Your game day parties just got a little bit cuter! These easy decorated Football Sugar Cookies are simple to make and make a great tailgate dessert! These are perfect for cookie decorating beginners with a simple design, and with no need to go out to buy special cutters to bake cookies!
How cute, right?! Unlike some of the other elaborate football cookies you can find online, these are super simple.
With just a little bit of chocolate icing, a decorative piping tip, and some white fondant, you can create the cutest little cookies that are great for a football-themed party.
I don't consider myself a great dessert decorator. But even I can do this!
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Why This Recipe Works
I love that it starts with a regular round sugar cookie (I don't make cut out cookies, too lazy). And I don't want to have to buy lots of cutters for different shapes.
So if you want a game day cookie that won't make you want to pull your hair out, this is it!
These cookies don't take a lot of time and will really make an impact when you pass them around on game day.
Between these cookies, and one or two more easy dessert recipes, your guest's sweet tooth will be taken care of!
Like most of my dessert recipes, I like to find ways to make things as simple as possible on myself.
These easy football cookies can be made with sugar cookies from scratch, break and bake cookies, or even store-bought cookies (like I use for this Dessert Bruschetta) for the base.
Whatever you have time for (or skill for) works perfectly!
You can hang this free printable football banner. And serve some of these easy Football appetizers and you've got yourself a nice little party.
Ingredients
You can buy Sugar Cookie Dough or Ready-Baked Cookies from the bakery. I like to take shortcuts so I absolutely started with break and bake cookies.
If you aren't familiar with fondant, it's basically a sugar paste that you can mold and cut. It's kind of like play-dough... You'll need White Cake Fondant, a Fondant Cutter or sharp knife and a Rolling Pin.
For the frosting, you'll need 1-2 containers of Chocolate Icing (Depending on the number of cookies you plan to bake / decorate.) You can use ready-made chocolate icing (because when you're throwing a party you usually have tons of other tasks on your plate).
But you could make some from scratch if you prefer.
Don't be afraid of the idea of working with Icing Piping Bags and 1M Piping Tip! It's easier than you think! Watch this video from Wilton to see exactly how to get started.
(I don't know why YouTube links break often, if the link doesn't work Google Wilton 1m tip video and several options will come up).
Directions
Make or Buy Sugar Cookies
If using store-bought cookies, you're good to go.
Create the Laces
Knead your fondant. The longer the better and the easier it is to work with.
Roll it out flat with a rolling pin.
Using a sharp knife, cut out skinny rectangular pieces to create the "lace" of your football, as shown. (One longer piece with 3 shorter pieces laid across as shown above).
Lay them out to set while you finish decorating your cookie.
Decorate
Fill your piping bag with your chocolate icing and place your 1M tip on the end.
Start at the top of your cookie making small passes back and forth, make them larger halfway down the cookie, and then smaller as you reach the other side, as shown.
You are loosely making the shape of a football with it smaller at both ends and a little bit wider in the center.
Don't worry that there is some naked cookie. This method of decorating them keeps things super easy but creates perfectly suitable themed cookies.
Place the fondant laces on top of the icing as shown.
That's it! So easy! There's no need to be afraid of making decorated football sugar cookies.
And if you make a mistake, no biggie! I've never seen anyone turn down a cookie because the decoration wasn't perfect. You don't need people in your life who are so judgemental.
Plus I'm not that worried about creating the perfect football. I'm more concerned about eating them...
Add some sweet dessert dips and you've got yourself a pretty tasty game day dessert spread.
Tips and Tricks
- To make sure your lines are super straight for the laces you can use a new ruler (because you don't want to use one that has pencil lead on it) to help guide your knife.
- If you don't have icing bags and piping tips, you can use a plastic zipper storage bag instead. Fill the bag with chocolate icing and cut one of the corners off.
- Make sure that you cut the hole large enough to make a nice big stream of icing to create the shape of the football. It really won't matter that you don't have a fancy decorative tip. This is my favorite hack because, while I own ALL the tips - because those were something that when I got married and thought I needed since I was going to be a domestic goddess, I'm too lazy to get them out.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cookies will be fresh several days before the party. You can even frost them and decorate the day before. They will sit out well at room temperature although on a hot day, the frosting might begin to drop a bit.
I wouldn't recommend freezing them once they've been frosted. You can bake them and freeze before frosting, however. Just make sure they're stored in airtight containers. When you're ready, thaw and frost!
If you're planning to make your own cookies, I do recommend refrigerating the dough before baking for the best results.
These football cookies aren't complicated and would make such a cute addition to your football party!
I am not a skilled dessert decorator and these were easy. Think you can tackle these? Get it? That was a super clever football pun.
Need more football cookies inspiration? Check out these Football Oreo Cookie Balls and Football Nutter Butter Cookies.
A few more recipes you may enjoy!
- Baked Filo Pastry Taco Chicken Cups
- Hot Bacon Cheese Dip to serve with Ritz Crackers
- Chex Mix Recipe with Old Bay Seasoning
- Hot Green Chile Cheese Dip Recipe with Mayonnaise
- Best Beer Cheese Dip for Pretzels
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Football Sugar Cookies
Equipment
- Rolling Pin
- Fondant Cutter or sharp knife
- Icing Piping Bags and 1M Pipping Tip
Ingredients
- 16 oz Sugar Cookie Dough
- 24 oz White Cake Fondant
- 16 oz Chocolate Icing Depending on the number of cookies you plan to bake.
Instructions
- Start by baking your sugar cookies according to package instructions.
- Let cool completely. Or use store-bought sugar cookies.
- Next, knead your fondant. The longer the better and the easier it is to work with.
- Roll it out flat with a rolling pin.
- Using a sharp knife, cut out skinny rectangular pieces to create the “lace” of your football, as shown. (One longer piece with 3 shorter pieces laid across.)
- Lay them out to set while you finish decorating your cookie.
- Fill your piping bag with chocolate icing and place your 1M tip on the end.
- Start at the top of your cookie making small passes back and forth, make them larger halfway down the cookie, and then smaller as you reach the other side, as shown in the post. (You are loosely making the shape of a football with it smaller at both ends and a little bit wider in the center).
- Place your fondant laces on top of the icing as shown.
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