This easy Chocolate Football Cake is a fun, festive dessert that’s perfect for Super Bowl parties and game-day gatherings. Made with a rich chocolate cake and decorated to look like a football, it makes an impressive centerpiece without being complicated to prepare. You can use a homemade cake or a boxed mix, making this recipe flexible and crowd-friendly.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9 inch or 9 inch round cake pan and set aside. I like to lightly grease the bottom and place a piece of parchment into the bottom of the pan, then grease and flour the sides. This helps make sure you can easily remove the cake from the pan.
In a large bowl, add the flour, sugar, cocoa baking soda, baking powder, and salt for the cake. Whisk together until combined.
Add the eggs, oil, and buttermilk to the bowl and stir to combine. Add in the hot water and stir just until combined.
Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool the cake for 10 miniutes and then invert to a cooling rack and remove the pan. Then allow the cake to cool completely.
In another bowl, beat together the butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until well combined and fluffy. Set aside 1/2 cup of the frosting. Add the cocoa powder to the remaining frosting and blend together.
To assemble the cake, use a serrated knife and cut a 1 1/2-inch to 2-inch-wide strip down the center of the cake. Remove the strip and set it aside for another use.
Place both sides of the cake on a serving platter and push together to form a football shape. Frost the outside of the cake with the chocolate frosting.
Place the white frosting in a piping bag fitted with a round tip and pipe lines and laces on the cake.
Place the shredded coconut in a resealable bag with a few drops of green food coloring. Shake and knead the bag until the coconut looks like grass (add more coloring as needed). Carefully spoon the green coconut “grass” on the serving platter around the football cake.
Notes
The center of strip of the cake can be cut into squares, frosted, and topped with football cupcake toppers.