Get ready to score big with our Easy Football Cookies Recipe! This delightful treat is perfect for game days, parties, or simply satisfying a sweet craving with minimal effort. Learn how to whip up these fun and festive cookies in no time.
Key Ingredients for Easy Football Cookies Recipe
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 (16-ounce) package white candy melts or vanilla frosting
- Black edible food marker (or black piping frosting)
- Optional: Green or brown sprinkles for grass or dirt
How to Make Easy Football Cookies Recipe
This incredibly Easy Football Cookies Recipe is designed for maximum fun and minimal fuss! Expect a delightful, slightly crisp cookie with a sweet, melt-in-your-mouth frosting coating. With a quick preparation time of about 20 minutes and a baking time of 10-12 minutes per batch, you’ll have a touchdown-worthy treat ready before you know it.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. This creaming process incorporates air, which helps create a tender cookie.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the two large eggs, one at a time, until well combined. Then, stir in the vanilla extract.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. This ensures the leavening agents and salt are evenly distributed throughout the flour.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough, as this can lead to tough cookies.
- Shape the Dough: The dough will be slightly soft. You can either chill it for about 30 minutes for easier handling, or you can scoop it directly.
- Form the Footballs: For each cookie, scoop about 1 to 1.5 tablespoons of dough. Roll the dough into a log shape, tapering the ends to resemble a football. Aim for a uniform size so they bake evenly.
- Bake the Cookies: Place the shaped cookies about 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The centers should still look slightly soft.
- Cool Completely: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This is crucial for frosting.
- Prepare the Coating: Melt the white candy melts or prepare your chosen vanilla frosting according to package directions. If using candy melts, stir until smooth.
- Dip and Decorate: Once the cookies are completely cool, dip the top half of each football cookie into the melted candy melts or spread with frosting. Allow excess to drip off.
- Add Laces: While the candy melts or frosting are still wet, use the black edible food marker or black piping frosting to draw the laces on each football.
- Optional Sprinkles: If desired, sprinkle green or brown sprinkles around the base of the cookies to resemble grass or dirt before the coating hardens.
- Let Set: Place decorated cookies on a wire rack or parchment paper to allow the coating to set completely.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Football Cookies Recipe
You’ll absolutely adore these cookies because their adorable football shape is the star of the show, making them an instant hit at any sports-themed event! Plus, making them yourself is incredibly budget-friendly compared to buying pre-made treats, saving you money while delivering custom-made fun. The simple vanilla cookie base is the perfect canvas for the sweet candy melt or frosting coating, and the iconic black laces add that perfect finishing touch that everyone recognizes and loves.
Forget complicated baking projects; this Easy Football Cookies Recipe is your shortcut to impressive, crowd-pleasing desserts. They’re so much more delightful and personal than store-bought alternatives, and the joy you get from seeing your loved ones’ faces light up makes every single step worthwhile. So, grab your apron and get ready to create some sweet memories – we know you’ll want to make these football cookies again and again!
Storing and Reheating Tips
Storing: Once completely cooled and the candy melts or frosting have set, store your Easy Football Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. Place parchment paper between layers of cookies to prevent them from sticking together. They will stay fresh and delicious for up to 5-7 days.
Reheating (if needed): These cookies are best enjoyed at room temperature, so reheating isn’t usually necessary. However, if your kitchen is particularly cool and the candy coating feels a bit stiff, you can let them sit out for about 15-20 minutes before serving.
Freezing: While not ideal, you can freeze these cookies. Ensure they are completely cooled and the coating is set. Wrap them individually in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe container or bag. They can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator, then bring to room temperature before serving.
Final Thoughts
Our Easy Football Cookies Recipe offers a delightful and simple way to bring some festive fun to your table. Encourage everyone to give these charming cookies a try; they are sure to be a touchdown for any occasion!
Easy Football Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. This creaming process incorporates air, which helps create a tender cookie.1 cup unsalted butter, 1 cup granulated sugar
- Beat in the two large eggs, one at a time, until well combined. Then, stir in the vanilla extract.2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. This ensures the leavening agents and salt are evenly distributed throughout the flour.2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough, as this can lead to tough cookies.
- The dough will be slightly soft. You can either chill it for about 30 minutes for easier handling, or you can scoop it directly.
- For each cookie, scoop about 1 to 1.5 tablespoons of dough. Roll the dough into a log shape, tapering the ends to resemble a football. Aim for a uniform size so they bake evenly.
- Place the shaped cookies about 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The centers should still look slightly soft.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This is crucial for frosting.
- Melt the white candy melts or prepare your chosen vanilla frosting according to package directions. If using candy melts, stir until smooth.1 (16-ounce) package white candy melts or vanilla frosting
- Once the cookies are completely cool, dip the top half of each football cookie into the melted candy melts or spread with frosting. Allow excess to drip off.1 (16-ounce) package white candy melts or vanilla frosting
- While the candy melts or frosting are still wet, use the black edible food marker or black piping frosting to draw the laces on each football.black edible food marker (or black piping frosting)
- If desired, sprinkle green or brown sprinkles around the base of the cookies to resemble grass or dirt before the coating hardens.Green or brown sprinkles
- Place decorated cookies on a wire rack or parchment paper to allow the coating to set completely.