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Chocolate Cupcakes Topped with Football Cake Pops

January 13, 2015 by Aida 18 Comments

Chocolate Cupcakes with Football Cake Pop Toppers|The Crafting Foodie

It’s that time of the year, where American football dominates pretty much everything round here. I mean, we aren’t the biggest football fans, but we live in New England. Whether you love the New England Patriots or hate ’em, you have to admit they are an amazing team. I’m a Chicago Bears fan, and after so many absolutely horrific seasons, I’m still loyal to my home team, but I have to give it up for the Patriots.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Football Cake Pop Toppers|The Crafting Foodie

Having said that, we are still in the middle of playoffs. Who knows who’ll make it to the Super Bowl, but what I can tell you is that many of us will be spending the next few weekends wrapped up in all things football. And that includes entertaining and cooking. Our next few weekends are booked with brunches and dinners with friends, and I can guarantee that the game (whichever game it is) will be on, and it will be front and center. So, in that spirit, I wanted to make a football themed dessert.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Football Cake Pop Toppers|The Crafting Foodie

I decided on cupcakes because who doesn’t like cupcakes? And going along with that same thinking, I wanted to make the ever popular chocolate cupcakes. This particular recipe for chocolate cupcakes is a new one from me. It includes all of my favorites in a chocolate cupcake recipe – it’s made with oil, milk, and coffee. I know some recipes say that adding the coffee is optional, but if you want that little chocolate cake to have some depth of flavor, the coffee is a must. Another important reason the coffee is a must, is that it provides the acid in the batter, and since my recipe uses baking soda as the leavener, an acidic component is necessary for the proper crumb and texture for the cupcakes.

From the get go I knew I wanted to plop a big-old football on the cupcake. But what I needed to figure out was what kind of football – a sugar cookie football, a royal icing football, a candy melt football, or a cake pop one. Since I wanted the football to have dimension and substance, a cake pop was the obvious choice.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Football Cake Pop Toppers|The Crafting Foodie

Plus, making the cake pop was such a breeze because I just used the extra cupcakes to make my footballs rather than having to make a batch of sugar cookies or royal icing just for the cupcake topping. So really this football themed dessert  is really two treats in one – a moist, rich, cupcake and a dense, chocolatey cake pop all in one adorable, football package!

Chocolate Cupcakes with Football Cake Pop Toppers|The Crafting Foodie

Chocolate Cupcakes Topped with Football Cake Pops
Author: Aida Arain
Prep time: 1 hour
Cook time: 15 mins
Total time: 1 hour 15 mins
Serves: 18 cupcakes and 18 cake pops
The cupcake recipe below will yield 24 cupcakes. I used 6 of the cupcakes for the cake pops, resulting in 18 cupcakes and 18 cake pops.
Ingredients
  • For the Chocolate Cupcakes and Cake Pops: 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup cocoa powder
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup vegetable oil (I used coconut oil, melted and cooled)
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup strong coffee, warm
  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tbs milk
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract (I used vanilla bean paste)
  • For the vanilla frosting: 1 1/2 cups, unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 3 cups confectioner’s sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 tbs milk or cream
  • For the cake pops:
  • 8 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
  • 1 tbs vegetable shortening
Instructions
  1. For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin tin with paper wrappers.
  2. In a medium bowl, sift the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk the oil, sugar, oil, eggs, and coffee.
  4. Slowly mix in the dry ingredients, and mix until just combined.
  5. Fill each cup of the muffin tin about 2/3 full.
  6. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes.
  7. Allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes. Then remove them from the pan and allow them to cool completely on a cooling rack.
  8. For the vanilla frosting: Cream the butter and confectioner’s sugar in the bowl of a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment.
  9. Add the vanilla, salt, and milk. Mix until light and fluffy.
  10. Set about a scant 1/4 of the frosting aside for the cake pops.
  11. For the cake pops: Once the cupcakes are completely cool, crumble 6 of the cupcakes into fine crumbs.
  12. Mix in about 2 tbs of frosting. The resulting mix should be malleable and soft, like play-doh.
  13. Using about 1 tsp of cake pop mix, form the cake pops into a football shape. Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet and chill for at least an hour.
  14. When the cake pops are thoroughly chilled, melt the chopped chocolate and shortening.
  15. Using a toothpick, dip the cake pops in the chocolate. Gently shake off extra chocolate. Place the cake pops back onto the cookie sheet and cool completely.
  16. While the cake pops cool, frost the cupcakes.
  17. Once the cake pops are completely cool, place the extra frosting in a piping bag and pipe the football details on each of the cake pops.
  18. Tint any left over frosting green. Place in a piping bag, and pipe lines in the middle of the cupcake.
  19. Finally, place one football cake pop on top of each cupcake.
3.2.2885

