20 Football-Shaped Foods Perfect for Game Day

It doesn’t matter if your guests are team sweet or team savory—these fun snacks are sure to score you a few extra points!

January 12, 2023

By: Kristie Collado

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An All-Star Lineup

When you’re feeding a houseful of hungry fans, it’s good to have some game-day snack recipes you can rely on. A solid starting lineup, of sorts. And, while we’re all about counting on the classics (like chili, chicken wings and nachos), we also know that you need to have one or two star "players" ready to join the mix. That’s where these clever recipes come in. With both sweet and savory options you’re sure to find something that’s perfect for your get-together—and there’s no doubt in our minds that every fan will love the playful theme. Not sure where to start? This charcuterie board will feed the whole team and then some. You can prep the fruit and vegetables and make the cheeseball earlier in the day so all you have to do is put everything together on the board before the big game. If you have one, a large wooden carving board with a well around the edge that catches carving juices is ideal—you can tuck the folded charcuterie in the well to help it stand up and create the edge of your "stadium."

Get the Recipe: Football Cheese Ball and Charcuterie Board

Fantasy Footballs

These cute cake pops are a must on game day. You can save time and effort by using a box cake mix and store-bought frosting. Plus, they're easy to decorate — just pipe a few white lines and they'll look just like the real deal!

Get the Recipe: Fantasy Footballs

Meatball-Stuffed Football Bread

Calzones will never be the same: This giant, doughy football has a surprise inside: meatballs!

Get the Recipe: Meatball-Stuffed Football Bread

Cereal Treat Footballs

This game day-ready recipe makes it totally acceptable to play with your food. We took classic crisp rice cereal treats and gave them a Super Bowl-inspired makeover by molding the pliable mixture into mini footballs before it sets. The end results are pretty touchdown-worthy!

Get the Recipe: Cereal Treat Footballs

Football Cheeseball with Herbed Crackers

Valerie’s creamy, dreamy cheeseball is a great way to kick off your party. She takes this crowd-pleasing app to the next level by brushing store-bought crackers with herb butter and baking them in the oven until toasty and fragrant; they're perfect for serving alongside. Talk about a touchdown!

Get the Recipe: Football Cheeseball with Herbed Crackers

Ice Cream Sandwich Footballs

Store-bought chocolate shell topping makes it a cinch to coat these homemade ice cream sandwiches.

Get the Recipe: Ice Cream Sandwich Footballs

Spinach-and-Artichoke-Stuffed Football Bread Bowl

We took our best version of the classic party dip and baked it in a loaf of crusty pumpernickel bread shaped to look like a football (complete with sour cream piped laces). Toasted bread cubes and fresh carrots for dipping make this a winner. Go team!

Get the Recipe: Spinach-and-Artichoke-Stuffed Football Bread Bowl

Football Cake

No special cake pan required: This adorable game day football is made from two cleverly cut cake rounds. Nothing goes to waste — the trimmings become edible dirt, topped with coconut grass.

Get the Recipe: Football Cake

Pastrami Football Finger Sandwiches

It's true that good things come in small packages. In this case, mini sandwiches come packed to the max with pickled pepper studded cheese and smoky pastrami. Tie them up with laces made of cheese, and you've got yourself a winner for your game day party.

Get the Recipe: Pastrami Football Finger Sandwiches

Cinnamon Pull-Apart Football

We can't think of a better use for a tube of refigerated cinnamon rolls than this fun, football-shaped treat. It's a breeze to make (just 3 ingredients!) but guaranteed to earn MVP status at your game-day bash.

Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Pull-Apart Football

Football Chocolate Peanut Butter Dip

You don't have to be a pro decorator to make this cute, game day display. As long as you chill the dip well (overnight is best, if you have time) it will hold it's shape and be easy to mold.

Get the Recipe: Football Chocolate Peanut Butter Dip

Jamaican Meat Pie Footballs

What better way to celebrate the big game than with a spicy meat-filled patty shaped like a football? Nothing is wasted here — even the puff pastry scraps are used to make laces.

Get the Recipe: Jamaican Meat Pie Footballs

Dark Chocolate Cayenne Football Whoopie Pies

Maneet says, "I love the fact that the whoopie pies can be piped in the shape of a football" and we couldn't agree more. It's an easy way to elevate an old-school treat for game day. These ones feature a little bit of cayenne, which pairs perfectly with the dark chocolate.

Get the Recipe: Dark Chocolate Cayenne Football Whoopie Pies

Peanut Butter Football Cookie

A giant football cookie isn't only festive; the rich peanut butter flavor is sure to score big with the fans at your party. Add thick frosting stripes on the ends for a college ball, but leave them off for an official look.

Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Football Cookie

Spicy Cheddar Cheese Football

Jeff Mauro turns a cheese ball into a football with a nut and cranberry topping. Draw football laces with Sriracha for an extra kick (pun intended!).

Get the Recipe: Spicy Cheddar Cheese Football

Mini Cupcakes with Almond Footballs

Green food coloring transforms sweetened shredded coconut into edible turf for these spirited two-bite treats.

Get the Recipe: Mini Cupcakes with Almond Footballs

Spinach and Artichoke Football Empanadas

This savory snack starts with a traditional spinach and artichoke filling — but gets a fun twist when it's stuffed into store-bought empanada discs that are cut into the shape of footballs. Don't toss the dough that you trim from the sides of each round; you can use it to decorate the top of each tiny treat.

Get the Recipe: Spinach and Artichoke Football Empanadas

Football Pull-Apart Chocolate Cupcakes with Mocha Frosting

Don't have a special, football-shaped cake pan? No problem! This sweet treat is actually made by arranging cupcakes into the shape of a football — and spreading frosting all over the top!

Get the Recipe: Football Pull-Apart Chocolate Cupcakes with Mocha Frosting

Football Cocoa-Crispy Rice Treats

Celebrate game day with this chocolaty update of the classic cereal treats. They're a cinch to make so the whole family can get in on the fun! For big and little kids: Let them help with measuring ingredients, shaping the footballs and rolling out and arranging the laces. Big kids can also help stir the warm ingredients together.

Get the Recipe: Football Cocoa-Crispy Rice Treats