21 Desserts To Kick Your 2023 Super Bowl Party Up A Notch
Whether you're a fan of fine dining or you prefer to eat simple, homey fare, Super Bowl Sunday is an apt occasion to chow down on some absolutely delicious food. You might be hosting a gathering at home or attending one somewhere else, but regardless of where the party is taking place, you can expect to munch on savory classics, such as crispy chicken wings or loaded nachos, and possibly more elevated snacks, such as fig baked brie or fritto misto.
Of course, no game day spread is complete without a taste of something sweet — and that's where these desserts come in. From blondies to brownies to cupcakes and more, these shareable bites will hit the spot — either in sweet celebration of your team's victory or as a sugary consolation prize after a loss. Set out some butter to come to room temperature and get the oven ready, because these goodies are a must for a Super Bowl party.
1. White Chocolate Blondies
The lighter counterparts to brownies, great blondies are buttery and moist — with undertones of molasses imparted by the brown sugar in the batter. These white chocolate-studded bars hit all those marks, making them perfect for your Super Bowl dessert table — either as-is or with some lily-gilding in the form of a scoop of ice cream, a touch of whipped cream, or a drizzle of caramel sauce.
Recipe: White Chocolate Blondies
2. Ultimate Fudgy Brownies
Whether you're a kid or an adult, you just can't go wrong with a classic, fudgy brownie, and this recipe doesn't disappoint. Made from a mix of butter, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, and plenty of cocoa powder, the brownies are baked until just cooked through, retaining a fudgy, gooey texture even after they cool down. These treats are yummy without any frills, but you can also serve them with toppings like sliced fruit, a drizzle of peanut butter, or a cold scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Recipe: Ultimate Fudgy Brownies
3. Cream Cheese Brownies
As strange as the combination of the two might sound, chocolate brownies and smooth, rich, and salty cream cheese actually go well together. These sweet treats prove the case easily, with the brownie batter incorporating perfectly with a cream cheese swirl — but wait, it gets better. Once the decadent desserts have cooled, they get another hit of chocolate, thanks to an easy cocoa-based frosting that adds an extra layer of sweetness and richness.
Recipe: Cream Cheese Brownies
4. Oreo Mug Cake
If you've never made a mug cake, you're missing out on a whole world of baking — or should we say, microwaving — possibilities. With just a few ingredients and a couple of minutes in the microwave, little steaming cakes in flavors ranging from tangy lemon to this tasty Oreo version can be yours.
To create these quick treats, you make the simplest batter you can imagine — a mix of Oreo cookie crumbs and 2% milk — and pour it into ceramic mugs. The mugs get nuked, one at a time, for just a minute or two, emerging warm, steamy, and fluffy. Powdered sugar, ice cream, whipped cream, sprinkles, or fresh berries are all great topping options.
Recipe: Oreo Mug Cake
5. Easy Buckeyes
If you're from Ohio, you've probably lost count of all the buckeyes you've consumed over the years, but for those outside the Midwest, let us fill you in on this delectable treat. Named for the resemblance it bears to the nuts from American buckeye trees, the buckeye is Ohio's official state candy, made from peanut butter and dark chocolate (via Ohio Artisan Collective).
Once the peanut butter mixture is rolled into balls, chilled, and dipped in melted chocolate, the sweet bites are ready to enjoy — no matter where you hail from.
Recipe: Easy Buckeyes
6. Buttery Sugar Cookies
Sugar cookies are a classic for a reason. Though these simple treats may not win many points for creativity, they sure can be relied on for deliciousness. This straightforward version from Tasting Table recipe developer Jennine Bryant calls for a buttery, vanilla-laced dough that's rolled out, cut into circles — or dare we suggest, football shapes — and baked for 10 to 12 minutes.
Once cooled, the cookies are topped with a thin powdered sugar icing, which can be dyed football-brown or with the colors of the teams facing off in the game.
