Name: Chocolate Football Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 2 h 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 2 h 25 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour; 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature; 1 3/4 cups sugar; 2 large eggs, at room temperature; 1 tablespoon vanilla extract; Sugar Cookie Icing; Green sprinkles (optional)

If you’re looking to score big at your next football party or just want a fun baking project, this Chocolate Football Cookies Recipe is exactly what you need. I absolutely love how these cookies turn out – they’re chocolaty, soft yet sturdy enough to hold those cute little lace details, and super fun to decorate. Whether it’s game day or just a cozy weekend treat, you’ll find that these cookies bring a little extra cheer to any occasion.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Deliciously Chocolatey: The blend of cocoa powder and butter makes a rich, indulgent cookie base.
Perfect for Decorating: The dough holds its shape beautifully, making piping those football laces a breeze.
Great for All Skill Levels: Whether you’re a cookie pro or a beginner baker, the instructions are straightforward and fun.
Ideal for Gatherings: These cookies make any football-themed party or casual get-together a hit.

Six dark brown football-shaped cookies lie on light brown parchment paper inside a light-colored baking tray. Each cookie has white icing details: two curved lines near the short ends and five short straight lines crossing a central horizontal line in the middle, resembling football stitches. The tray sits on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Chocolate Football Cookies, football cookies for parties, easy football cookie recipe, decorated football cookies, game day cookie ideas

Ingredients You’ll Need

Each ingredient plays a crucial role in this Chocolate Football Cookies Recipe, from the rich cocoa powder that gives it that deep chocolate flavor to the butter that keeps the cookies tender. Choosing fresh, room-temperature eggs and unsalted butter really helps the dough come together perfectly.

Flat lay of rich unsweetened cocoa powder in a small heap, smooth unsalted butter blocks, two large brown eggs, a mound of white granulated sugar, a vanilla bean pod alongside a small glass vial of vanilla extract, a neat pile of all-purpose flour, and a small bowl of glossy white cookie icing with green sprinkles scattered around, all beautifully arranged on a white marble surface, photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Chocolate Football Cookies, football cookies for parties, easy football cookie recipe, decorated football cookies, game day cookie ideas

All-purpose flour: Provides structure; be sure to measure accurately for the right texture.
Unsweetened cocoa powder: The star for chocolate flavor; I recommend Dutch-processed for richness.
Baking powder: Gives a slight lift without making the cookies cakey.
Salt: Enhances chocolate flavor and balances sweetness.
Unsalted butter: Using room temperature butter makes creaming easier and results in a tender cookie.
Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps with browning; I use regular granulated sugar.
Large eggs: Bind everything and add moisture; room temp is best for mixing.
Vanilla extract: Elevates all the flavors with its warmth and depth.
Sugar cookie icing: Essential for those classic football laces – you can buy pre-made or whip up your own.
Green sprinkles (optional): For that touch of ‘field’ flair if you want to get creative.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I like to tweak this Chocolate Football Cookies Recipe depending on the occasion. You can easily adjust it to suit your taste or dietary needs without losing any of that classic football cookie charm.

Gluten-Free Version: I’ve swapped the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free baking blend with great success—just make sure your blend has xanthan gum for structure.
Nutty Addition: Sometimes I mix in finely chopped toasted pecans or walnuts to add a subtle crunch and depth of flavor.
White Chocolate Footballs: For a fun twist, I replace cocoa with more flour and use white chocolate icing for the laces—kids always go crazy for these!
Vegan Adaptation: Using plant-based butter and flax eggs works nicely; just keep an eye on the dough thickness as it can vary slightly.

How to Make Chocolate Football Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Mix Your Dry Ingredients

Start by sifting together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Sifting is key here because it removes lumps, especially in the cocoa powder, giving you a smoother dough and a more even chocolate flavor. Set this bowl aside for a bit while you cream the butter and sugar.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar Until Fluffy

Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the room temperature butter and sugar for about 3 minutes until the mixture turns light and fluffy. This aeration is what helps your cookies have that tender bite. Don’t rush it – the texture after this step makes a world of difference.

Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla

Beat in the eggs one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Then pour in the vanilla extract. It’s one of my favorite moments because that warm vanilla aroma fills the kitchen and makes you feel like deliciousness is really on its way.

Step 4: Combine with Dry Ingredients

Slowly add your sifted dry mixture and beat on low speed just until the dough comes together into a smooth, cohesive ball. Be careful not to overmix here; you want tender cookies, not tough ones.

Step 5: Roll and Chill Your Dough

Divide your dough in half, then roll each portion between two sheets of parchment or wax paper to about 1/4-inch thickness. This step makes the dough easy to cut out into football shapes. Slide the dough (still on the parchment) onto baking sheets and refrigerate for at least 2 hours – I usually chill mine overnight. This keeps the cookies from spreading too much while baking.

