Touchdown Whoopie Pies

Welcome to the ultimate game day treat that’s guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser, regardless of the score! These delightful Football Whoopie Pies are more than just a dessert; they are miniature celebrations of flavor and fun, perfectly crafted for any gathering centered around the gridiron. Imagine two soft, chocolatey, cake-like cookies, shaped like miniature footballs, embracing a lush, fluffy marshmallow buttercream filling. Each bite delivers a harmonious blend of rich cocoa and sweet, airy cream, making them an irresistible snack for football enthusiasts and dessert lovers alike.

The Ultimate Game Day Treat: Why Football Whoopie Pies are a Must-Have

As the excitement builds for the big game, every winning game day spread deserves a standout dessert that’s not only delicious but also easy to handle and share. These festive, football-shaped chocolate whoopie pies fit the bill perfectly. They bring a touch of playful charm to your snack table, inviting everyone to dive into a sweet moment between plays. Forget complicated desserts; these whoopie pies are designed for enjoyment, allowing you and your guests to focus on the action while indulging in a truly special treat. Their individual portions mean no messy slicing, just pure, portable deliciousness.

Score Big with Every Bite!

Football season is a time for spirited gatherings, cheering on your favorite team, and, of course, indulging in an array of delicious snacks. We believe in going all out, ensuring every game day is memorable, from the kickoff to the final whistle. Alongside our Touchdown Snack Mix, Football Shaped Fudge Brownies, and Mini Potato Skins, these Football Whoopie Pies are an absolute essential. They complete the perfect game day menu, adding a sweet, festive touch that everyone will adore. They’re simply too good to pass up!

Each whoopie pie features two exquisitely soft, chocolate cake-like cookies, meticulously shaped to resemble miniature footballs. These delectable halves are then generously filled with a sweet, pillowy marshmallow buttercream, creating a perfect balance of textures and flavors. A final touch of white frosting expertly applied makes them look just like real footballs, complete with laces. These treats are not just visually appealing; their rich chocolate and creamy filling make them undeniably delicious – a sweet victory in every single bite!

Beyond the Field: More Occasions for These Delightful Treats

While these Football Whoopie Pies are an absolute touchdown for the big game, their charm extends far beyond football season. Their adorable shape and universally loved chocolate and marshmallow flavors make them incredibly versatile. Imagine them as a star attraction at a sports-themed birthday party, bringing smiles to young fans. They’re also a fantastic reward after a tough football practice, or simply a fun, special treat for any dedicated football enthusiast. Who, after all, can resist a well-made chocolate whoopie pie?

One of the best aspects of this recipe is its straightforward baking and decorating process. You don’t need to be a pastry chef to create these impressive treats. The batter comes together quickly and is then easily piped into football shapes on parchment-lined cookie sheets, simplifying the forming process. As they bake, your kitchen will fill with an inviting aroma, and soon you’ll have a batch of soft, cakey football “pillows.” Once cooled, the final step of sandwiching them with the cloud-like marshmallow buttercream and adding the signature laces transforms them into edible works of art. It’s a rewarding baking project that yields spectacular results every time.

This recipe is a classic chocolate whoopie pie base, incredibly adaptable for various celebrations. Feel free to experiment with different shapes to suit any festive occasion. Instead of footballs, you could pipe them into rounds for traditional whoopie pies, hearts for Valentine’s Day, or even stars for patriotic holidays. The rich chocolate cookie and fluffy filling are a timeless combination that consistently delights, making them a guaranteed hit no matter the form they take. The possibilities are endless for creating fun, themed desserts with this versatile recipe.

Essential Ingredients for Your Championship Batch

Creating perfect Football Whoopie Pies starts with high-quality ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in achieving that ideal texture, flavor, and overall deliciousness. Below is a detailed look at what you’ll need and why each ingredient is important. For a comprehensive understanding of baking ingredients and their functions, consider exploring a complete guide to baking essentials.

