The Best Football Themed Cupcake for the Super Bowl - Moist chocolate cupcakes with chocolate ganache piped in the shape of a football on top and buttercream laces. Easy to make with a cake mix for the cupcakes and delicious homemade frosting on top. Or if you prefer homemade cupcakes, try my favorite "made from scratch" chocolate cake called Aunt Emily's Fudge Cake.
Why I Love These Football Cupcakes
• These Adorable Football Cupcakes are so cute and yummy! The perfect half time snack!
• They're great for any football party during football season!
• Super Bowl parties are a great way to gather friends and family. Football-themed cupcakes can add a festive touch to the party and serve as a conversation starter.
• They're fun to make and a great project to do with the older kids (12 and older as the piping might be tricky for little hands).
• Game day cupcakes like these are just so festive and add to the overall decoration of your party for the big game!
• These easy football cupcakes are convenient finger foods, making them ideal for snacking during the game. They are easy to grab and enjoy without the need for utensils, contributing to the laid-back atmosphere of Super Bowl parties.
• Plus, these chocolate football cupcakes are totally Instagram worthy!! If you enjoy sharing your culinary creations on social media, football-themed cupcakes can make for visually appealing and shareable posts, allowing you to showcase your baking skills.
What You Need
Ingredient Notes
Cake Mix - Choose your favorite chocolate cake mix. I used an Arrowhead Mills Organic Chocolate Cake Mix which was completely delicious! I found it at my local Publix. If you want to make homemade chocolate cupcakes, make your favorite cupcake recipe or try Aunt Emily's Chocolate Fudge Cake (also on my blog).
Eggs - Use large eggs at room temperature.
Vegetable Oil - Use any mild tasting oil that you prefer. I like avocado oil or light olive oil. You could also use coconut oil but keep in mind it will add a slight coconut flavor.
Chocolate Chips - Choose high-quality dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate for the ganache. The better the chocolate, the richer the flavor.
Heavy Whipping Cream: Be sure to use “heavy” whipping cream, not whipped cream or half and half. Heavy whipping cream will hold its shape better. It has a higher fat percentage which will make it richer, thicker more flavorful. It should be room temperature, not cold heavy cream.
Butter - I always use unsalted butter in all my baking recipes so that I can control the amount of salt that goes into the recipe.
Cupcake Liners - It would be festive to have green cupcake liners like the football field. I like these green foil cupcake liners from Amazon.
How to Make The Best Football Themed Cupcake for the Super Bowl
For the Cupcakes: In a large bowl, with an electric mixer, start mixing up your favorite cake mix according to the package instructions. I like to use an ice cream scoop to scoop the cupcake batter into a muffin pan lined with cupcake liners. It's so much easier that way. Bake cupcakes according to package directions. I baked mine for about 23 minutes at 350°F.
For the Chocolate Ganache Frosting: Meanwhile, make your chocolate ganache frosting. This is one of my favorite frosting recipes because it's so simple and has just 3 ingredients. Pour boiling cream over chocolate chips, then cover bowl with plastic wrap until chocolate chips are completely melted. Stir until smooth. It will be soupy at first. Let it set until the ganache thickens up; about 20-30 minutes.
For Decorating Your Football Cupcakes: Next, make a small batch of homemade buttercream frosting. Recipe follows. Pour chocolate ganache into a pastry bag fitted with a 4B tip and pour the white buttercream into a piping bag fitted with a #6 tip. Pipe the chocolate ganache in a zig-zag pattern to form the shape of a football. Then pipe the buttercream football laces on top of the cupcake. They're ready to eat!
Quick Tips
Festive Cupcake Liners: Choose cupcake liners that match the Super Bowl theme. Green cupcake liners would be so cute!
Flavor Variety: Offer a variety of cupcake flavors to cater to different preferences. Consider classic flavors like chocolate and vanilla or experiment with football-themed flavors like "Touchdown Toffee" or "Field Goal Fudge." Vanilla cupcakes would be a great choice as well.
Serve with Football Props: Enhance the presentation by serving cupcakes alongside football-themed props such as miniature footballs, helmets, or pennants.
Coordinate with Other Snacks: Ensure your cupcakes complement other Super Bowl snacks and treats. Consider incorporating elements from popular game day snacks like nachos, popcorn, or pretzels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make the super bowl cupcakes in advance? Yes, you can bake the cupcakes in advance and store them in an airtight container. However, it's recommended to decorate them closer to the Super Bowl for freshness.
What's the best way to transport decorated cupcakes to a Super Bowl party? Place the cupcakes in a secure cupcake carrier to prevent them from smudging or toppling during transportation. Alternatively, use a shallow box lined with non-slip material.
How do I prevent the frosting from melting or getting too soft? Refrigerate the cupcakes briefly before serving to firm up the frosting.
Can I make gluten-free or vegan football-themed cupcakes? Yes, you can adapt your favorite gluten-free or vegan cupcake mix for Super Bowl treats. Ensure that all ingredients, including decorations, are compliant with dietary restrictions.
How far in advance can I decorate the cupcakes without compromising freshness? It's best to decorate the cupcakes within a day or two of the Super Bowl to maintain the freshness of the frosting and decorations.
How do I store leftover cupcakes with frosting? Place in an airtight container. Store at room temperature for 24 hours or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Can I freeze decorated cupcakes for longer storage? While you can freeze unfrosted cupcakes, freezing decorated cupcakes may affect the texture and appearance of the frosting. It's recommended to decorate them closer to the event.
More recipes you might like…
Chocolate Vanilla Swirl Cupcakes
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Love this recipe? If you try it, be sure to tag me on @Instagram! You can also find me on Pinterest, YouTube and Facebook.
The Best Football Themed Cupcake for the Super Bowl
Ingredients
For the cupcakes
- 1 box chocolate cake mix, prepared according to package instructions I used Arrowhead Mills Organic)
For the chocolate ganache frosting
- 16 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
For the buttercream frosting
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream plus more if icing is too thick
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line muffin pan with cupcake liners. Set aside.
- Prepare cake mix according to package instructions. I used 2 organic eggs, ½ cup olive oil and 1 cup almond milk for the Arrowhead Mills Chocolate Cake mix that I used. Fill cupcake liners with batter. I was able to make 12 cupcakes. Bake as directed. I baked them for about 23 minutes. Let cool. Note: If you prefer homemade cake, try my Aunt Emily's Chocolate Fudge Cake recipe, made into 12 cupcakes.
- Meanwhile, make the ganache. Add chocolate chips to a large glass bowl (or any heat safe bowl). Place cream in a heavy saucepan and heat on medium high until it starts to bowl and bubble up. Once the bubbles have covered the top of the cream, remove from heat and immediately pour over chocolate chips. Then immediately cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let it sit for 20 minutes or until the chips are completely melted. Stir chocolate mixture until smooth. It will be soupy at first. Stir in vanilla. Let it sit for another 20 minutes or until thick. You can put in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to speed up the process. Once it's thick, pour into a pastry bag fitted with a 4B tip. Pipe the ganache in a zig-zag pattern to form the shape of a football.
- Meanwhile, make the buttercream. Place butter, sugar, cream and vanilla in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer until creamy. Pour into a pastry bag and cut the corner to make a small round hole for piping. (Or use a #6 pastry tip.) Pipe a straight line across the top middle portion of the football. Then make four lines across to form the football laces. Serve immediately. Store them covered at room temperature for 24 hours or in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Kim Jacobson says
Everything looks Great and will try. Just an FYI...Somebody left out the Vanilla in the How to make the Chocolate Ganache section. . The one with pictures. They did put it in the Ingredients and recipe below it.