my mother's file. I've been serving it for many years. They has a wonderful tangy flavor, and they're always a hit. The color and shape make them a nice addition to a platter of cookies. —Etta Soucy, Mesa, Arizona
6/49
Peanut Butter Cookie Cups
Total Time
40 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I’m a busy schoolteacher and pastor’s wife and I wouldn’t dare show my face at a church dinner or bake sale without some of these tempting peanut butter treats. They’re quick and easy
to make and always a hit. —Kristi Tackett, Banner, Kentucky
7/49
Cherry Pie Bars
Total Time
55 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Whip up a pan of these festive bars in just 20 minutes with staple ingredients and cherry pie filling. Between the easy preparation and the pretty colors, they're destined to become a holiday classic. —Jane Kamp, Grand Rapids, Michigan
8/49
Super Chunky Cookies
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Chocolate lovers will go crazy over these cookies that feature loads of chocolate! When friends ask me to make "those cookies," I know exactly what recipe they mean. —Rebecca Jendry, Spring Branch, Texas
9/49
White Texas Sheet Cake
Total Time
40 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This cake gets better the longer it sits, so I try to make it a day ahead. My mother-in-law introduced this deliciously rich sheet cake to me. With its creamy frosting and light almond flavor, no one can stop at just one piece! —Joanie Ward, Brownsburg, Indiana
10/49
S’mores Bars
Total Time
15 min
Servings
1-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
One night my husband had some friends over to play poker and he requested these s'mores bars. They polished off the pan and asked for more! I shared the recipe, and now their families make them, too. —Rebecca Shipp, Beebe, Arkansas
11/49
Coca-Cola Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We live in Coca-Cola country, where everyone loves a chocolaty, moist sheet cake made with the iconic soft drink. Our rich version does the tradition proud. —Heidi Jobe, Carrollton, Georgia
12/49
Blueberry Bread
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
1 loaf (12 pieces)
From the Recipe Creator:
This blueberry bread recipe is a simple quick bread that I look forward to making when fresh blueberries are in season. It's so good that I end up making it year-round. —Karen Scales, Waukesha, Wisconsin
13/49
Peanut Butter Pudding Dessert
Total Time
50 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Here's a fun layered dessert that will appeal to all ages. If you want it even nuttier, you can use chunky peanut butter, and if you're not a fan of cashews, substitute your favorite nut. This peanut butter lasagna is one of my favorite pudding desserts. —Barbara Schindler, Napoleon, Ohio
14/49
Classic Chocolate Cake
Total Time
50 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe was on a can of Hershey's cocoa way back in 1943. I tried it, my boys liked it, and I've been making it ever since. I make all my cakes from scratch, and this is one of the best! —Betty Follas, Morgan Hill, California
15/49
Caramel Brownies
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I love to cook. My family can't possibly eat all the sweets I whip up, so my co-workers are more than happy to sample them—particularly these rich, chewy caramel brownies that are full of gooey caramel, chocolate chips and crunchy walnuts. —Clara Bakke, Coon Rapids, Minnesota
16/49
Raspberry Crumble Bars
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
To give these fresh, fruity bars even more crunch, add a sprinkling of nuts to the yummy crumb topping. Everyone will want to indulge. —Leanna M. Thorne, Lakewood, Colorado
17/49
White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Hawaiian nuts and melty morsels make a fantastic combination in these buttery white chocolate macadamia nut cookies. —Cathy Lennon, Newport, Tennessee
18/49
Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I received this recipe from a co-worker who made these heavenly bars for a potluck. Since they combine two favorite flavors—chocolate chip cookies and cheesecake—in one bite, they were a hit with our three grown children. —Jane Nolt, Narvon, Pennsylvania
19/49
Mini Cheesecake
Total Time
35 min
Servings
9 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Presto! We turned cheesecake into irresistible bite-sized snacks with these cute little treats. Feel free to use your favorite flavor of jam. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
20/49
Chunky Blond Brownies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
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
21/49
Butterscotch Toffee Cookies
Total Time
20 min
Servings
5 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
With its big butterscotch and chocolate flavor, my cookie stands out. I like to enjoy it with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee. It’s my fallback recipe when I’m short on time and need something delicious fast. —Allie Blinder, Norcross, Georgia
22/49
Peanut Butter Cream Pie
Total Time
10 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
During the warm months, it's nice to have this fluffy, no-bake peanut butter pie that's a snap to make. Packed with flavor, this pie gets gobbled up even after a big meal! —Jesse & Anne Foust, Bluefield, West Virginia
23/49
24/49
Chocolate & Peanut Butter Crispy Bars
Total Time
40 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I created these dairy-free chocolaty peanut bars, and my kids and their friends can’t get enough! —Dawn Pasco, Overland Park, Kansas
25/49
Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
1 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I'm a chocolate lover, and this treat has satisfied my cravings many times. No one guesses the brownies are light because their chewy texture and rich chocolate taste can't be beat. —Heidi Johnson, Worland, Wyoming
26/49
Peanut Butter Sheet Cake
Total Time
35 min
Servings
24 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I received this recipe from a minister's wife, and my family loves it. —Brenda Jackson, Garden City, Kansas
27/49
Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Blossoms
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Guests will stand in line to kiss the cook when these treats are served!