• Unsalted Butter: Essential for both the whoopie pie batter and the buttercream filling. In the cakes, butter contributes to a rich flavor, moist crumb, and tender texture. In the filling, it provides a luxurious richness and crucial stability, allowing the buttercream to hold its shape beautifully. Ensure it’s softened to room temperature for optimal creaming.
• Granulated Sugar: Beyond just adding sweetness, granulated sugar contributes significantly to the overall texture of the whoopie pies, promoting proper browning during baking and helping to retain moisture for a soft, chewy cookie.
• Light Brown Sugar: The molasses content in light brown sugar infuses the whoopie pies with a deeper, more complex flavor profile and ensures a wonderfully moist and chewy texture. For a richer, more intense molasses note, dark brown sugar can be used as an alternative, slightly altering the crust’s flavor.
• Large Eggs: Eggs are critical binders in the batter, holding all the ingredients together. They also act as a leavening agent, helping the cookies to puff up lightly as they bake, contributing to their signature cake-like softness.
• Pure Vanilla Extract: A crucial flavor enhancer, vanilla extract brightens and rounds out the chocolate flavor in the whoopie pies while perfectly balancing the sweetness of both the cookies and the filling. Always opt for pure vanilla for the best taste.
• All-Purpose Flour: This forms the structural backbone of your whoopie pies. The protein in the flour develops gluten, which provides the necessary body and chewiness, ensuring the cookies maintain their shape and have a satisfying bite.
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: The heart of the chocolate flavor, unsweetened cocoa powder also contributes to the structure of the whoopie pies. Use good quality cocoa for a deep, rich chocolate taste.
• Baking Soda: This powerful leavening agent works in conjunction with acidic ingredients in the batter to create carbon dioxide, causing the whoopie pies to rise slightly and achieve their characteristic soft, airy texture, as well as contributing to a tender crumb.
• Kosher Salt: A pinch of salt is vital for balancing the sweetness and intensifying the chocolate flavor, making every ingredient shine. Be mindful that kosher salt is less dense than table salt, so if substituting, use about half the amount of table salt.
• Whole Milk: Adding moisture and richness, whole milk keeps the whoopie pie cookies incredibly tender and soft, preventing them from drying out during baking. It contributes to a moist, melt-in-your-mouth experience.
• Marshmallow Fluff: The secret to that iconic, fluffy, and light whoopie pie filling. Marshmallow fluff provides a unique sweetness and an ethereal texture that elevates the buttercream to perfection.
• Powdered Sugar (Confectioners’ Sugar): This fine sugar is essential for sweetening and thickening the marshmallow buttercream to a perfectly spreadable consistency. Sifting it before use is highly recommended to prevent any lumps, ensuring a smooth and silky filling.

Key Baking Tools to Master Your Whoopie Pies

Having the right equipment can make all the difference in your baking process, ensuring smooth execution and excellent results for your Football Whoopie Pies. Here’s what you’ll need to set yourself up for success:

• Two Cookie Sheets: For baking multiple batches efficiently.
• Parchment Paper: Essential for preventing sticking and for easy cleanup. It also provides a non-stick surface for piping your football shapes.
• Electric Mixer: A stand mixer or a hand mixer will significantly ease the creaming of butter and sugar, and whipping the fluffy filling.
• Mixing Bowls: Several bowls are needed for combining wet and dry ingredients separately.
• Resealable Baggie or Piping Bag: Crucial for neatly piping the football shapes and adding the decorative laces.
• Small Spatula: Useful for spreading the batter evenly into football shapes and for general mixing.
• Cooling Rack: For allowing the whoopie pie shells to cool completely and evenly after baking, preventing them from becoming soggy.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Bake and Decorate Your Football Whoopie Pies

Follow these detailed instructions to create delicious and festive Football Whoopie Pies that will impress all your game day guests.

Preparing the Chocolate Whoopie Pie Shells

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper. This is essential for preventing sticking and ensuring easy removal of the delicate whoopie pie shells. Set them aside.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar. Beat on medium speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. This process incorporates air, contributing to the whoopie pies’ tender texture.
3. Add the large egg and pure vanilla extract to the creamed butter and sugar mixture. Beat until these ingredients are thoroughly combined, ensuring no streaks of egg remain. The mixture should be smooth and well-emulsified.



