Get ready to score big on game day with these irresistible football desserts that will have your guests cheering for more. From gooey brownies to perfectly baked cookies, and even a sweet twist on popcorn, we’ve rounded up 10+ winning dessert ideas guaranteed to make your football viewing party a delicious success.
How to Make Desserts on the Traeger
While you might associate ribs, brisket, and chicken wings with cooking on the Traeger, you may not realize that our pellet grills can also be used like a conventional oven to bake amazing desserts.
Don’t worry though – your desserts won’t taste smoky unless you want them to. You may love the flavor of smoke when it comes to pulled pork, but you can rest assured that cookies, brownies and cookies baked at 305F and above will only have the gentlest kiss of wood-fired flavor.
To make football desserts on the Traeger, begin by preheating your grill to the temperature needed for your recipe. (Thanks to Traeger’s convection cooking, the grill ensures uniform heat distribution for perfectly baked treats.) Opt for mild pellets like Apple, Cherry, or Pecan to infuse your desserts with a subtle and sweet smoke flavor, enhancing their flavor without being overwhelming.
Pro Tip: Make sure to use oven-safe baking pans or cast iron cookware to ensure even heat distribution to achieve flawless baked goods.
Football Desserts
Adding desserts to your game-day spread is a must (especially during halftime when you need a pick-me-up). Whether you want something a little fruity, or something more on the rich side, this list has a sweet treat no matter your preference. Read on for desserts that will make you cheer--no matter if your team is winning or losing.
Cast-Iron Pineapple Upside Down Cake****
This classic cake with a wood-fired twist is the ultimate football dessert for its crowd-pleasing combination of sweet and tangy flavors. Baked to perfection on your grill, the cake boasts a caramelized pineapple topping that pairs perfectly with the moist and tender vanilla cake underneath. Its easy preparation and impressive presentation make it an ideal choice for satisfying hungry football fans while adding a touch of tropical indulgence to the game day spread.
Ultimate Traeger Cookie
You might already adore chocolate chip cookies, but we assure you, you've never experienced their deliciousness quite like when they're baked on a Traeger grill. These oversized cookies boast a perfect balance of chewy texture and rich flavor. To make these ooey gooey cookies into football-themed desserts, shape them like a football by spreading the dough thinly over a cookie sheet, baking until golden brown, and cooling for 5-10 minutes. Then get to work on cutting out the shape, and decorating the laces with icing if you like.
Smoked Lemon Bars
Another must-have dessert for your next tailgate or watch party are zesty lemon bars that will offer a refreshing burst of citrus flavor to complement the excitement of the game. Baked to perfection, the buttery shortbread crust pairs perfectly with the tangy lemon filling, which will provide a refreshing contrast to all the savory snacks being served.
To give these lemon bars that signature smoke flavor, briefly smoke the lemon filling on the Traeger to give them a hint of smoky flavor that sets them apart from plain old lemon bars.
Bacon Caramel Popcorn
If you’re a fan of sweet and savory, this bacon caramel popcorn offers a winning combination that will have your guests craving more. With crispy bacon and a hint of bourbon adding a touchdown-worthy twist to classic popcorn, this shareable snack is an irresistible football dessert.
If you want to try out a more savory yet sweet bacon treat, make sure to give BBQ brown sugar bacon bites a shot!
Chocolate Brownie Pie
This chocolate brownie pie is all about indulging your sweet tooth. Combining the best of both worlds, this dessert features a rich and fudgy brownie filling nestled within a flaky pie crust, creating a fusion of textures and flavors.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
This chocolate brownie pie is all about indulging your sweet tooth. Combining the best of both worlds, this dessert features a rich and fudgy brownie filling nestled within a flaky pie crust, creating a fusion of textures and flavors.
Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
Pumpkin might feel like a fall time treat, but we argue that it should be eaten year-round – especially when it comes to combining it with cheesecake. Made with a creamy pumpkin cheesecake filling atop a buttery graham cracker crust, these bars are an indulgent treat that will make them a sweet finale to your game day.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Nothing is better than a comforting classic during those tense game day moments. Packed with heart oats and rich chocolate chips, these cookies offer the perfect combination of chewy texture and rich flavor. Baked to perfection on your Traeger grill, these cookies will be a welcome addition to your football dessert spread.
Baked Brownie Cookies
Elevate your cookie game with this delectable cross between a brownie and a cookie. They boast a rich and fudgy texture similar to a classic brownie with the added bonus of a crinkly top for extra indulgence. Baked to perfection on your Traeger, these cookies are guaranteed to be a hit among your loved ones.
Superbowl Sundae
Celebrate the big bowl game in style with this indulgent Superbowl Sundae recipe. Featuring layers of creamy vanilla ice cream, decadent chocolate sauce, and crunchy toppings, this dessert is a touchdown-worthy treat for football fans of all ages. The secret to giving this icy delicacy a wood-fired twist? Smoke the heavy cream and half-and-half mixture before combining it with the vanilla, sugar, and bourbon.
If you want additional wood-fired flavor, make sure to top your sundae with smoked whipped cream as well.
Boozy Bacon Marshmallow Treats
On game day, booze, bacon, and sugar go hand–in-hand – especially when it comes to this adult take on classic marshmallow treats, perfect for any football spread.
This recipe combines the nostalgic flavors of classic marshmallow treats with a grown-up twist, featuring the smoky sweetness of bacon and a hint of boozy goodness. Whether you're tailgating at the stadium or hosting a watch party at home, these shareable treats are sure to score big with your fellow football fans.
Baked Cinnamon Rolls
Indulge in the comforting flavors of homemade goodness with mouthwatering cinnamon rolls made on your Traeger. Crafted with love and baked to perfection, these rolls boast a soft and pillowy texture with layers of rich cinnamon-infused filling.
Topped with a generous slathering of creamy icing, each bite is a heavenly delight that evokes memories of cozy mornings and sweet indulgence. These football desserts are sure to become a beloved favorite at your tailgate.
S’mores Dip
A game day dip is no surprise, but what is surprising is when that dip is also dessert. Your spread will be incomplete without these sticky sweet s’mores dip topped with candied pecans, and will be perfect to share with your friends and family gathered around the TV.
Make sure to get some classic graham crackers to dip, though fruit would also be a tasty addition!
Whether you're tailgating at the stadium or hosting a watch party at home, these delectable football desserts are sure to bring your game day experience to new heights
