You know what's better than regular brownies? Football-themed brownies that look like tiny chocolate footballs and taste absolutely incredible! I made these for the first time last year when Emily's school had a Super Bowl party, and honestly? They were gone in about ten minutes. Everyone kept asking me for the recipe!
These brownies are basically regular brownies dressed up for game day. You cut them into football shapes, dip them in rich chocolate ganache, and pipe on little white icing laces. The whole process is way easier than it sounds, and the results look so impressive that people will think you spent hours on them.
The best part? You start with a box mix (no judgment here!), so there's no stress about getting the brownie texture just right. Plus, the chocolate ganache adds this silky, rich layer that makes them taste homemade and fancy. If you're looking for more crowd-pleasing desserts, you'll want to check out my Fudgy S'mores Brownies too.
Jump to:
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Game day ready - These brownies scream football party without requiring any special baking skills
- Made in under 90 minutes - From start to finish, including cooling time, you can have these done before the pregame show
- Starts with brownie mix - I'm all about making life easier, and box mix works perfectly here
- That ganache though - The chocolate coating takes these from basic to bakery-level good
- Kid-approved decorating - Emily loves helping me pipe the little laces on top (even if they don't always look perfect!)
- Make ahead friendly - You can prep these a couple days before your party
Ingredients For Football-Themed Brownies
Here's what you'll need to make about 24 football brownies:
The Brownies:
- 1 box brownie mix, plus ingredients called for on box (usually eggs, oil, and water)
For The Chocolate Ganache:
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons Baileys Irish Cream (or substitute vanilla extract)
For The Icing Laces:
- ⅔ cup powdered sugar
- 3 ½ teaspoons milk
A quick note about the Baileys - it adds a subtle richness to the ganache, but if you're making these for kids or just don't have any on hand, vanilla extract works great too. Or honestly? Just leave it out entirely. The ganache will still taste amazing.
How To Make Football Brownies
Let me walk you through this step by step. Trust me, it's simpler than it looks!
Prepare The Base:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a 9x13-inch pan with parchment paper. This makes getting the brownies out SO much easier later.
- Mix up your brownie batter according to the package directions. Pour it into your prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 to 23 minutes.
- Let the brownies cool completely in the pan. I know waiting is hard (I'm terrible at this part!), but if you try to cut them while they're warm, they'll just fall apart.
Shape Your Footballs:
- Once cooled, use a football-shaped cookie cutter to cut out your brownie footballs. If you don't have a football cutter, just cut oval shapes with a knife and taper the ends slightly. They don't have to be perfect - mine never are!
- Place your cut brownies on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet. This setup catches all the dripping ganache and makes cleanup way easier.
Make The Ganache:
- Put your chocolate chips in a heat-proof bowl. Microwave the heavy cream for about 40 seconds until it's hot but not boiling.
- Pour the hot cream over the chocolate chips and let it sit for 3 minutes. Don't stir yet! This waiting time helps the chocolate melt evenly.
- After 3 minutes, stir the mixture until it's smooth and silky. Add the Baileys (or vanilla) and stir again until everything is combined.
Coat The Brownies:
- Dip each brownie into the ganache, making sure to coat all sides. Place them back on the cooling rack and let any excess ganache drip off.
- Pop the whole tray into the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to let the ganache set. It should feel firm to the touch when it's ready.
Add The Finishing Touch:
- While the ganache sets, make your icing by mixing the powdered sugar and milk together until smooth. It should be thick enough to pipe but thin enough to flow.
- Transfer the icing to a piping bag or just use a zip-top bag with a tiny corner cut off. Pipe laces across each football brownie - just make a line down the middle and add little horizontal lines for the laces.
- Return the tray to the refrigerator for 5 more minutes to let the icing harden.
That's it! You now have adorable football shaped brownies that will impress everyone at your game day party.
Storage And Reheating
Store these game day brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The ganache stays nice and firm when chilled, which actually makes them easier to transport if you're bringing them to a party.
You can also freeze them! Layer them between sheets of parchment paper in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 2 months. Let them thaw in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving.
These are best served slightly chilled or at room temperature. I usually take them out of the fridge about 20 minutes before serving so they're not too cold.
Tips And Variations For Your Football Brownies
Use a sharp knife - When cutting your football shapes, a sharp knife makes cleaner cuts. I learned this the hard way after making a mess with a dull knife the first time!
Don't rush the cooling - I know I mentioned this already, but seriously, let those brownies cool completely. Warm brownies + ganache = a melty mess.
Practice your piping - If you're worried about the laces, practice on a plate first. Or you know what? Just embrace the imperfection. Emily says the wonky ones taste just as good!
Try different chocolates - I've made these with dark chocolate chips and white chocolate chips for the ganache. Both work great if you want to switch things up.
Make them mini - Use a smaller cookie cutter for bite-sized versions. They're perfect for parties where people want to try multiple desserts.
Skip the alcohol - The Baileys is totally optional. Vanilla extract, almond extract, or even just leaving it out works fine.
Want to know something funny? The first time I made these, I didn't have a football cutter and tried to cut them freehand. They looked more like lumpy potatoes than footballs! Now I just buy the cutter online and call it a day.
Football Brownie Faqs
Yes! Make them up to 2 days ahead. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Absolutely. Replace with vanilla extract or just omit it—the ganache will still be delicious.
Use a football-shaped cookie cutter, or cut oval shapes with a knife and taper the ends to create the football shape.
They'll stay fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Recipes You May Like
- Fudgy S'mores Brownies - If you loved the ganache on these football brownies, you'll go crazy for these s'mores brownies with marshmallow topping
- Spiderweb Brownies - Another fun decorated brownie recipe that's perfect for themed parties
- Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies - Need another easy dessert for game day? These cookies are always a hit
Final Thoughts On Football-Themed Brownies
Listen, I'm not going to pretend these Super Bowl brownies are difficult to make. They're not! That's the whole point. You take something simple (boxed brownies), add a few special touches (ganache and icing), and suddenly you have a dessert that looks like you spent way more effort than you actually did.
The ganache is the real star here. It gives these brownies that rich, bakery-quality taste that makes people think you're some kind of baking genius. And the little icing laces? They take maybe five extra minutes but make such a big difference in the presentation.
Whether you're making these for a Super Bowl party, a regular game day, or just because your family loves football, these brownies are going to be a hit. Emily requests them constantly now (I should probably start charging her!).
So grab that brownie mix, make yourself a batch of these football shaped brownies, and get ready for everyone to ask you for the recipe. Don't forget to save this to Pinterest so you can find it again next time you need an impressive but easy game day dessert!
Football Brownies
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 9x13 inch pan with parchment paper. Prepare brownie mix according to package instructions and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 20 to 23 minutes. Let cool completely.
- Cut football shaped brownies out of baked brownies and place on a cooling rack placed over a baking sheet.
- Place semisweet chocolate chips in a heat proof bowl and microwave cream until hot, about 40 seconds. Pour cream over chocolate and let sit 3 minutes, then stir until creamy and no lumps remain. Add Baileys and stir until smooth.
- Dip brownies in ganache and place in the refrigerator to set, 30 minutes.
- Make the icing: In a small bowl, stir powdered sugar and milk until thoroughly combined. Place icing into a piping bag or resealable plastic bag and cut a very small hole in the tip. Decorate each football with laces, then return tray to the refrigerator to harden, 5 minutes more.