4. In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and kosher salt. This ensures all dry ingredients are evenly distributed before being added to the wet mixture.
5. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add 1/3 of the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until it’s barely combined. Then, add half of the whole milk and continue mixing on low until incorporated.
6. Repeat the process: add another 1/3 of the flour mixture, mix, then add the remaining milk, mixing until just combined.
7. Finally, add the last 1/3 of the flour mixture and beat on low speed until the batter is smooth and uniform, but be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough whoopie pies. Stop mixing as soon as the flour is incorporated.



8. Carefully scoop the chocolate whoopie pie batter into a large piping bag or a sturdy resealable baggie. If using a resealable bag, snip a small piece (about 1/2 inch) off one lower corner with scissors.
9. On your parchment-lined cookie sheets, pipe a football outline with the batter. Then, fill in the football shape with more batter and gently spread it out with a small spatula to create a smooth, flat football shape. Ensure each football is spaced a couple of inches apart to prevent them from merging during baking.
10. Alternatively, for perfectly consistent shapes, you can draw football outlines with a pen on one side of the parchment paper. Then, flip the paper over so the ink is on the underside (and won’t transfer to the food) and pipe the batter directly onto these outlines, filling them in and smoothing them out to ensure an even, football-like appearance.
11. Bake for 12-14 minutes, rotating the cookie sheets halfway through baking to ensure even cooking. The whoopie pies are done when they are set and spring back lightly when gently touched in the center. Avoid overbaking, as this will dry them out.
12. Remove the cookie sheets from the oven and let the whoopie pies cool on the sheets for about 10 minutes. This allows them to firm up slightly before being moved. After 10 minutes, carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. They must be entirely cool before filling to prevent the buttercream from melting.

Perfecting the Marshmallow Buttercream Filling

13. While your whoopie pie shells are cooling, begin preparing the marshmallow buttercream filling. In the clean bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the softened butter and marshmallow fluff together. Start on low speed and gradually increase to medium, beating until the mixture is light, smooth, and well combined.
14. With the mixer on low, add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing until each addition is fully incorporated before adding more. Once all the sugar is in, increase the mixer speed to high and beat the filling for about 5 minutes until it becomes wonderfully light, airy, and fluffy.
15. Check the consistency of your filling. If it appears too thick or stiff, add a teaspoon or two of milk (or cream) to thin it out slightly, beating after each addition until the desired consistency is reached. Conversely, if the filling seems too thin, add more powdered sugar, a tablespoon at a time, until it is thick yet spreadable – perfect for sandwiching.

Assembling and Decorating Your Football Delights

16. Once the chocolate whoopie pie shells are completely cool, turn half of them over so their flat bottoms are facing up. Using a spoon or a small offset spatula, place a generous few tablespoons of the marshmallow buttercream filling onto the flat side of each inverted cookie.
17. Gently top each filled cookie with another whoopie pie shell, pressing down ever so slightly to create a neat sandwich. Be careful not to press too hard, as the filling might ooze out or the delicate cookies could crack.
18. Scoop the remaining marshmallow buttercream filling into a small piping bag or a resealable baggie. Snip a very tiny corner off the bottom of the baggie – this will allow you to create fine lines for decoration.
19. Pipe thin, precise lines of frosting onto the top of each assembled whoopie pie, mimicking the laces of a football. A single line down the center with a few short perpendicular lines crossing it will achieve the classic football look. Serve immediately or store for later enjoyment!

Pro Tips for Whoopie Pie Perfection

• Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure butter and eggs are at room temperature. This helps them emulsify properly, creating a smoother batter and a more consistent filling.
• Don’t Overmix: After adding the dry ingredients, mix just until combined. Overmixing can develop too much gluten, resulting in tough whoopie pies.
• Consistent Sizing: For uniform whoopie pies, use the parchment paper tracing method or a template when piping. This ensures pairs will match perfectly when assembled.
• Cool Completely: Always allow your whoopie pie shells to cool entirely on a wire rack before filling. Filling warm cookies will melt the buttercream, leading to a messy and runny dessert.
• Sift Powdered Sugar: Sifting your powdered sugar for the buttercream is a small step that makes a big difference, preventing lumps and ensuring a silky-smooth filling.
• Adjust Filling Consistency: The beauty of homemade buttercream is its adaptability. Don’t hesitate to add a tiny bit more milk or powdered sugar to achieve your desired spreadable consistency.

