Game Day Cookies are festive, chewy, and loaded with crowd-pleasing flavors like chocolate chips, M&Ms, and crunchy add-ins. Perfect for football season, tailgates, or sports-themed parties, these cookies are easy to customize with team colors and ingredients your crew loves. They’re a guaranteed win whether your team is or not!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These cookies are soft, chewy, and packed with texture and flavor. They’re quick to whip up, travel well, and are endlessly adaptable to your favorite team or game day spread. You can color-coordinate them with themed candies, add a salty snack twist, or make them into sandwich cookies. Plus, they’re the perfect one-handed treat—ideal for watching the big game without missing a play.
ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Unsalted butter, softened
- Brown sugar
- Granulated sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
- Chocolate chips or chunks
- M&M candies (team-colored if desired)
- Optional add-ins:
- Crushed pretzels or potato chips
- Chopped nuts
- Sprinkles
- Peanut butter chips or white chocolate
- Mini marshmallows (add at the end of baking)
directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Fold in chocolate chips, M&Ms, and any additional mix-ins.
- Scoop dough into balls (about 2 tablespoons each) and place on baking sheet, leaving space between cookies.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes or until edges are golden and centers are still soft.
- Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Servings and timing
Serves: 24 cookies
Prep time: 15 minutes
Bake time: 10–12 minutes
Total time: approx. 30 minutes
Variations
- Use your team’s colors for M&Ms or sprinkles.
- Add crushed pretzels or chips for a sweet-salty crunch.
- Make cookie sandwiches with marshmallow fluff or peanut butter filling.
- Stir in toffee bits or caramel chunks for extra decadence.
- Make “cookie sliders” by sandwiching frosting and mini chocolate disks between two cookies.
storage/reheating
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. To keep them extra soft, add a slice of bread to the container. Freeze dough balls or baked cookies for up to 2 months. Reheat in the microwave for 10 seconds for that fresh-baked texture.
FAQs
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes! Chill the dough for up to 48 hours or freeze it for future baking.
What’s the best way to color-match M&Ms?
Buy color-specific M&Ms online or use holiday mixes that match your team’s colors.
Can I make these gluten-free?
Yes, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. Check that all mix-ins are also gluten-free.
Why are my cookies flat?
Make sure your butter isn’t too soft and chill the dough if it’s very warm or sticky.
Can I use salted butter?
Yes, just reduce the added salt slightly.
Can I make smaller or larger cookies?
Absolutely—adjust the bake time slightly depending on the size.
Do I need to chill the dough?
Not required, but chilling for 30 minutes helps the cookies hold their shape and intensifies the flavor.
Can I add peanut butter?
Yes, replace part of the butter with peanut butter or stir in peanut butter chips.
What makes these great for game day?
They’re easy to share, hold, and customize—plus, they add fun, festive energy to any sports gathering.
Can I use white chocolate or dark chocolate?
Definitely! Mix and match for your ideal flavor combo.
Conclusion
Game Day Cookies are the ultimate crowd-pleasing treat for sports fans and snack lovers alike. They’re chewy, colorful, and packed with fun textures and flavors—plus, they’re super easy to make ahead or bake in batches. Whether you’re hosting a big party or watching from the couch, these cookies will keep your game day deliciously sweet.
Print
Game Day Cookies
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 30 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Game Day Cookies are the perfect sweet treat to bring to your next sports party! Loaded with chocolate chips, festive colored candies, and chewy goodness, they’re easy to make and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Whether you’re tailgating or hosting at home, these cookies will score big with everyone.
Ingredients
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1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
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1 cup packed brown sugar
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1/2 cup granulated sugar
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2 large eggs
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2 tsp vanilla extract
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2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
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1 tsp baking soda
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1/2 tsp salt
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1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
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1 cup candy-coated chocolate pieces (team colors, if possible)
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1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
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Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla extract.
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In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
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Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined.
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Stir in the chocolate chips, candy-coated pieces, and nuts if using.
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Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
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Bake for 10–12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.
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Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
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Use candy colors that match your favorite team to make them more festive!
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You can freeze the dough balls for later and bake straight from frozen — just add 2 more minutes to the baking time.
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Swap chocolate chips for peanut butter chips or white chocolate for fun variations.