I make football brownies every year for the Super Bowl, and they are the perfect game day treat! My rich and fudgy brownies are cut into a football shape, coated in a layer of chocolate frosting, then piped with white frosting to add the final details of laces.
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One of My Family’s Favorite Super Bowl Desserts
Every Super Bowl watch party needs sweet treats, and my homemade football brownies have proven to be the ultimate crowd-pleaser. I always ask my kids Leah and Connor for their input when it comes to Superbowl desserts, and this brownie recipe is usually one of the top items on their list.
I used a homemade brownie recipe to get the perfect mix of fudgy and chewiness, my favorite way to enjoy brownies. Plus, the frosting on top matches perfectly to the flavor of the brownies.
Leah loves to help pipe the football lines now that she’s old enough and of course, it gives her a reason to lick the spoon once the brownies are in the oven.
Looking for more brownie recipes? Be sure to check out my red velvet brownies, cheesecake brownies, or banana pudding brownies. Or for another classic brownie recipe, try my air fryer brownies next!
Football Game Dessert Ingredients
- Butter – I use unsalted butter since the recipe already calls for additional salt.
- Chocolate chips – Semi-sweet chocolate chips are my favorite for baking. I use these for both the brownies and the chocolate frosting.
- Granulated sugar – Adds just the right amount of sweetness and helps with structure.
- Eggs – Bind the brownie mix together.
- Pure vanilla extract – Has a smooth, rich flavor that adds depth to each bite.
- Cocoa powder – Gives these football brownies a classic fudgy flavor.
- Salt – Enhances the overall taste of the treats and brings out the sweetness.
- All-purpose flour – To make the brownie batter.
- Heavy cream – The base of both the chocolate and white frosting.
- Powdered sugar – A must for smooth frosting!
How to Make Football Brownies
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: While the oven preheats to 350 degrees F, line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Leave a little hanging over the edges.
STEP TWO: Melt the butter in a large saucepan, then mix in chocolate chips. Once melted, remove the saucepan from the heat, add granulated sugar, and stir.
STEP THREE: Next, stir in eggs and vanilla extract until well combined. Add in cocoa powder, salt, and flour, and stir until no streaks remain.
STEP FOUR: Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan and smooth the top layer with an offset spatula. Bake the brownies for 25 minutes.
STEP FIVE: Meanwhile, heat ½ cup of heavy cream in the microwave. Add the chocolate chips and let it sit for 5 minutes. Stir the mixture until smooth, then set aside to cool.
STEP SIX: Once the brownies have finished baking, remove them from the oven and cool for 20 minutes in the pan.
STEP SEVEN: Spread the chocolate frosting evenly over the top of the brownies. Place the baking pan in the refrigerator to cool overnight so the frosting becomes solid.
STEP EIGHT: The next day, remove the brownies from the pan and cut them into 12 equal rectangles. Then, cut out football shapes with a cookie cutter and set aside.
STEP NINE: Combine powdered sugar and heavy cream to form a white frosting. It should be the consistency of toothpaste.
STEP TEN: Place the frosting into a piping bag fitted with a small, round piping tip. Pipe football laces onto the surface of the football brownies. Let the decoration set for 15 minutes before serving.
Tips for the Best Football Desserts
- I never skip the overnight chill. This helps prevent crumbling and makes the treats so much easier to cut.
- Use the toothpick test to check for doneness. Once a toothpick comes out of the center clean, the brownies are done!
- When cutting the brownies, I push the bottoms (the non-frosted portions) up through the cutter to release them so that I don’t damage the frosted layer.
- Lightly grease the cookie cutter before cutting the first brownie shape. After the first cut, the natural oils from the brownies will help release them from the cutter.
Football Shaped Brownies Variations and Substitutions
- To avoid using a saucepan on the stove, I sometimes microwave the chocolate chips with the butter in 30-second increments and stir in between until everything is melted and smooth.
- To make things super quick, feel free to use boxed brownie mix and store bought frosting. But, I will say, my homemade version is pretty easy to put together and tastes 10 times better!
- Different mix-ins like peanut butter chips or nuts can be added to the brownie batter to customize this recipe and add texture.