This post is linked to these parties.

Filed Under: Birthdays, Chocolate, Cupcakes, Game Day Treats

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Comments

  1. Allie | Baking a Moment says

    January 14, 2015 at 1:31 pm

    So cute! I love that the footballs are cake pops. They look so realistic!

    Reply
    • Aida@TheCraftingFoodie says

      January 15, 2015 at 3:48 am

      Thanks so much Allie! The kids were absolutely mesmerized by them because they do look like mini-footballs, but you can eat them! I’ve never really made cake pops, so it was a fun project 🙂

      Reply
  2. Beth says

    January 15, 2015 at 1:16 pm

    We’re celebrating football week on our blog this week, so these make me so happy! I love any kind of football food 🙂

    Reply
    • Aida Arain says

      January 16, 2015 at 3:48 am

      Thanks Beth! I’ve seen all the adorable treats you’ve been posting the entire week. They are all so adorable (and they look pretty delicious, too!).

      Reply
  3. Aimee @ ShugarySweets says

    January 15, 2015 at 1:50 pm

    Oh my gosh these are so adorable! Putting on our next game day menu 🙂

    Reply
    • Aida Arain says

      January 16, 2015 at 3:49 am

      Thanks so much Aimee! They’re pretty delicious, plus, who can resist a mini-edible football?

      Reply
  4. Amy @ A Healthy Life For Me says

    January 15, 2015 at 5:45 pm

    These are adorable. Sharing now!

    Reply
    • Aida Arain says

      January 16, 2015 at 3:50 am

      Thanks so much Amy!

      Reply
  5. Jocelyn @BruCrew Life says

    January 15, 2015 at 7:26 pm

    What an absolutely fun cupcake for tail gating!!!! These are so cute!!!

    Reply
    • Aida Arain says

      January 16, 2015 at 3:51 am

      Thanks so much Jocelyn! My kids LOVED them!

      Reply
  6. Lisa Jackson says

    January 20, 2015 at 4:12 pm

    These are really cute. Look delicious too! Would love for you to share your link with our readers. We love crafters and foodies! Hope your team made it through.

    Reply
    • Aida Arain says

      January 21, 2015 at 2:29 am

      Thanks, Lisa! My team is the Chicago Bears (and they never win anything), but we live in New England and my kids love the Patriots. So they’re excited, and football is still going strong around here 🙂 I’ll definitely check out your site. Thanks so much for stopping by!

      Reply
  7. angie says

    January 20, 2015 at 5:30 pm

    these are so super cute our football boys would love them have a feeling I may try to do something like this for upcoming superbowl party
    come see us at http://shopannies.blogspot.com

    Reply
    • Aida Arain says

      January 21, 2015 at 2:30 am

      Definitely try these! They’re so easy and kids LOVE them (especially football loving ones). Hope you and your family enjoy the rest of football season!

      Reply
  8. Sara @ Bitz & Giggles says

    January 20, 2015 at 7:25 pm

    These are SUPER cute, Aida! I love them – so creative!

    Reply
    • Aida Arain says

      January 21, 2015 at 2:33 am

      Thanks so much, Sara! They’re perfect for football season!

      Reply

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Welcome

The Crafting Foodie is a simple, straight forward recipe and crafting journal where I share decadent desserts and healthy, easy to prepare weekday meals. Along with my concoctions in the kitchen, I also love crafting (especially knitting). The Crafting Foodie is my attempt to record all of the treats, recipes, and crafts I make for my family and friends. Read More…

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