Tailgate Menu: Sweet Treats

Football Brownies

• Use a standard 3-inch oval cutter, or football-shaped cookie cutter.

INGREDIENTS FOR 14

• 1 (4-oz.) package unsweetened baking chocolate bar (such as Baker's), chopped
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup (8 oz.) salted butter, softened
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup (about 4 ¼ oz.) all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips, divided
• ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
• ½ cup creamy vanilla frosting (such as Duncan Hines Creamy Vanilla Frosting)

INSTRUCTIONS

To Bake

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 13- x 9- inch baking pan with cooking spray, and line with parchment paper, allowing 4 inches overhang.
2. Microwave chopped chocolate in a medium microwaveable bowl at MEDIUM (50 percent power) 1 ½ to 2 minutes, stirring at 30-second intervals until melted and smooth. Set aside to cool slightly, about 10 minutes.
3. Beat sugar and butter with an electric mixer at medium speed in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 1 minute, scraping down sides and bottom of bowl occasionally.
4. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.
5. Add melted chocolate and beat until blended. Add flour and beat at low speed just until blended.
6. Scrape down sides and bottom of bowl and stir in vanilla and 1 cup of the chocolate chips.
7. Spread batter into prepared baking pan.
8. Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with a few crumbs, 35 to 40 minutes.
9. Cool completely on a wire rack, about 2 hours.

To Frost

1. Remove brownies from pan using parchment paper overhang as a handle. Cut out football shapes using a 3-inch oval cookie cutter.
2. Microwave heavy cream and remaining 1 cup chocolate chips in a 1-quart microwaveable bowl at MEDIUM (50 percent) power for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, whisking at 30 second intervals until melted and smooth.
3. Dip tops of brownie footballs into melted chocolate mixture, allowing excess chocolate to drip off brownie. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet; chill footballs 30 minutes.
4. Place vanilla frosting into a piping bag fitted with a small round tip or into a ziplock plastic bag with a small hole cut from 1 corner.
5. Pipe lines and laces onto brownies to resemble footballs.