- Swapping the type of chocolate chips is one way to adjust the sweetness of my recipe. I prefer semi-sweet because of its balanced flavor, but milk or dark chocolate chips can also be used.
- To switch up the flavor, try swirling in some (softened) cream cheese or creamy peanut butter.
- Homemade buttercream frosting can be used if preferred. The texture will be fluffier and the overall taste a bit sweeter.
What to Serve with Superbowl Desserts
Nothing goes better with brownies than a heaping scoop of vanilla ice cream! My kids also love enjoying these brownies with whipped cream on top. When we’ve got a crowd over for game day, I’ll usually add some cookies or bar desserts to the mix for variety.
Football Brownies FAQs
Can I make football shaped brownies without a cookie cutter?
Absolutely! A cookie cutter will make things easier, but it’s not required. If working without a cutter, start by cutting the unfrosted brownies into 12 equal rectangles. Use a paring knife to cut away the 4 corners, then round the edges with moistened hands to create a football shape.
Can I make these ahead of time and freeze them?
Yes, my Superbowl brownies can be baked ahead of time and frozen for up to 3 months. If preparing ahead, I recommend freezing them without frosting, as the texture and appearance of the frosting may change once thawed. Decorating right before serving is best for the freshest and most beautiful results!
How should I store leftover football desserts?
Leftover brownies should be transferred to an airtight container. They will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
More Easy Game Day Recipes
- Loaded fries
- Buffalo chicken dip
- Oven nachos
- 7 layer dip
- Baked chicken wings
- Jalapeno poppers in the oven
- Roast beef sliders
Fudgy Football Brownies
Ingredients
Brownies
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 3 eggs
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
Chocolate frosting
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
White frosting
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 7 teaspoons heavy cream
Instructions
To make the brownies
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with 2 sheets of parchment paper (long enough to extend over all 4 sides).
- Melt the butter in a large saucepan then add in the chocolate chips and stir until they're melted.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat, add sugar, and stir (it will be lumpy-looking).
- Stir in the eggs and vanilla extract until it's well combined.
- Add cocoa powder, salt, and flour, and stir until no streaks of cocoa or flour remain.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan and smooth the top layer with an offset spatula.
- Bake the brownies for 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the brownies comes out mostly clean (it should not have any raw batter attached).
To make the frosting
- While the brownies bake, prepare the chocolate frosting by heating ½ cup of heavy cream in the microwave until hot (about 45 seconds to 1 minute).
- Add the chocolate chips and leave the mixture undisturbed for 5 minutes to allow the chocolate to melt. Stir the mixture until smooth. Set aside to cool.
- Remove the baking pan from the oven and allow the brownies to cool for 20 minutes in the pan.
- Spread the frosting evenly over the warm brownie layer, making sure to get into all the corners.
- Place the baking pan in the refrigerator to cool overnight so the frosting becomes solid.
To cut into football shapes
- Remove the brownies from the pan using the parchment paper pull-up handles, cut them into 12 equal rectangles, and cut football shapes out with the cutter. Push the bottom of the brownie (the non-frosted portion) up through the cutter so you don’t damage the frosted layer.
- Place the football brownies on a parchment-lined tray and set them aside.
To decorate
- Combine the powdered sugar and 7 teaspoons of heavy cream in a small mixing bowl. Stir until smooth. You should get the texture of toothpaste; if it seems too thick, add another ½ teaspoon of cream until the desired texture is reached. If the mixture is too runny, add a tablespoon of powdered sugar at a time until the desired texture is reached.
- Place the white frosting into a piping bag with a small piping tip and pipe the football laces onto the surface of the football brownies.
- Let the white decoration set for 15 minutes before serving.
Notes
- To make things super quick, feel free to use boxed brownie mix and store bought frosting. But, I will say, my homemade version is pretty easy to put together and tastes 10 times better!
- Don’t skip the overnight chill. This helps prevent crumbling and makes the treats so much easier to cut.
- Use the toothpick test to check for doneness. Once a toothpick comes out of the center clean, the brownies are done!
- When cutting the brownies, push the bottoms (the non-frosted portions) up through the cutter to release them so they don’t damage the frosted layer.
- Lightly grease the cookie cutter before cutting the first brownie shape. After the first cut, the natural oils from the brownies will help release them from the cutter.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