Recipe: Buttery Sugar Cookies
7. Mini Layer Cakes
As showstopping as a towering layer cake might be, it's probably not the most practical dessert to serve at a Super Bowl party — where grabbable, individual treats are most suitable for casual grazing. That's where these adorable mini layer cakes come in.
Each tier is cut from an almond-flavored sheet cake with a cookie cutter, then stacked in pairs with buttercream frosting piped both in between and on top. You can decorate the cute cakes with game-themed sprinkles, if you wish.
Recipe: Mini Layer Cakes
8. Best Lemon Bars
Consisting of tart lemon curd on top of a crumbly shortbread crust, lemon bars might just be one of the most underrated desserts. If you haven't munched on one in a while, we think the Super Bowl is an ideal occasion to make the treats and share them among friends.
This recipe starts with a simple shortbread dough that's pressed into a baking dish and placed in the oven for a partial bake. Meanwhile, you'll whisk sugar, flour, lemon juice and zest, and eggs together. Once the par-baked crust is ready, the lemon mixture is poured on top, and then the dessert is baked until the filling sets. After a thorough chill in the fridge, it's sliced into bars and dusted with powdered sugar before serving.
Recipe: Best Lemon Bars
9. Strawberry Cheesecake Bars
Strawberry cheesecake? We love it. An easy, no-bake version? Even better! These strawberry cheesecake bars start with a homemade graham cracker crust that's pressed into a baking pan and refrigerated until it's firm. Meanwhile, you work on the filling — a beaten mix of cream cheese, sliced strawberries, sugar, and vanilla.
This pretty pink mixture is poured into the prepared crust, then the pan goes back to the fridge to chill until the filling sets. Afterwards, the cheesecake is sliced into delicious bars and served with an optional topping of fluffy whipped cream.
Recipe: Strawberry Cheesecake Bars
10. Gooey Butter Bars
Gooey butter bars — crumbly cake squares paired with a smooth, buttery filling – are a dessert you'll want to whip up ASAP, whether you've tasted them before or not. In this recipe, a vanilla dough is pressed into a baking pan, and then topped with a mixture made from cream cheese, eggs, vanilla, powdered sugar, and melted butter. The two-level dessert is baked until the gooey layer sets and has a crispy top. Once it cools down, it's cut into squares and dusted with additional powdered sugar. These bars are sure to please guests at your Super Bowl gathering.
Recipe: Gooey Butter Bars
11. Cookie Dough Cupcakes
Cookie dough and cupcakes together in one dessert? Sign us up, please. In this two-for-one treat, you can sink your teeth into both delights at the same time.
After you make a brown sugar cake batter, you'll scoop it into a lined cupcake pan, then add a ball of homemade chocolate chip cookie dough to each tin. As the cupcakes bake, the batter rises, becoming fluffy and golden brown, while the cookie dough center remains a bit gooey. Once the treats have thoroughly cooled, they're topped with brown sugar frosting and decorated with additional chocolate chips or leftover cookie dough as desired.
Recipe: Cookie Dough Cupcakes
12. Jazzed-Up Rice Krispies Treats
Rice Krispies treats are a gooey, marshmallowy classic, but if you want to doll them up for your game day gathering, then look no further than this adaptation from Tasting Table recipe developer Miriam Hahn. In it, the finished squares are dipped into melted chocolate, then topped with your favorite type of sprinkle. Be prepared to watch them fly off the serving platter.
Recipe: Jazzed-Up Rice Krispies Treats
13. Homemade Marshmallows
Speaking of marshmallows, have you ever had the pleasure of biting into a homemade one? To make these delicious fluffy clouds, whip bloomed gelatin with hot sugar syrup and vanilla bean paste, then pour the mixture into a baking pan that's coated with powdered sugar. After this rests at room temperature for four hours, it's cut into individual marshmallow blocks that are wonderfully soft. You can serve these treats as-is, as toppers for hot cocoa, or drizzled with melted chocolate on top of graham crackers.
