Easy Super Bowl Football Cupcakes

I love a good themed treat, and these football cupcakes are perfect for the big game.

I start with my favorite chocolate cupcakes, a quick swirl of chocolate frosting and a little white icing turns them into mini footballs.

I love making these cupcakes from scratch, but there’s nothing wrong with store-bought ingredients like already made cupcakes and icing!

I’m going to give you the recipe to make everything yourself, but go wild with pre-made ingredients if you need to put these together quickly.

And no matter how you choose to make them, this is a great treat that the kids can help with when it comes to decorating!

Serve them up, watch the game, and enjoy every bite—win or lose, at least the snacks are good!

What’s You’ll Need

If you’re going to make these game day beauties from scratch, you’ll need to have a few things on hand!

Here’s what you’ll need to gather:

All-purpose flour: Forms the base of the cupcakes, giving them structure and a soft texture.
Unsweetened cocoa powder: Adds rich, deep chocolate flavor without extra sweetness.
Baking powder & baking soda: Work together to help the cupcakes rise and stay fluffy.
Salt: Enhances the chocolate flavor and balances the sweetness.
Unsalted butter: Brings moisture and a rich, buttery taste to both the cupcakes and frosting.
Granulated sugar: Sweetens the cupcakes and helps create a tender crumb.
Eggs: Provide structure and help bind all the ingredients together.
Vanilla extract: Adds warmth and depth to both the cupcakes and frostings.
Whole milk: Keeps the cupcakes moist and helps create a smooth batter.
Powdered sugar: Gives the chocolate frosting its sweetness and makes the vanilla icing smooth.
Heavy cream or milk: Adds creaminess to the chocolate frosting for a light, fluffy texture.

How to Make Super Bowl Football Cupcakes

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake pan with liners so the cupcakes don’t stick.

Step 2: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients—flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt—until well combined.

Step 3: In another bowl, stir the melted butter and sugar together until smooth, then mix in the eggs and vanilla to add richness.

Step 4: Add half of the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stir gently, pour in the milk, then mix in the rest of the dry ingredients until the batter is just combined.

Step 5: Spoon the batter evenly into the cupcake liners and bake for about 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Step 6: Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before adding frosting, so it doesn’t melt on top.

Step 7: To make the chocolate frosting, beat the butter until soft, then gradually mix in the powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Add the heavy cream and vanilla, then whip until light and fluffy.

Step 8: For the vanilla icing, mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth, adjusting the consistency if needed.

Step 9: Use a piping bag to pipe out the chocolate frosting over each cupcake, then with another pipping bag, pipe on the football laces using the vanilla icing. A Wilton #21 star tip (or a similar alternative) creates the football shape, while a Wilton #3 (or an equivalent) adds the laces.

Step 10: Let the icing firm up for a few minutes, then serve and enjoy while watching the game!

Super Bowl Football Cupcakes

These football cupcakes are the ultimate game-day treat—chocolatey, fun to decorate, and perfect for the big game!

Ingredients

Cupcakes:

1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¾ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup unsalted butter, melted
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup whole milk

Chocolate Frosting

½ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 ¾ cups powdered sugar
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

Vanilla Icing (for laces)

½ cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon milk
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat & Prep: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a cupcake pan with liners.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, mix the melted butter and sugar until smooth, then add eggs and vanilla.
Make the Batter: Add half of the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently. Pour in the milk, then mix in the remaining dry ingredients until just combined.
Bake: Divide the batter evenly among the cupcake liners and bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let them cool completely before decorating.

Make the Frostings

Chocolate Frosting: Beat the butter until creamy. Add powdered sugar and cocoa powder, mixing on low until combined. Pour in heavy cream and vanilla, then whip until fluffy.
Vanilla Icing (for Laces): Stir powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla together until smooth. If it’s too thick, add a tiny bit more milk; if too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar.

Decorate & Serve

Frost & Decorate: Pipe a layer of chocolate frosting on each cupcake. A Wilton #21 star tip (or a similar alternative) creates the football shape, while a Wilton #3 (or an equivalent) adds the laces. Or, you can use a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off to pipe white icing laces on top.
Let Set & Enjoy: Let the icing set for a few minutes, then serve them up and watch them disappear before halftime!