Get ready to score big with these incredibly fun and delicious Superbowl Football Cakesicles, the perfect edible treat for any football fan. This easy-to-follow recipe transforms simple ingredients into festive, bite-sized delights that are sure to be the star of your Superbowl party spread.
Key Ingredients for Superbowl Football Cakesicles:
- For the Cakesicle Base:
- 1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 1/3 cups water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup sprinkles (optional, for added color)
- 1/2 cup buttercream frosting (your favorite flavor, or store-bought for ease)
- For the Chocolate Coating:
- 12 oz white candy melts
- 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening (or coconut oil)
- Brown food coloring (gel or oil-based recommended for best color saturation and for avoiding streaks)
- Black food coloring (gel or oil-based)
- For Decoration:
- Piping bag
- Piping tip (small round tip, like Wilton #3 or #4)
- Black icing or food coloring mixture (thinned slightly with a tiny bit of vegetable oil for piping)
- Optional: Red and white edible food marker or edible paint for laces.
How to Make Superbowl Football Cakesicles:
These Superbowl Football Cakesicles are a delightful and incredibly simple dessert that’s both visually appealing and irresistibly tasty. The magic happens when a moist, fluffy cake base is blended with creamy frosting, then transformed into adorable football shapes and dipped in a luscious chocolate coating. With just a few steps, you’ll create a batch of these satisfying treats in under an hour of active preparation time.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Bake the Cake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan. In a large bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, water, and vanilla extract. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes, or until smooth and well combined. If using, gently stir in the sprinkles. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely.
2. Prepare the Cakesicle Mixture: Once the cake is completely cool to the touch, crumble it into a large bowl. Add the buttercream frosting to the crumbled cake. Using your hands or a sturdy spoon, mix the cake crumbs and frosting together until a thick, cohesive dough forms. It should be moist enough to hold its shape when pressed but not sticky.
3. Shape the Footballs: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Take about 2-3 tablespoons of the cake and frosting mixture at a time and roll it into a rough oval shape, resembling a football. You can gently taper the ends to give them a more authentic football appearance. Place the shaped cakesicles onto the prepared baking sheet and freeze for at least 30 minutes (or refrigerate for 1 hour) until firm. This step is crucial for easier dipping.
4. Melt and Color the Chocolate: While the cakesicles are chilling, prepare your chocolate coating. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the white candy melts and vegetable shortening. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring well after each, until fully melted and smooth. For the brown coloring, divide about half of the melted white candy melts into a separate microwave-safe bowl. Add brown food coloring gradually, stirring until you achieve a desired football brown color. For the black details, set aside a small amount of melted white candy melts in a separate bowl and stir in black food coloring until you reach a deep black.
5. Dip the Cakesicles: Once the cakesicles are firm, carefully remove them from the freezer. Using a fork or a dipping tool, dip each cakesicle into the melted brown candy melts, ensuring it’s fully coated. Let any excess chocolate drip back into the bowl. Carefully place the dipped cakesicle back onto the parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with all the cakesicles. Let them set slightly at room temperature, or pop them back into the freezer for 5-10 minutes to speed up the hardening process.
6. Decorate the Footballs: Once the brown coating is firm, prepare to decorate. Transfer the melted black candy melt mixture (or thinned black icing) into a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Pipe the iconic football stitching onto each cakesicle, creating two parallel lines down the center and a curved “laces” pattern in between. If you’re using edible markers or paint, you can add the laces this way as well. Allow the decorations to harden completely before serving.
Why You’ll Love This Superbowl Football Cakesicles:
These Superbowl Football Cakesicles are an absolute game-changer for any party! Their most striking feature is undoubtedly their adorable football shape, making them an instant conversation starter and a huge hit with kids and adults alike. Plus, making them at home saves you a significant amount compared to purchasing pre-made themed desserts, allowing you to impress your guests without breaking the bank. The delightful combination of moist cake and rich frosting, all enveloped in a sweet chocolate shell, creates a symphony of flavors and textures that’s truly satisfying.
Think of them as a more playful and personalized alternative to traditional cookies or cupcakes, offering the same sweetness but with an extra dose of fun. Why settle for ordinary when you can score a touchdown with these festive Superbowl Football Cakesicles? Gather your ingredients, put on your favorite game day playlist, and get ready to create a treat that’s as enjoyable to make as it is to devour. Your taste buds will thank you!
Storing and Reheating Tips:
To keep your delicious Superbowl Football Cakesicles fresh and delightful, store them in an airtight container in a single layer to prevent them from sticking together. Refrigeration is the best method for storage, where they will stay fresh for up to 4 days. The cold will help maintain the structure of the chocolate coating and the cake base. If you find they become a bit too firm after refrigeration, you can leave them at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before serving to soften slightly. Freezing is also an option; place them on a baking sheet in a single layer until firm, then transfer to an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 1 month. When ready to enjoy, thaw them in the refrigerator overnight for the best results. Reheating is not typically recommended for cakesicles, as it can cause the chocolate to melt and lose its crispness.
Final Thoughts:
These Superbowl Football Cakesicles are a truly fantastic way to bring some festive flair and deliciousness to your next game day gathering. They’re surprisingly simple to make and are guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser. So, gather your ingredients and get ready to tackle this fun and flavorful recipe!
Superbowl Football Cakesicles
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan. In a large bowl, combine the yellow cake mix, eggs, vegetable oil, water, and vanilla extract. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes, or until smooth and well combined. If using, gently stir in the sprinkles. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely.1 box (15.25 oz) yellow cake mix, 3 large eggs, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 1 1/3 cups water, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/4 cup sprinkles
- Once the cake is completely cool to the touch, crumble it into a large bowl. Add the buttercream frosting to the crumbled cake. Using your hands or a sturdy spoon, mix the cake crumbs and frosting together until a thick, cohesive dough forms. It should be moist enough to hold its shape when pressed but not sticky.1/2 cup buttercream frosting
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Take about 2-3 tablespoons of the cake and frosting mixture at a time and roll it into a rough oval shape, resembling a football. You can gently taper the ends to give them a more authentic football appearance. Place the shaped cakesicles onto the prepared baking sheet and freeze for at least 30 minutes (or refrigerate for 1 hour) until firm. This step is crucial for easier dipping.
- While the cakesicles are chilling, prepare your chocolate coating. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the white candy melts and vegetable shortening. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring well after each, until fully melted and smooth. For the brown coloring, divide about half of the melted white candy melts into a separate microwave-safe bowl. Add brown food coloring gradually, stirring until you achieve a desired football brown color. For the black details, set aside a small amount of melted white candy melts in a separate bowl and stir in black food coloring until you reach a deep black.12 oz white candy melts, 2 tablespoons vegetable shortening, brown food coloring, black food coloring
- Once the cakesicles are firm, carefully remove them from the freezer. Using a fork or a dipping tool, dip each cakesicle into the melted brown candy melts, ensuring it’s fully coated. Let any excess chocolate drip back into the bowl. Carefully place the dipped cakesicle back onto the parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with all the cakesicles. Let them set slightly at room temperature, or pop them back into the freezer for 5-10 minutes to speed up the hardening process.
- Once the brown coating is firm, prepare to decorate. Transfer the melted black candy melt mixture (or thinned black icing) into a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Pipe the iconic football stitching onto each cakesicle, creating two parallel lines down the center and a curved “laces” pattern in between. If you’re using edible markers or paint, you can add the laces this way as well. Allow the decorations to harden completely before serving.black icing or food coloring mixture, red and white edible food marker or edible paint