For a change of pace, try them with chunky peanut butter, too. —Canada60, Tasteofhome.com Community
28/49
Fudgy Brownie Recipe
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Coffee granules enhance the chocolate flavor in these amazingly fudgy brownies. Add chocolate chips to the batter and you’ve got some seriously irresistible treats. —Sarah Farmer, Waukesha, Wisconsin
29/49
Cherry Cheese Cupcakes
Total Time
55 min
Servings
about 2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These pretty cream cheese cups that look like cupcakes are always my home-baked contribution to our church's Christmas party. The holidays inspired the cheery garnish of cherries, and I often add mint leaves for even more seasonal color. —Leanne Beagley, Rochester, New York
30/49
Crunchy Candy Clusters
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
about 6-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
These cereal and marshmallow clusters are so simple that I make them for the holidays each year, as my family looks forward to them. —Faye O'Bryan, Owensboro, Kentucky
31/49
Nutty Cheesecake Squares
Total Time
40 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I grew up on a farm and have had a lot of good recipes handed down to me. This is one of my favorite desserts to serve when guests come over or at family gatherings and church suppers. —Ruth Simon, Buffalo, New York
32/49
Blueberry Lattice Bars
Total Time
55 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Since our area has an annual blueberry festival, my daughters and I are always looking for amazing new recipes to enter in the cooking contest. These lovely bars won a blue ribbon one year. —Debbie Ayers, Baileyville, Maine
33/49
Contest-Winning Chocolate Mint Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
32 sandwich cookies
From the Recipe Creator:
My dad sandwiches mint patties between two tender chocolate cookies to create these chewy treats. The blend of chocolate and mint is a big hit at our house. Best of all, these cookies are easy and fun to make. —Christina Burbage, Spartanburg, South Carolina
34/49
Ultimate Candy Bar Cookies
Total Time
40 min
Servings
4-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I created these after Halloween, when I had way too much candy left over. You can make them with any mini chocolate candy, but if you use peanut butter cups, throw them in the freezer just before unwrapping so the chocolate won’t stick to the paper. —Tara John, Plymouth, Minnesota
35/49
Cherry Chewbilees
Total Time
55 min
Servings
20 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This is a good dish to carry to potlucks and parties. It's a hit at home, too - my husband rates it as one of his favorite desserts. —Debbi Smith, Crossett, Arkansas
36/49
Copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf Recipe
Total Time
50 min
Servings
3 mini loaves (6 pieces each)
From the Recipe Creator:
My family always asks for this love-me-tender lemon loaf cake. Sometimes, I shake things up and make cupcakes with the batter. So awesome for brunch! —Lola Baxter, Winnebago, Minnesota
37/49
Truffle-Filled Cookie Tarts
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I made chocolate truffles as a Christmas tradition for many years. I created this recipe to incorporate my truffles into the center of fudgy cookies. It was a hit with friends and family.—Patricia Harmon, Baden, Pennsylvania
38/49
S’mores Brownies
Total Time
50 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My family simply adores my daughter's fudgy s'mores brownies. The cinnamon-graham cracker crust and the dark chocolate brownies bring our passion for s'mores to a whole new level! —Jennifer Gilbert, Brighton, Michigan
39/49
Warm Rocky Road Cake
Total Time
3 hours 20 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When it's warm, this reminds me of super moist lava cake. And until I made this, I didn't think a slow-cooker cake could be so attractive. It's a real winner. —Scarlett Elrod, Newnan, Georgia
40/49
Ice Cream Cone Treats
Total Time
20 min
Servings
12 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I came up with this recipe as a way for my grandkids to enjoy Rice Krispies treats without getting sticky hands. You can also pack the cereal mixture into paper cups and insert a wooden pop stick to create pops. —Mabel Nolan, Vancouver, Washington
41/49
Hidden Mint Morsels
Total Time
40 min
Servings
about 10 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Is it a cookie or a candy? No matter which answer folks choose, they find these minty morsels yummy. The recipe makes so much that you can whip up tons of gifts at once. —Adina Skilbred, Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin
42/49
Peach Crumble
Total Time
50 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We save our forks after dinner so we can enjoy this yummy old-fashioned peach crumble dessert. It’s delicious, so easy to make and wonderful with ice cream. —Nancy Horsburgh, Everett, Ontario
43/49
Turtle Brownies
Total Time
45 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
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
44/49
Baby Ruth Cookies
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
I love Baby Ruth candy bars and usually have a few on hand, so I decided to put them to good use in my favorite cookie recipe. —Elinor Nield, Soquel, California
45/49
Bacon Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Blondies
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
There's nothing better than a cookie, brownie and cheesecake mixed together, with bacon to top it off! —Katie O'Keeffe, Derry, New Hampshire
46/49
Chewy Chocolate-Cherry Bars
Total Time
35 min
Servings
3 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Colorful dried cherries and pistachios star in this take on seven-layer bars. To switch it up even more, try cinnamon or chocolate graham cracker crumbs instead of plain, and substitute pecans or walnuts for the pistachios. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
47/49
Behr Track Cookie Bars
Total Time
40 min
Servings
about 4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
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
48/49
Coconut-Almond Cookie Bark
Total Time
50 min
Servings
about 2 pounds
From the Recipe Creator:
As kids, my friends and I sandwiched Almond Joys between cookies. For our high school reunion, I re-created the idea with a tasty baked version that breaks apart like chocolate bark.—Faith Cromwell, San Francisco, California
49/49
Potato Chip Banana Bread Cookies
Total Time
35 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
My 5-year-old wanted to bake a cake with potato chips and bananas. I couldn't quite manage that, but I did combine two cookie recipes to create these. They are stunningly delicious, and everyone tells me they are addictive! —Rebecca Emmons, Tulsa, Oklahoma
