There’s nothing more Christmas than enjoying a warm drink and some home-baked cookies. However, no one hates homemade cookies at a tailgate either. So we thought this year, we’d celebrate the holidays with some tailgating food turned into a Christmas treat. Whether you’re looking for something to make for your tailgating team for the holidays or have a cookie exchange coming up, we’ve got you covered with some tasty cookies. Here are our 12 favorite tailgating cookie recipes, one for each of the days of Christmas.
1. Sports-Themed Cake Pops
Cookies and Cream Sports Ball Cake Pops
Ingredients
Cake
- 1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 Tsp Baking Soda
- 1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
- 1/4 Tsp Salt
- 3/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 1/4 Cup Butter, softened
- 1/2 Cup Sour Cream
- 2 Egg Whites
- 1 Tsp Vanilla
- 1/4 Cup Milk
Filling
- 2 Cups Powdered Sugar
- 3 Tbsp Butter, softened
- 1 Tbsp Milk
- 1 Tsp Vanilla
- 8 Creme-Filled Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, coarsely crushed
Coating And Decorations
- 28 Paper Lollipop Sticks (6 inch)
- 2 Styrofoam Blocks
- 2 Bags (12 oz each) Candy Melts of any color
- Icing Writer
Notes
Though not exactly a cookie, these unusual cake pops from Betty Crocker actually use crushed cookies. They are ideal for a cookie exchange and a great addition to your tailgating food spread. The best part is the recipe is really flexible. You can use any cookies you and your team enjoy and you can decorate them for any sport. You can also add a few red and green elements to make them more festive.
2. Ice Sports Jersey Cookies
Sports Jersey Cookies
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar
- 1 Cup Unsalted Butter, softened
- 1 Tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 Tsp Almond Extract
- 1 Large Egg
- 2 1/2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 2 Tsp Baking Powder
- Cookie Cutters
Icing
- 4 Cups Powdered Sugar
- 3 Tbsp Meringue Powder
- 1/3 Cup Water
- Food Coloring, optional
Notes
If you love making cookies to give as a gift, these sports jerseys are a great option. They can be fully customized and decorated in any team colors. You can also write people’s names and give them a number. If you want to make them more Christmas-themed, use red and green frosting. You can also put Santa, Rudolf, or any of your favorite Christmas character names on them. Decorating cookies can be challenging, but this recipe is great for beginners.
3. Medal Cookies
Medal Cookies
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 140 Grams Butter
- 100 Grams Light Soft Brown Sugar
- 3 Tbsp Golden Syrup
- 1/2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
- 350 Grams Plain Flour, plus extra for dusting
- 1 Tsp Bicarbonate Of Soda
- 1 Large Egg
To Decorate
- 1 Kg Pack Ready-To-Roll Icing
- Icing Sugar
- Food Coloring Paste, Edible Glitter, Icing Pens (optional)
- 15 Long Colorful Ribbons
Notes
Do you and your Christmas team play games during the holidays? Do you need something to award the winners? These medal cookies are the perfect option. Made with decorated biscuits, these cookies are strung on ribbons and look just like Olympic medals. They can be decorated to match any theme and are a tasty way to celebrate any victory.
4. Football Cookies
Football Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
- 1/4 Tsp Salt
- 3/4 Cup Unsalted Butter, softened to room temperature
- 3/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 Large Egg
- 2 Tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1/4 – 1/2 Tsp Almond Extract
- Royal Icing
Notes
Don’t put the piping bag away just yet. You’ll definitely want to whip up these football cookies. Don’t worry if you aren’t a decorator, these piped football cookies are super easy to make. They are simple sugar cookies cut out like a football and decorated with brown and white frosting. They’re tasty and impressive when served to your tailgating guests.
5. Reese’s Stuffed Football Cookies
Reese’s Stuffed Football Cookies
Ingredients
- 3/4 Cup Butter or Margarine, softened
- 1/2 Cup Sugar
- 1 Egg
- 2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
- 2 1/2 Tsp All-Purpose Flour
- 1/4 Cup Hershey's Dark Cocoa
- 1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 Tsp Salt
- 36 Reese's Peanut Butter Mini Cups
- 1/2 Cup White Ready To Spread Frosting
Notes
Is there anything more fun than biting into a cookie and finding a surprise center? These football-shaped chocolate cookies are made with Reese’s peanut butter cup minis. On the outside, they are just cute football cookies, but on the inside, there’s a delicious peanut butter treat waiting. They’re sure to impress at both your cookie exchange and your tailgating parties.
6. Football Cookie Bars
Football Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 2/3 Cup Unsalted Butter, softened
- 2 Cups Packed Brown Sugar
- 3 Large Eggs
- 1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
- 2 3/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 2 Tsp Baking Powder
- 1/2 Tsp Baking Soda
- 1 Tsp Salt
For The Topping
- 3/4 Cup Chocolate Chips
- 3 Tbsp Heavy Cream
- 1/4 White Chocolate Melting Wafers
Notes
We love cookie bars. They are so easy to prepare and can be made in a pinch. These simple cookie bars are smothered in chocolate and decorated to look like footballs. We love this recipe for beginners looking to impress, but also it’s a great option for any time of year.
