This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy
These Football Cupcakes are such a cute and fun addition to your next tailgate or game day get together!
Every game day get together needs a fun dessert. There are always a million dips like Crockpot Queso or Bacon Cheeseburger Dip. Plus you have the classic like Crockpot Chili or Bacon Wrapped Smokies. But dessert tends to get overlooked. But you can make fun and festive game day treats in no time!
These Football Cupcakes will surely be a hit, and trust me, they are super easy to make.
What You’ll Love These Football Cupcakes
- Easy – These can be as easy or as hard as you want them to be. Use a box cake mix and a tub of frosting, or go all out and make homemade. Completely up to you.
- Fun – I mean, who isn’t going to love a cupcake that is decorated like a football! They are just fun for the kids and adults at any get together.
- Delicious – There is just something about a moist chocolate cake with creamy chocolate frosting. You could mix it up and use white cake if that is your favorite, but no matter what, cupcakes are always a tasty idea.
What You’ll Need
Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.
- Cupcakes
- Chocolate Frosting
- Vanilla Frosting
Here is the thing, you can make these from a box mix and a tub of store bought frosting if you want to. You could even buy pre-made cupcakes and just decorate them. In the recipe card I will have the full recipe for my favorite Chocolate Cupcakes and Homemade Chocolate Frosting that I used when making them. But know, you can still get the same effect with less effort if desired.
How To Make Football Cupcakes
- Make Cupcakes – Bake your cupcakes according to the recipe below, using a box mix, or whatever your favorite cupcake recipe is. I used green cupcake liners to mimic the grass. But use whatever color you like! Your favorite team’s color would be perfect.
- Make Frosting – Whip up your chocolate frosting and put into a sturdy plastic bag or piping bag fitted with a decorating tip. You can use a plain round trip, or just cut off the end of your plastic bag. Or you can use a star tip like the Wilton 1M tip I used.
- Decorate – Pipe the frosting across the top of the cupcake. Then using your vanilla frosting pipe laces onto the top. You can use store bought decorating frosting since you need such a small amount. Of if you made Frosted Sugar Cookies and have leftover frosting, that works great too.
Storage
Store your cupcakes in an airtight container for up to 3 days. They are great to make the day before your party and have ready and waiting. You could add these Football Themed Cake Decorations to the top of a few of them to make your dessert arrangement even more festive.
Absolutely! I personally think homemade is worth the effort, but use whatever you like! Use chocolate, vanilla, yellow….any cupcake type and flavor will work perfectly.
You can use plain yogurt or sour cream in its place, but you can also make Homemade Buttermilk in about 5 minutes with ingredients you probably already have on hand.
You definitely can, but I like them better frozen before the frosting is on. Let them cool completely and then place in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let them thaw on the counter before decorating.
More Fun Game Day Recipes
Football Cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcakes
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 whole large egg
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup hot water
Chocolate Frosting
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 3-4 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 Tablespoon milk
Football Laces
- 1/4 cup vanilla frosting
Instructions
To Make Cupcakes
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line muffin tins with 18 liners.
- In a bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well combined. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl mix egg, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla together until smooth. Mix in hot water.
- Add egg mixture to the flour and mix until well combined and smooth.
- Divide batter evenly into the prepared muffin tins. Fill about 2/3 full.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a tester comes out clean.
- Remove from the oven and cool completely.
To Make Frosting
- Using a hand mixer or the whisk attachment for an electric stand mixer whip butter until it is smooth and creamy.
- Add powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and salt until it is combined.
- Add vanilla and slowly pour in milk, beating until it is smooth and your desired consistency.
- Adjust milk or sugar as necessary if your frosting is to thick or thin.
To Decorate
- Add the chocolate frosting to a sturdy plastic bag or a piping bag. You can use a star tip or just cut off the end for a round tip.
- Pipe chocolate frosting over the top of each cupcake.
- Using white frosting from a store bought squeezable tube, or in a small plastic bag with the end cut off, pipe laces over the top of each cupcake.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I created a fun group on Facebook,and I would love for you to join us! It’s a place where you can share YOUR favorite recipes, ask questions, and see what’s new at Dinners, Dishes and Desserts (so that you never miss a new recipe)!
Be sure to follow me on Instagram and tag #dinnersdishes so I can see all the wonderful DINNERS, DISHES, AND DESSERTS recipes YOU make!
Be sure to follow me on my social media, so you never miss a post!
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram
.
These are so cute! I love all that chocolate flavor and decent frosting, and they add such a fun touch to any football party.
Everything about these sounds delicious! Look so yummy!
These football cupcakes are such a fun and creative idea! The design is adorable, and they’re perfect for game day!