How To Make A Football Shaped Cake

Step by step instructions for how to make a football shaped cake with a cake mix and 8″ round cake pans in under 1.5 hours! This chocolate double layer cake doesn’t require a special football pan or a lot of experience with cake decorating.

Related: Super Bowl, Football Cake Balls

Every year, as the big game day approaches, we’re all looking for that show-stopping dessert to impress our guests. If you’ve been scouring the internet for a simple yet delightful treat, your search ends here! Welcome to the ultimate guide on how to make a football cake. Gone are the days when you needed specialty pans or professional baking skills. With everyday tools like a round cake pan and a serrated knife, coupled with some chocolate frosting magic, you’re on your way to creating a perfect football cake. Whether you’re gearing up for the Super Bowl or just a fun game day with friends, this football shaped cake will definitely score a touchdown at your party.

Table of Contents: Simple Football Cake

Football Shaped Cake Ingredients

1. Chocolate cake mix (+ ingredients)
2. White frosting
3. Chocolate frosting
4. Green food coloring

Football Shaped Cake Equipment

Getting all your equipment out of the cabinets and ready for use is always step one when cooking and baking.

1. Mixing bowls
2. Spatula
3. Measuring cups
4. Four 8 ” cake pans set (or two 8″ pans)
5. Cooling rack
6. Serrated knife
7. Cutting board
8. Spatula
9. Piping bags
10. Cake turntable (optional)
11. Cake board (optional)
12. Frosting spatula (optional)
13. Grass piping tip (optional)

How To Make A Football Cake

There are 5 key steps to make this recipe that we will detail below:

1. Bake The Cake
2. Cut The Cake Into A Football Shapes
3. Crumb Coat The Cake (Prepare It For Decorating)
4. Frost The Cake & Add The Laces
5. Add The Grass

Step 1: Bake The Cake

Bake the cake according to the package or recipe directions.

I used a chocolate cake mix to save time but you could certainly make a cake from scratch.

If you use four 8″ cake pans (like I did), then bake the cakes in a 350-degree oven for 18 minutes. 

Alternatively, if you use two 8″ cake pans, then follow the baking instructions on the cake mix box. Note, if you use two pans, then you won’t need as much vanilla frosting for your crumb coat (later step) since there are only two layers instead of four.

Let the baked cakes cool completely before beginning Step 2.

Step 2: Cut The Cake Into A Football Shape

Begin by trimming the tops of each cake so that each cake is completely flat.

Then, cut a 2″ strip from the center of the cake: if you are using an 8″ round cake pan, then you’ll make your first cut at 3 inches from the left side of the cake and your second cut at 3 inches from the right side of the cake.

Repeat this step for each cake.

Step 3: Crumb Coat The Cake (Prepare It For Decorating!)

A crumb coat is a thin layer of frosting that ‘locks in’ crumbs before applying the main frosting. This prevents crumbs from appearing in your final layer of frosting.

It’s especially important to apply a crumb coat when making a football cake, since you are cutting the cakes into pieces and exposing the frosting  to crumbs.

Refrigerate the cake for 30 minutes before moving on to Step 4.

Step 4: Frost The Cake & Add The White Laces

First, frost the cake with chocolate icing. 

Then, add vanilla icing to a piping bag.

Next, cut a small hole at the end of the piping bag.

Add a 2.5″ to 3″ line down the center of the cake.

Next, add three 2″ lines spaced evenly across the first line.

Then, add two small half-circles to each end of the football cake.

Step 5: Add The Grass

Add the green food gel to the remaining vanilla icing and mix well.

Then, cut a small hole in the bottom of the piping bag and insert the grass piping tip.

Next, add the green frosting to the piping bag.

Pipe the grass around the cake by positioning the piping tip at a 45-degree angle, about an inch from the base. 

Apply a burst of pressure to the piping bag for about 1-2 seconds using your hand, then release.

Repeat around the entire cake.

Note: grass is optional, but it helps your cake stand out!

Recipe Notes

• What to do with the leftover cake strips? My favorite way to use leftover cake is to make football cake balls.
• Food coloring gel: I’ve mentioned this in other posts, but. I only use AmeriColor because it yields the most vibrant colors. If you like to decorate cookies and cakes, I recommend the AmeriColor student kit.
• Piping/pastry bags: It took me longer than I’m willing to admit to start using pastry bags, because you can use a zip-lock bag instead (for the laces, not the grass). The reason that piping/pastry bags are recommend is because it give you more control of the icing. 

Football Cake Conclusion

Crafting a football cake might seem daunting at first, but with the right tips and a dash of creativity, it’s a piece of cake – literally! No need for special pans or extensive baking knowledge. Using just a round cake, some precise cuts, and the art of frosting, you can bring your game day dessert to life. So, the next time you’re prepping for a Super Bowl party or any football-themed event, remember this guide and delight your guests with a cake that’s as pleasing to the eyes as it is to the palate.

And as always, I’d love hearing from all of you who try out this recipe.

Here’s to sweet victories and even sweeter desserts!

How To Make A Football Shaped Cake

How to make a football shaped cake with a cake mix and 8" round cake pans in under 1.5 hours! You don't need a special pan or a lot of experience with cake decorating to make this game day dessert.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 18 minutes mins

Chill & Frost Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 28 minutes mins

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 8 slices

Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• Spatula
• Measuring cups
• Four 8" cake pans (or 2 pans)
• Cooling rack
• Serrated knife
• Cutting board
• Piping bags
• Cake turntable optional
• Cake board optional
• Icing spatula optional
• Piping tip (for grass) optional

Ingredients

  

• 1 box Chocolate cake mix plus ingredients
• 32 oz Chocolate frosting two containers, divided
• 16 oz Vanilla frosting divided
• 7 drops Green food coloring

Instructions

 

Bake The Cake

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Prepare the cake batter according to the instructions on the box.
• Distribute the batter evenly across the four 8" pans (or two 8" pans).
• Bake the four cake pans at once for 18 minutes.
• Transfer the cake to a wire rack to cool completely.

Cut The Cake Into A Football Shape

• Begin by trimming the tops of each cake  so that each cake is completely flat.
• Then, cut a 2" strip from the center of the cake: if you are using an 8" round cake pan, then you'll make your first cut at 3 inches from the left side of the cake and your second cut at 3 inches from the right side of the cake.
• Repeat this step for each cake.

Crumb Coat The Cake (Prepare For Decorating)

• Frost the cake using 1 container of chocolate frosting.
• Refridgerate the cake for 30 minutes.

Frost The Cake & Add Laces

• Frost the cake again with the remaining chocolate frosting.
• Then, add vanilla icing to a piping bag.
• Next, cut a small hole at the end of the piping bag.
• Add a 2.5" to 3" line down the center of the cake.
• Next, add three 2" lines spaced evenly across the first line.
• Then, add two small half circles at each end of the football cake.

Add The Grass

• Add the green food gel to the remaining vanilla icing and mix well.
• Then, cut a small hole in the bottom of the piping bag and insert the grass piping tip.
• Next, add the green frosting to the piping bag. Optionally, secure the bag with a ruber band.
• Pipe the grass around the cake by positioning the piping tip at a 45 degree angle, about an inch from the base. 
• Apply a burst of pressure to the piping bag for about 1-2 seconds using your hand, then release.
• Repeat around the entire cake.

Keyword Cake, Cake Mix, Game Day