Storage and Freezing: Keeping Your Treats Fresh for Game Time

To preserve the deliciousness of your Football Whoopie Pies, proper storage is key. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. If you need them to last longer, transfer them to the refrigerator, where they will stay fresh for up to five days. Bringing them to room temperature for about 15-30 minutes before serving will allow the flavors and textures to fully develop.

For longer storage, these whoopie pies freeze exceptionally well. To freeze, wrap each individual whoopie pie tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. They can be frozen for up to two months. When you’re ready to enjoy them, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator, then let them come to room temperature before serving. For the best texture and fluffiest frosting, we recommend freezing the plain chocolate whoopie pie cakes unfilled. Once thawed, you can then prepare a fresh batch of marshmallow buttercream and assemble them, ensuring the filling is as light and airy as possible.

More Winning Game Day Recipes

Ready to complete your ultimate game day feast? You’ll score big with our comprehensive collection of Winning Recipes for Football Season! We’ve gathered our favorite crowd-pleasing dishes that are guaranteed to win over everyone at your football watch party. From savory appetizers to more sweet treats, our selection ensures your spread will be the talk of the town.

Recipe: Football Whoopie Pies

Description

Chocolate whoopie pies shaped like footballs with a fluffy marshmallow buttercream filling for a festive game time treat that’s sure to be a winner!

• Author: Maegan – The BakerMama
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 12 mins
• Total Time: 42 mins
• Yield: 16 Whoopie Pies
• Category: Dessert

Ingredients

For the Whoopie Pies:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 and 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 cup whole milk

For the Marshmallow Buttercream Filling:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 1 cup marshmallow fluff
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1-2 teaspoons milk, if needed (for consistency)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugars until smooth and creamy. Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat until well combined.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
4. With the mixer on low speed, add 1/3 of the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, then half of the milk, mixing until just combined. Add another 1/3 of the flour mixture and the remaining milk, continuing to mix on low speed until combined. Add the remaining flour mixture and beat until the batter is smooth.
5. Scoop the batter into a large resealable baggie or piping bag and snip a small piece off of one lower corner. Draw football outlines with the batter onto the parchment-lined cookie sheet. Fill in the football shapes with more batter and spread into a flat football shape with a small spatula. Repeat with remaining batter, spacing each football a couple of inches apart.
6. Alternatively, you can draw football shapes with a pen on one side of the parchment paper, then flip it over and pipe the batter onto the outlines, filling them in and spreading them out evenly.
7. Bake for 12-14 minutes, rotating cookie sheets halfway through, until cookies are set and spring back when lightly touched. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes on the cookie sheets before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
8. Meanwhile, make the filling. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the softened butter and marshmallow fluff until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, until well combined. Turn the mixer on high speed and beat until the filling is fluffy, about 5 minutes. If the filling is too thick, add 1-2 teaspoons of milk to thin it out a bit; if it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar. It should be thick yet spreadable.
9. Turn half of the football cookies over and place a few tablespoons of filling on them. Top with another cookie and press gently together. Scoop remaining filling into a small resealable baggie and snip a tiny corner off the bottom. Draw lines on the top of each sandwich with the filling to resemble football laces.

I hope you and your crew enjoy these Football Whoopie Pies and game day ideas as much as we do! If you make these festive treats, be sure to snap a picture and share it with me on Instagram @thebakermama so I can see your wonderful creations. For more inspiration and to connect with fellow baking enthusiasts, join my Friends of The BakerMama group on Facebook. I absolutely love seeing you enjoy the recipes and inspiration I share. Happy baking and happy game day!

xoxo,