Tailgating desserts aren't the main attraction at the event (that honor belongs to whatever's on the grill), but that doesn't mean they're not welcome or important. After the barbecue, you may want some delicious desserts for that sweet tooth, or you may need something to snack on until the game starts. Desserts are great for after the game, too, so you can munch away while you wait for the traffic to get out of the parking lot.
Prepare in Advance
Tailgating desserts are best made at home and brought to the event. If you make bar cookies or brownies, cut them ahead of time, so you do not have to try to cut them on an unstable surface. The best desserts are dense cookies and bars that can be picked up without crumbling.
Brownies are better than cake, because they are denser and do not fall apart when they're picked up. Cookies are one of the best tailgating desserts. You can make four or five different types of cookies, then put them in resealable plastic containers. If you're short on time, just get some ready-made cookie dough and bake the cookies the day before the tailgate party.
Fun Tailgating Desserts
To add a bit of team spirit to dessert, make some sugar cookies in the team colors. You can use premade dough or make your own from scratch. Cut the dough into helmet or football shapes, then sprinkle it with colored sugar before baking. If you want to get a little fancy, you can dip the cookies in colored chocolate or cover them with fondant; just make sure the fondant sets before you hand the cookies out.
Petit fours, if you have the time to make them, are another great tailgate party dessert, but should only be brought on the cooler days. The heat will melt the chocolate and the frosting. Use the team colors to frost your petits fours.
If you are bringing a folding table, you can bring pies and cakes, especially if you are also celebrating a birthday at the tailgate party. Make sure you bring extra paper plates and plasticware if you are going to be serving pies and cakes. Pie always needs whipped cream; whipped cream in cans or tubs will fare just fine as long as it is kept in ice.
Remember, as always, to keep things simple. Basic cookies, brownies and bars with a decorative touch will get noticed, but the hours you'd put into an elaborate cake probably won't.
 | Tailgating has become a national pastime for sports lovers everywhere because it gives you the opportunity to show off your team spirit, not to mention your grilling skills. Knowing what to expect and being ready for the weather conditions will help ensure that you have a good time. |
 | At a tailgate party, people congregate, grill food, drink beverages, and play some picnic games. Sometimes the guests have the tailgate party a few hours before the sporting event, go to the event and then go home. Other times, the whole event takes place at the tailgate party, including listening to the game on a radio or watching the action on a portable TV. |
 | Big or small, your tailgate party needs to be well-planned in order to succeed, so start by creating a list of tailgating supplies. Go beyond setting up lawn chairs and eating sandwiches, and get the right accessories to make a truly memorable party atmosphere right before the big game. |
Cheering your favorite sports team on with a tailgate party can be a lot of fun, and you may be surprised to learn that it doesn't have to cost a lot of money. For fun ways to turn your next tailgate party into a thrifty affair, consider the following. |
There is a giant misconception that to have a great tailgate one needs to have a $5,000 grill, Omaha Steaks, and beer that is imported. That is not the way to have a great American Tailgate. There are a few necessities needed and a few luxuries that are often overlooked. |
