Football Shaped Brownies are the ultimate game day treat—fudgy, chocolatey, and fun to decorate! With a rich homemade brownie base and simple icing for laces, these football-inspired desserts are perfect for Super Bowl parties, tailgates, or any sports-themed gathering.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfect for Game Day: Festive and themed, these brownies are always a crowd-pleaser.
- Easy to Customize: Use homemade or boxed brownies and decorate with your team colors.
- Rich and Fudgy: The brownie base is dense, moist, and full of chocolate flavor.
- Fun for Kids and Adults: Great for decorating parties or snack tables.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Can be baked and decorated ahead of time.
Ingredients
(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
For the Brownies:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
For Decoration:
- ½ cup white frosting or decorating icing (store-bought or homemade)
- Optional: chocolate frosting or melted chocolate for coating
Directions
- Preheat Oven: Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Make Brownie Batter: In a saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, melt butter. Stir in sugar and cocoa powder until smooth. Add vanilla and eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Stir in flour and salt just until combined.
- Bake: Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs. Let cool completely.
- Cut Football Shapes: Use a football-shaped cookie cutter to cut the cooled brownies. Re-roll or reshape leftover scraps to cut more.
- Decorate: Pipe white frosting to create the football laces: one horizontal line across the center and 3–4 vertical lines across it.
- Chill or Serve: Let the icing set for a few minutes. Serve immediately or store in the fridge until game time.
Servings and Timing
- Servings: About 12–15 football brownies (depending on size of cutter)
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Bake Time: 25–30 minutes
- Cooling + Decorating Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: About 1 hour 30 minutes
Variations
- Boxed Mix: Use your favorite boxed brownie mix to save time.
- Frosted Footballs: Cover each brownie with chocolate frosting before piping on the laces.
- Mini Version: Use a smaller cutter for bite-sized brownies—great for snacking.
- Team Colors: Tint the white frosting or use colored sprinkles for team spirit.
Storage/Reheating
- Refrigeration: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezing: Freeze undecorated brownies for up to 2 months. Decorate after thawing.
- Reheating: Not necessary, but you can microwave for a few seconds for a warm treat.
FAQs
Can I use store-bought brownie mix?
Yes! A standard 9×13-inch boxed mix works well.
How do I keep the brownie from sticking to the cutter?
Lightly grease your cookie cutter or dip it in warm water and wipe dry before cutting.
What if I don’t have a football-shaped cookie cutter?
Cut ovals by hand using a knife or trace around a paper template.
Can I use a piping bag for decoration?
Yes, or use a zip-top bag with the corner snipped for easy piping.
Can I frost the entire brownie?
Absolutely—try chocolate ganache or buttercream for an extra treat.
Will these work with cakey brownies?
Yes, but fudgy brownies hold their shape better for cutting and decorating.
Can I make them gluten-free?
Yes, use a gluten-free brownie recipe or mix.
What should I serve them with?
They pair well with ice cream, whipped cream, or just as-is for a finger-food dessert.
Can I color the frosting?
Yes—use food coloring to match your team’s colors or make them festive.
Do these travel well?
Very! Pack in a single layer in a container with parchment paper between layers if stacking.
Conclusion
Football Shaped Brownies are the perfect treat to score big at your next game day celebration. Whether you’re baking from scratch or using a shortcut with a mix, these fun, football-inspired desserts are a guaranteed touchdown with family and friends.
Print
Football Shaped Brownies Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour (including cooling and decorating)
- Yield: 12–16 football brownies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These football-shaped brownies are rich, fudgy, and perfect for game day celebrations, made with your favorite brownie mix or homemade recipe and decorated with frosting for a fun sports-themed treat.
Ingredients
- 1 box brownie mix (plus ingredients listed on box: usually eggs, oil, water)
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
- 1/4 cup chocolate frosting (for outlining)
- 1/4 cup white frosting or decorating gel (for laces)
- Cooking spray or parchment paper
Instructions
- Preheat oven according to brownie mix package directions. Grease or line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Prepare brownie batter as directed on the package. Stir in mini chocolate chips if using.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and bake as instructed, usually 20–25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out with moist crumbs.
- Let brownies cool completely in the pan, then remove and place on a flat surface.
- Using a football-shaped cookie cutter (or cut freehand with a knife), cut out as many football shapes as possible.
- Use chocolate frosting to outline the footballs and white frosting or decorating gel to pipe the laces on top.
- Refrigerate for 10–15 minutes to set the decorations before serving.
Notes
- You can use homemade brownie batter if preferred — just bake in a sheet pan for even thickness.
- Save scraps for brownie sundaes or truffles.
- Decorate with team colors by using colored frosting or sprinkles.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 brownie
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg