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College Football season is a favorite but until this year living in a new neighborhood with neighbors that also love football, I haven’t thrown too many spontaneous homegating parties. Bring on the College Football Party planning because it’s almost playoff time! I spent less than an hour preparing the ultimate college football party with help from the Walmart Grocery Pickup Service. Avoiding hours in the store and giving more time to actually be at home baking and having fun getting ready for a party is exactly what I want to be doing during playoff season! My easy Dr Pepper® caramel corn cake, Dr Pepper ice cream shakes and a few other treats are all we need to get the party started at kickoff! Surviving college football season without Dr Pepper is like trying to run a play without a quarterback. Get yourself fully stocked so you’re ready for the College Football Playoff! In college I lived in the dorms on the same floor as some of our university football players. Great friendships came from those years and the playoff season always reminds me of days in college.
Planning a party takes time but when you have a plan for spontaneous college football parties, you can open your home to neighbors all season long. Dr Pepper College Football Playoff cans are festive and definitely will get your guests in the spirit for a fun homegating party.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PARTY INVITATION
Print the College Football Party Invitation Printable on a 4”x6” photo. Write your own party details in pen on the back of the invitation printable for personalization. You can also simply use the digital image to email to friends.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PARTY GROCERY PICKUP
My favorite party tip this year is good time organization. With so much on my plate right now, I’m keeping it easy and turning to the Walmart Grocery Pickup Service to help. With a two year old in tow, our visits to Walmart usually take far longer than expected. Walmart Grocery Pickup Service to the rescue! You can easily order everything you need online and then select the time you will be picking up from the store. It really is that easy. Order, then go pickup with no in store shopping experience necessary. It’s perfect for days when I don’t want to spend hours at the store simply because I had to bring along little sister and carefully shop every aisle looking at everything.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PARTY DECORATIONS
I love the look of chalk art and especially for college football parties. Creating a chalkboard tablecloth with plays in chalk is easier than you might think. Instead of using chalk cloth, use an inexpensive black plastic tablecloth and draw on it with a chalk marker. The entire tablecloth costs less than $2 if you already have a chalk marker at home.
I spotted cute “Go Team” and “We Are #1” mini balloons at Walmart. I cut the stick in half with scissors and used empty Dr Pepper cans to hold the balloons on our party table. Stack your favorite cold Dr Pepper cans in a pyramid on the table for height and so your party guests can easily grab a cold can while watching the game. I also taped the printed invitation to a balloon stick and added it to the top of one of the can pyramids.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PARTY FOOD
Keep the food simple. Order a few pizzas and serve festive drinks and desserts. Our Dr Pepper Caramel Corn Cake is amazing and can be made with your favorite Dr Pepper variety. We used Dr Pepper Cherry but original is yummy too.
Dr Pepper Caramel Corn Cake
Ingredients:
- 1 12 oz can of your favorite Dr Pepper
- 1 bag popped butter popcorn
- 1 stick butter
- 2 C brown sugar
- Brownie mix
Prepare brownie mix according to package but substitute water with Dr Pepper. Our box mix called for 3 TBSP water so we used Dr Pepper Cherry instead.
In small saucepan on stovetop over medium heat, melt butter then add brown sugar and 4 oz Dr Pepper. When mixture begins to boil, turn heat to low and allow to cook for 5 minutes until caramel sauce is thick and bubbly. Stir mixture while over heat so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of your saucepan.
Pour caramel sauce over prepared brownies. Then layer with popcorn and another layer of the caramel sauce. Allow to cool before serving.
Save remaining popcorn to serve in College Football Party cups.
When cake is cool, cut into pieces then top with College Football Party picks. The cake is messy so serve straight from the pan.
The Dr Pepper Caramel Corn Cake will be a guest favorite at your College Football Party!
Dr Pepper ice cream floats are always popular at our parties too. With a few different varieties to choose from, guests can prepare their ice cream floats how they would like. Serve in 16 oz mason jars with a striped straw for the ultimate College Football Party drink.
For more HomeGating inspiration and to find a Dr Pepper event near you, click here. Also check for the 2-liter football bottles as well. They are great for having out at your Homegating party!
Will you be celebrating College Football Playoffs with a homegating party too?
When fall is moving into winter we start to get ready for all the great college and pro football rivalries. I would love to make that popcorn I love a great flavored popcorn. Go team.
This looks great. I’m a big Dr. Pepper fan, I can’t wait to try this, I think it will be perfect for Game Night.
Oh my goodness. This looks incredible. I am going to have to give it a try. It looks beyond tasty and I know my husband and oldest would love it!
These are some fun party ideas! I’ve never thought of using Dr Pepper in a recipe before, but that cake looks so nice!
That cake sounds amazing. I have never had anything like this before. I am going to make one SOON!
I would totally be down for a dr pepper ice cream float! I love floats and I haven’t had dr pepper in forever. It’s always interesting seeing what people do for football as it is not something I have any interest in!
Um, I’m coming over!! This all sounds totally yummy, and Dr. Pepper is my favorite soft drink.
OH how I love Dr Pepper! What a fun cake, never seen anything like that before but I bet it is delicious!
I don’t really know anyone who has these parties but would love to attend them. As soon as I get my own place it will be me
I haven’t hosted a party like this in a long time and I think it would be so much fun to do so! I love all the ideas that you have here! It’s really going to make it all the more fun for the guests.
These treats look so delicious, I want to try these!! Thank you for great ideas for my next game night party.
I love dr. pepper! I am totally intrigued by the whole idea of caramel corn cake. It looks delicious.
I haven’t had Dr. Pepper in YEARS! I had no clue they were even round anymore!
I don’t think I would have thought to use Dr. Pepper in my cake or even make caramel with it. Such a fun idea for party food.
I love Dr. Pepper. I know the college season has ended (boo Alabama), but I think I’m going to have to make this cake for the Super Bowl! How fun will that be?
Oh my lanta this sounds spectacular. I used to LOVE drinking dr. pepper so I am positive that I will LOVE LOVE LOVE this.
This would be a great snack for the Super Bowl party we usually attend. I’ve been thinking of something different this year, and I’ve found it!
I love college football! I am not a fan of pro football, however, I do love the Super Bowl. This cake, oh wow, looks incredible.
We don’t watch football in our house but that Dr Pepper caramel corn cake looks so delicious I’m going to make it regardless! Thanks for sharing your recipe!
This looks like so much fun! College football is really the only football I watch, probably because my husband works at the University of FLorida. I love Dr. Pepper too! I will have to use some of these ideas for sure.
How fun! i love hosting small Football game day parties at our house. Mostly because I like making treats for everyone. I am adding this one to our list. YUM!
Such a creative recipe and party idea! Love anything with Dr. Pepper in it so I’m gonna have to make this ASAP – maybe for my Super Bowl party!
I love all the decor options you have when you have a theme like this! Even down to the straws and the popcorn cups, you really have it all covered!
My husband and oldest are huge fans of Dr. Pepper this would be amazing for them and any football party!
My kids love Dr. Pepper so would love this brownie cake. They will want to stay up and make the Super Bowl a fun event in our house.
This is such a cute set up! I love throwing football parties. I definitely need to try these snack recipes too!
this would be perfect when your watching your favorite football team! Yum!
I don’t even watch football but this looks like a party I would love an invite to. I mean Dr. Pepper Caramel Corn Cake – Yes Please!
Ooh I would love this party! My husband would love to have a Super Bowl party one year like this!