
Ingredients
- Ingredients for Cupcakes:
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup warm water
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Ingredients for Football-Shaped Icing:
- 8 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped
- 6 cups confectioners' sugar
- 16 tablespoons (2 sticks) unsalted butter
- 6 tablespoons milk, plus more if needed
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
For the Cupcakes:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a cupcake pan with paper liners.
- In a large bowl, whisk together cocoa powder, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Add eggs, warm water, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Mix until well combined.
- Fill each cupcake liner about two-thirds full with batter.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
- Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting.
For the Football-Shaped Icing:
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the unsweetened chocolate in 20-30 second intervals, stirring until smooth. Set aside to cool slightly.
- In a separate bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the butter until creamy.
- Gradually add confectioners' sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and salt. Mix until well combined and smooth.
- Add the melted chocolate to the frosting and mix until evenly incorporated.
- If the frosting is too thick, add a little more milk to achieve the desired consistency.
- To create the football-shaped icing decoration, transfer a portion of the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Pipe the outline of football shapes onto the cupcakes.
- Allow the icing to set for a few minutes.
- Fill in the football shapes with more frosting, using a spreading knife or an offset spatula.
- Let the icing fully set before serving.
Notes
Nutritional values are approximate and can vary based on specific ingredients and portion sizes. Enjoy these delicious chocolate cupcakes with football-shaped icing as a fun and festive treat for your gameday celebration!