7. Chocolate Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies
Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 Cup Unsalted Butter, room temperature
- 2/3 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
- 2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 Cup Nonpareil Sprinkles
Chocolate Footballs
- 1 1/2 Cups Dark or Milk Melting Chocolate
- 1/2 Cup White Melting Chocolate
Notes
Chocolate shortbread thumbprints are a must-have at any Christmas cookie exchange party. This recipe takes these crowd favorite cookies one step further and makes them football-themed. By using football-shaped chocolates instead of chocolate pastilles or jam, they become adorable sports-themed cookies. Just add a little icing for the laces and you’re ready to serve these adorable treats!
8. Nutter Butter Basket In A Net
Nutter Butter Basket In A Net
Ingredients
- 4 Oz Orange Candy Coating Wafers
- 1 Tsp Oil
- 16 Nutter Butter Cookies
- 1 Oz Black Candy Coating Wagers
- 2 Oz White Candy Coating Wafers
Notes
At first glance, these cookies look incredibly impressive. However, they’re actually very easy to make because they are simply decorated Nutter Butters. To make them you’ll just need a package of Nutter Butters, some orange, white, and black colored candy coating, and a piping bag. Then you’ll make a basketball on one end and a hoop on the other. Perfect for if you’re in a hurry.
9. Basketball Oreo Cookie Pops
Chocolate Covered Oreo Basketball
Ingredients
- Orange Chocolate Melts
- Black Icing
- Oreo Cookies
- Toothpicks
Notes
Another easy-to-make cookie are these Oreo cookie pops. Decorated to look like basketballs, these sports-themed cookies are also super easy to make. You take Oreos right from the package, dip them in orange-colored candy coating and decorate with chocolate stripes. If you’re not a basketball fan, you can also turn these into baseballs, tennis balls, or soccer balls. No matter what you make, everyone will love them.
10. Chocolate Hockey Pucks
Chocolate Hockey Pucks
Ingredients
- 16 Chocolate Sandwich Cookies (such as Oreo)
- 16 Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Cups (such as Reese's)
- 12 Oz Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
- 2 Tbsp Shortening
Notes
Now if you are really looking for something decadent to add to your holiday lineup, look no further. These chocolate hockey pucks are made by layering Oreos and Reese’s peanut butter cups. They are then dipped in chocolate and covered in sprinkles. The result is a cookie that looks just like a hockey puck. Perfect to serve at Christmas or as part of your winter tailgating food spread.
11. White Chocolate Baseball Cookies Filled With Peanut Butter Fudge
White Chocolate Baseball Cookies Filled With Peanut Butter Fudge
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Fudge Filing
- 8 Oz White Confectionery Coating or White Chips
- 4 Oz Peanut Butter Chips
- 8 Oz Creamy Peanut Butter
- Pinch of Salt
White Chocolate
- 18 Oz Melted and Tempered Pure White Chocolate or Melted Candy Melts
- Red Food Coloring Marker
Notes
White chocolate and peanut butter fudge is definitely one of our favorite cookie combinations. So we love these cute baseball cookies. The creator uses a baseball cookie mold, but you can use any circular mold to get the baseball shape. You’ll just have to add the laces with some icing. These sweet and tasty cookies will be a home run at your cookie exchange.
12. Bases-Loaded Baseball Cookies
Bases Loaded Baseball Cookies
Equipment
- 10 x 16 Chrome-Plated Cooling Rack
- Decorating Bags, 16-Inch Disposable Piping Bags, 12-Count
- Recipe Right Small Non-Stick Baking Sheet, 13.2 x 9.25-Inch
- Double-Sided Round Cut-Outs Set, 6-Piece
- 16-Inch Disposable Decorating Piping Bags, 12-Count
Ingredients
- 1 Oz Lemon Yellow Icing Color
- Red Candy Melts
- White Candy Melts
- 1 Oz Golden Yellow Icing Color
- Roll-Out Cookie Dough
- 3 Oz White Nonpareils
- Sprinkle Assortment
- 5 Oz Blue Sugar Pearls
Notes
We definitely saved the best for last on this one. These bases-loaded baseball cookies have a fun surprise in the center. Made with stacked cookies, the center is filled with tiny candies. These pinata-style cookies are sure to win over your crowd. You can fill them with anything from sprinkles to chocolate chips. Make sure to make a large batch because these cookies go super quickly.
Whether you are baking for the holidays or just looking for sun sweets to add to your tailgating food lineup, these 12 cookies are sure to be a hit! For more tasty sports-themed recipes, the team at Inside Tailgating has you covered. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and check out our Amazon Storefront. Let us know which is your favorite in the comments below, or share your favorite recipes and tag us on social media with your amazing creations so we can highlight your recipe in the future.