Football season is here! We are definitely football fans in this house. Our two youngest boys both play tackle on the local youth football league, and even my daughter is getting in on the action playing in the powder puff game at homecoming.
Recently, the boys’ teams had a couple of parties and we needed to bring a dish to pass. Since I was in a hurry, I made brownies from a (shudder) box mix (eek!) and used a football shaped cookie cutter on them once they were cooled off. Then I added the laces them with a tube of white cake decorator icing. The brownies were a huge hit at the parties and the boys were very happy. :)
Then, I had an assignment for Disney to make some gingerbread cookies (sorry, can’t say anymore about that), and only used a portion of this FABULOUS soft gingerbread cookie dough I found. I have never really liked gingerbread, well at least I didn’t until I found this recipe. :) Roll it fairly thick and you’ll have deliciously soft and chewy gingerbread. So anyway, I needed to use up the remaining dough, so I dug through the cookie cutters and decided to make the boys a helmet each with their numbers on them, some footballs, and played around with the rest, making some gingerbread people, ghosts, and pumpkins.
I found the recipe on Recipezaar and absolutely agree with the title. Some people had a little trouble with the dough being sticky, but I followed her directions exactly, including the part about letting the dough rest for at least two hours and had no problems at all. I didn’t make the second batch of cookies until the next day. I had chilled the dough in the refrigerator overnight and took it out in the morning and let it come to room temperature before rolling it out.
Try my football jersey cookies too!
Soft Gingerbread Football Cookies and Football Brownies
IMPORTANT - There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 ¾ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¾ cup dark brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup molasses
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest optional - I didn't use this
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves until well blended.
- In a large bowl (KitchenAid's great for this) beat butter, brown sugar, and egg on medium speed until well blended. Add molasses, vanilla, and lemon zest and continue to mix until well blended. Gradually stir in dry ingredients until blended and smooth.
- Divide dough in half and wrap each half in plastic and let stand at room temperature for at least 2 hours or up to 8 hours. (Dough can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Return to room temp before using.)
- Preheat oven to 375°. Grease or line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Place 1 portion of the dough on a lightly floured surface. Sprinkle flour over dough and rolling pin. Roll dough to a scant 1/4-inch thick (I rolled mine a bit thicker for softer cookies). Use additional flour to avoid sticking.
- Cut out cookies with desired cutter. I actually found it easier to roll the dough out on the parchment, cut out the cookies and remove the outer pieces, leaving the cookie shapes on the parchment. Then lift the parchment up at one side, so that the cookie shape is now upside down, place your hand under it and peel the parchment off the back of the cookie. The cookie will land gently in your hand and won't get stretched out of shape like it would if you lift the cookie from the surface and place it on the pan.
- Space cookies 1 1/2-inches apart. Bake 1 sheet at a time for 7-10 minutes (the lower time will give you softer cookies). Remove cookie sheet from oven and allow the cookies to stand until the cookies are firm enough to move to a wire rack.
Amanda Davis
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Tia says
those look wonderful and simply perfect!
Amanda says
Hi Carol! I'm not the greatest at rolled cookies either, but if you let this rest at room temp as suggested in the recipe and your lightly flour your rolling pin you should be fine. I bet the maple leaf molds are beautiful! Would love to hear how you like the cookies! :)
Carol says
Amanda….GOD BLESS YOU! All day long I've been thinking what kind of cookies can I make with the gigantic maple leave pancake mold/cookie cutters I got at a yard sale last Saturday? My gosh, I think you just gave me the answer! I wanted a nice soft gingerbread cookie because spice says fall to me…………..I can't WAIT to try these!!!
By the way-wish me luck-I SO stink at rolled cookies…….. :(
Amanda says
Thanks Bridgett, they were a big hit with the boys!
Katrina – I agree, autumn has so many great flavors!
Katrina says
Yum! All the autumn yumminess is making me excited that it's finally fall. That and the beautiful cooler weather! These look fun and de-lish, Amanda!
Bridgett says
Oh I love the football brownies! How cute and I know those would not last long around here.
Amanda says
Thanks Pam and Mags!
Sugar – come on over, I'll save some for ya :)
Anna – Thank you! Ahh basketballs would be easy too! A round cookie cutter and some basketball lines, yep I an envision them! :)
Nancy – yes I did see that this recipe derived from that Joy of Cooking recipe. Would be curious to hear the results of the comparison :)
Nancy/n.o.e says
Your cookies are adorable – all of them! I make the Joy of Cooking gingerbread cookies, which is the basis of this recipe, so I'll be interested in comparing. I love gingerbread!
Anonymous says
How about coming up with some Basketball Cookies since all we say is "GO DUKE" in this house!
Love, love, love this site!
Anna
SUGAR B says
Wow, Amanda. These look awesome awesome awesome! You are killing me. I am coming over NOW! ;)
xoxo
Mags says
Well aren't those just adorable! Great idea Amanda!
Pam says
How cute and scrumptious!
Amanda says
Thanks Jennifer! Let me know if you try it, they disappeared FAST around here :)
Jennifer says
Amanda this is all sooooo great!!!! I LOVE gingerbread and this is perfect reason to make the football cookies! My husband will love the shape too :) thanks so much for the inspiration!!
Amanda says
Peggy – I've never been a fan of gingerbread, but these were really great!
Chow – the boys did love them!
Jacque – Oh yeah I got the brownie points hehe. And I always grab some of the box brownies when they go on sale, they are so fast.
Megan – I think if we decorated spinach to look like a football they'd probably eat it. :-p Well, maybe not.
Marie – Thank you my British friend! :)
Marie says
Hooray for football season!! The cookies and brownies look fantastic!
Megan says
Those are so cute! My son just started playing football and he would love these!
Jacque says
OOooh, you definitely get a bunch of mommy brownie points with those cool footballs. Love 'em!
P.S. I actually prefer box brownies :)
Chow and Chatter says
oh these are both great I bet your boys loved them
Peggy Bourjaily says
Ginger in almost anything is a winner for me. I'll have to try these! Maybe, I'll even make some cute little footballs for the hubby who is an obsessed Patriots fan…