Recipe: Homemade Marshmallows
14. Black And White Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
Chocolate-dipped strawberries are a classic and refreshing dessert that's often toted along to baby showers or gifted on Valentine's Day. We think they also make a perfect addition to any Super Bowl spread, and, luckily, they're quick and easy to make at home.
All you have to do is melt both dark and white chocolate separately — either on the stovetop or in the microwave. Then, you take the best strawberries you can find and dip them in either chocolate. The dark chocolate-covered strawberries get drizzled with melted white chocolate and vice-versa. The dipped fruit is left to set at room temperature before being served.
15. Chocolate Peanut Butter Haystacks
Haystacks combine sweet and salty in one crunchy, easy-to-make treat. For this version, you'll melt a mix of chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and peanut butter in a double boiler (or the microwave) until smooth, then stir in chow mein noodles and chopped peanuts. You'll simply dollop this mixture onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper to create the "haystacks," and pop the tray into the fridge for about 40 minutes so the bites harden before serving.
16. Irish Cream Chocolate Fondue
Just like its cheesy counterpart, chocolate fondue is inherently perfect for social events. Enjoying it involves your friends and family gathering together to dip assorted treats, such as fresh fruit, cubed pound cake, crunchy pretzels, and marshmallows, into a bowl of smooth, sweet goodness.
A wonderful addition to a lively Super Bowl party, this boozy fondue consists of semi-sweet chocolate melted with heavy cream and a slip of whiskey-based Irish cream. Transfer this deliciousness to a fondue pot (or a slow cooker, per Today), and get dippin'.
Recipe: Irish Cream Chocolate Fondue
17. Caramel Pecan Cheesecake Fruit Dip
If you want to offer another sweet dip on your Super Bowl table — which also goes excellently with the above suggestions for dippers — then you could complement the chocolate fondue with this creamy spread. It's a simple mix of cream cheese, marshmallow fluff, vanilla yogurt, and caramel sauce. When serving, top the dip with chopped pecans and an extra drizzle of caramel.
18. Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie
If you haven't tried to whip up a skillet version of chocolate chip cookies yet, it's time to go for it. When you bake chocolate chip cookie dough in a big cast iron skillet, the huge treat develops a crispy bottom crust and a golden-brown top but remains ooey gooey inside. Sliced into wedges while still warm, the delectable dessert cries out for a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream or a dollop of tangy mascarpone cheese.
Recipe: Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie
19. Simple Churros
With purported Spanish origins, the simple sugar-dusted fritters known as churros have spread all over the world. While they're a staple at county fairs and amusement parks, they're actually not all that difficult to make at home. The recipe starts with a dough that's cooked on the stovetop, then loaded into a piping bag fitted with a star nozzle, and piped out onto parchment paper.
Once your oil has reached between 350 and 370 degrees Fahrenheit, you can add the formed churros, frying them two or three at a time until they're golden brown and crispy. While the treats are still warm, sprinkle them with a cinnamon-sugar mixture, then serve them right up.
Recipe: Simple Churros
20. Red Velvet Cupcakes
Red velvet cupcakes are one of those nostalgic classics that never seem to become any less appealing, even well into adulthood. With a base of moist, cocoa-flavored cake that's reddened with food coloring, the treats are topped with a generous swirl of rich cream cheese frosting.
While it's not required for the recipe, we love to shower these bites with festive sprinkles — use your team's colors to go the whole nine yards at your Super Bowl party.
Recipe: Red Velvet Cupcakes
21. Easy Dirt Pudding
Typically created for children's Halloween celebrations with gummy worms studded inside, dirt pudding might resemble soil — thanks to those crushed-up Oreo cookies — but it tastes a whole lot more delicious. This grown-up version comes together quickly, calling for instant chocolate pudding that's folded with whipped topping and layered in individual glasses (or a large baking dish for a family-style dessert) along with those cookie crumbs. Smooth, chocolatey pudding contrasting with sweet, crunchy crumbs? Sounds like just the ticket for game day.
Recipe: Easy Dirt Pudding