Step 6: Cut Out Your Football Shapes

Once your dough is chilled, preheat your oven to 350°F. Remove the dough sheets from the fridge and use a football-shaped cookie cutter or carefully cut out the shape with a sharp knife. Don’t forget to re-roll any scraps to get the most cookies out of your dough!

Step 7: Bake and Cool

Arrange the cookies on parchment-lined baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges look set but the centers are still soft. When you pull them out, let them cool on the sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. This prevents breakage, which is especially important when you’re handling intricate shapes like these.

Step 8: Decorate with Icing

Once cooled completely, it’s time to pipe the laces on with sugar cookie icing. I use a small round tip or just a snipped plastic bag corner. The icing dries semi-firm in about 10 minutes – perfect if you’re in a hurry – but letting it set for up to 24 hours hardens the laces to a nice, firm texture. If you want a little extra, I like adding green sprinkles on the sides to mimic the football field, which always scores points with kids!

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Pro Tips for Making Chocolate Football Cookies Recipe

Chill Dough Thoroughly: I can’t stress this enough – chilling the dough makes it so much easier to cut out clean football shapes without sticky messes.
Use Parchment Paper Smartly: Rolling between parchment sheets saves you from extra flour and cleanups, plus helps keep dough thickness even.
Pipe with Steady Hands: I usually keep the icing cool and work in small batches; warming the icing too much makes piping tricky.
Don’t Overbake: Cookies firm up as they cool; pulling them from the oven too late can dry them out and make decorating harder.

How to Serve Chocolate Football Cookies Recipe

The image shows a white oval plate filled with bright green sprinkles as the base layer, creating a textured and vibrant background. On top of the sprinkles, there are six football-shaped chocolate cookies arranged evenly across the plate. Each cookie is dark brown with a smooth surface and decorated with white icing lines that mimic the stitching of a football, including three vertical laces in the center and curved side lines. The overall look is playful and festive, with clear contrast between the dark cookies and the bright green sprinkles, set against a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Chocolate Football Cookies, football cookies for parties, easy football cookie recipe, decorated football cookies, game day cookie ideas

Garnishes

I usually garnish with a sprinkle of green sugar or edible glitter around the edges for that turf look—makes the cookies pop visually! Plus, I’ve found that a light dusting of cocoa powder around your serving platter adds a bit of rustic charm while complementing the chocolate flavor.

Side Dishes

These cookies go great alongside classic game day drinks like a cold root beer or your favorite latte. If you’re setting up a dessert table, I like pairing them with some salty snacks—think pretzels or popcorn—to balance the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

For parties, arrange them on a platter shaped like a football field with green paper or a cloth underneath. Another fun idea: wrap each cookie in clear cellophane tied with a little ribbon for easy favors. Kids love them, and honestly, adults don’t complain either!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cookies in an airtight container layered between parchment paper to prevent the icing from smudging. They keep well at room temperature for up to a week—although, full disclosure, they rarely last that long in my house!

Freezing

I’ve had great luck freezing these cookies after decorating. Just freeze them flat on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer to a sealable bag with parchment layers in between. When ready, thaw at room temperature for a couple of hours – the icing holds up surprisingly well.

Reheating

If you like your cookies slightly warm, a quick 10-second zap in the microwave works wonders without melting the icing. I avoid reheating in the oven since it can soften or ruin the decorated laces.

FAQs

Can I use a different shape cutter for this Chocolate Football Cookies Recipe?

Absolutely! While football shapes are perfect for game day, this dough works great with any cutter – circles, stars, or even hearts if you want to mix it up for other occasions.
How do I make the cookie icing for decorating the football laces?

You can use a simple powdered sugar and milk icing or a royal icing for firmer laces. Whisk powdered sugar with a bit of milk and vanilla extract until smooth, then thin to a piping consistency. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.
What if my dough spreads too much during baking?

The key is chilling the dough well before cutting and baking. If the dough is warm or too soft, the cookies will spread, losing their shape. Also, avoid using too much butter or sugar beyond the recipe amounts.
Can I decorate these cookies ahead of time?

Yes! You can decorate and let the icing dry completely, then store the cookies in an airtight container. This makes it easy to prepare for a party in advance and keeps the design crisp.

Final Thoughts

This Chocolate Football Cookies Recipe holds a special place in my heart because it’s more than just a cookie—it’s a way to bring friends and family together around the fun spirit of the game. I love sharing these little sweet touchdowns with my loved ones and seeing their smiles as they admire the perfect laces piped on each one. If you try this recipe, I think you’ll discover what makes these cookies such a cherished game day treat—you’re going to love them just as much as I do!