Chocolate football cookies with white icing laces
Football-Shaped Sugar Cookies
Football-Shaped Sugar Cookies
40 minMedium
Prep Time
30 min
Cook Time
10 min
Total Time
40 min
Servings
24
24 cookies
Difficulty
Medium
Cost
Budget
$
Football-Shaped Sugar Cookies
Chocolate football cookies with white icing laces
Adorable football-shaped cookies with a rich chocolate sugar cookie base and piped white icing laces. The most festive game day dessert that scores with every guest.
30m
Prep Time
10m
Cook Time
40m
Total Time
24
Servings
Medium
Difficulty
Budget $
Cost
Sarah Chen
(Updated )
These football cookies are a chocolate twist on classic sugar cookies, cut into football shapes and decorated with simple white icing laces. They are guaranteed to be a hit at any game day party or tailgate.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup powdered sugar + 2 tbsp milk (icing)
OvenBake
Test Kitchen Pick
Sheet Pan
Helpful Tool
Why a good sheet pan helps here
The pan is doing more work here than it looks like. A sturdy, evenly heating sheet pan gives you better browning and fewer hot spots.
This recipe benefits from more even oven contact and easier cleanup.
- Promotes more even browning
- Useful across weeknight roasts and baking
A heavy rimmed sheet pan is one of the highest-use tools in almost any kitchen.
Shop sheet pan options for this recipeInstructions
- 1
Whisk flour, cocoa powder, and 1/4 tsp salt together. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy, then beat in egg and 1 tsp vanilla.
- 2
Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until a stiff chocolate dough forms. Wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- 3
Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with a football-shaped cookie cutter (or use an oval cutter and shape by hand).
- 4
Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes until set. Cool completely on a wire rack.
- 5
Mix powdered sugar with milk and a drop of vanilla for a thick piping icing. Pipe laces down the center and across each football cookie.
Serving Suggestions
Ways to Serve This Dish
Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream
Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with chocolate sauce before serving
Arrange on a platter for easy sharing at your next gathering
Pair with your favorite dipping sauce for extra flavor
Substitutions
Cocoa powderRegular sugar cookie dough + brown food coloring
Achieve the brown color without chocolate flavor
Royal icing lacesWhite chocolate drizzle
Melt white chocolate and pipe laces for a richer finish
DepthPantry
Test Kitchen Pick
Vanilla Extract
Helpful Pantry Staple
Why the vanilla matters
For baking and desserts, vanilla is often carrying more aroma than people expect. A better bottle gives the whole recipe a cleaner finish.
This is a small pantry move that usually makes baked goods taste more complete.
- Improves aroma in desserts and bakes
- Useful across cakes, cookies, and breakfast bakes
Vanilla extract is one of the easiest pantry upgrades to keep using.
Shop vanilla extract for this recipeTips & Storage
Pro Tips
If you do not have a football cutter, cut ovals and pinch the ends to create the football shape before baking.
Use a zip-lock bag with a tiny corner cut as a quick piping bag for the laces.
Storage
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Reheating
Serve at room temperature; no reheating needed.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (25mg) · 24 servings
Calories155
LowModerateHigh
A light, low-calorie option · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet
Protein2g
Carbohydrates8g
Fat20g
Fiber65mg
Sugar1g
Sodium11g
Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I make these ahead?
- Yes, bake and freeze undecorated cookies for up to 2 months. Thaw and decorate on game day.
- How do I pipe the laces?
- Pipe one line down the center lengthwise and 4-5 short lines across it to mimic the stitching on a football.
Explore More
About Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.
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