Sweet Victory: Treats for Tailgating

Photo: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Virginia Cravens

Team Spirit Cupcakes

Showing your team spirit on game day has never been easier with these tailgating desserts. Just buy vanilla-frosted cupcakes from the bakery and decorate with coarse sugar and lollipops in your school's colors. For easier transport, pack the frosted goodies in a cupcake keeper, like this one from Bakers Sto 'N Go. The holder seals in the flavor and has a convenient grab-and-go handle.

Recipe: Team Spirit Cupcakes

Photo: Kana Okada; Styling: Sara Quessenberry

Ginger Chocolate-Chip Bars

Give traditional chocolate chip bars a game-winning twist by kicking up the flavor with spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. To keep the bars moist and chewy, store them in a plastic container for up to 3 days before the game.

Recipe: Ginger Chocolate-Chip Bars

Fresh Lemon Bars

The fresh lemon flavor of these sweet, fruity bars are a fan favorite. Dust them with powdered sugar just before serving.

Recipe: Fresh Lemon Bars

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Harget

Peanut Butter-Caramel Candy Bites with Colorful Candies

Use your team's colors to decorate these peanut butter cookie cups. These colorful treats are sure to elicit cheers from even the youngest of fans.

Recipe: Peanut Butter-Caramel Candy Bites with Colorful Candies

Jennifer Davick; Buffy Hargett

Pecan Tassies

These mini pecan pies are just the right size to pick up with your fingers – no forks or plates required.

Recipe: Pecan Tassies

Peanut Butter Candy Bar Brownies

What's a football game without peanuts? When you make these 5-star-rated brownies, stir in crushed peanut-shaped peanut butter cookies, two kinds of chocolate-peanut butter candy, creamy peanut butter, and honey-roasted peanuts.

Recipe: Peanut Butter Candy Bar Brownies

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ultimate football rivalries deserve ultimate cookies–so plan to take these along for your next tailgating extravaganza. They are everything chocolate chip cookies should be.

Recipe: Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies

Peppered Peanut Brittle

Since peanut brittle is already in pieces, this is one dessert you don't have to worry about staying intact for the drive to the campus. And, it's nice to have some sweets in small pieces for game-day nibbling.

Recipe: Peppered Peanut Brittle

Bourbon-Fudge Brownies

In the Southeastern Conference, bourbon is the drink of choice for game day. If you can bear to spare 1/4 cup of your liquor, add it to these brownies for a rich, sure-to-please fudgy treat.

Recipe: Bourbon-Fudge Brownies

Oatmeal-Pecan Snack Cookies

Chock-full of nuts, dried fruit and nuts, these rich treats are like a cookie version of granola. If you're getting the tailgate set up in the morning, have a couple for breakfast.

Recipe: Oatmeal-Pecan Snack Cookies

Pecan Toffee

Break this toffee into small pieces so there will be plenty of candy to go around. We guarantee it will go fast.

Recipe: Pecan Toffee

Sour Cream Pound Cake

Pound cake is perfect for tailgating because you don't really have to have a fork to eat it. The thicker the slice, the better! You can make pound cake ahead of time and freeze it, and, if there are any leftover pieces, you can freeze those, too.

Recipe: Sour Cream Pound Cake