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Be the MVP of game day with this easy and fun Cookies and Cream Football for your next Game Day party and get ready to thrill your guests. Every tailgate party needs a football dessert, and this football Oreo dip Recipe is the perfect sweet treat!
Whether you’re there for the game or just for the half-time show and commercials, this simple spread can be made ahead, or made in no time flat! And everyone will love it! It doesn’t even take any great decorating skills to pull this one off. And it’s so cute!
Love game day grub? Serve up a big pot of crock pot chili and some nacho cheese along with this dessert dip for a touchdown every time!
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Tailgating snacks month
We finish out the month on a sweet note with this cookies and cream football recipe. It’s super easy to make, and as always, I have some options for you.
Make it as one large football – it’s quick to make and can be eaten as a dip or spread with your choice of dippers.
Make smaller individual footballs – takes a bit longer, but small food is always fun.
Or, even make it into cookies & cream truffles – these can be served anytime of year. They make great additions to a Christmas cookie platter.
How to make
This mocha flavored Oreo no bake cookie treat is as simple as breaking the cookies into crumbs in the food processor, mixing a couple things together, and piping on laces.
One thing I really like about this football is that there’s no cream cheese. So, you can feel safe about leaving it at room temperature for a bit longer. Butter is room temperature safe. Of course, don’t leave it out indefinitely, but it’ll be ok for the length of the party.
Make the dough
Mix the brewed coffee, espresso powder (feel free to use espresso powder or instant coffee granules), and salt together in a small bowl; set aside.
What can I use instead of coffee?
You can use water, milk (be sure to store any leftovers in the fridge so the milk doesn’t go bad), apple juice (or any lightly flavored juice like peach too), some hot cocoa, or brewed tea (like maybe a nice herbal chamomile). If you just want to avoid the caffeine, consider using decaf coffee. And, you can use decaf instant coffee as well.
If you want to serve this to the kiddos, you’ll probably want to just leave the instant espresso or coffee granules out as well. Oreo has enough flavor to carry this, it’s just that the mocha makes it extra special for us coffee lovers!
Pulse the filling
Pulse the whole bag of Oreos in a food processor until finely ground; set aside 1/3 cup crumbs.
Transfer the remaining crumbs to a medium bowl. Stir in the coffee mixture. Beat in the softened butter until combined.
Shape the dough
Using your hands, shape dough into the shape of a football on a serving plate or baking sheet covered with parchment paper.
Press reserved cookie crumbs into top and sides of the football until completely covered.
Decorate the football with the laces. Place melted candy melts, melted white chocolate, or white frosting in a plastic bag and snip a small corner off, or use a piping bag with a small round tip to pipe laces.
Football can be served now, or refrigerated to firm up.
You can also make individual mini footballs for the party. Roll a scant tablespoon of the dough into a 1-inch ball and drop onto a small cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Shape into a football shape. Repeat with the remaining dough.
Roll the cookies in the reserved crumbs, reshaping them into footballs. Or leave them without the cookie crumbs garnish and just pipe on the laces.
Freeze the cookies until firm, about 15 minutes.
Candy molds
I also experimented with candy molds. These are the football molds I bought. Some I piped white candy melts in first then added the cookie dough. And some I added the cookie dough, then after they were refrigerated I piped on the laces.
The ones that had the candy melts added first were easier and I think they came out better. It’s another idea you can play around with if you like.
Pipe the Laces
The decorations, or laces, of the football can be made with melted white candy melts, melted white chocolate, vanilla frosting, or white decorating icing. Your choice.
To melt candy melts and white chocolate, follow the package directions.
Use a plastic bag with the small piece of the tip cut off, or a decorating bag to pipe the laces on.
Can I make this ahead?
Yes! This is a great make ahead treat, and can be made up to 5 days in advance. Then all you have to do it pull it out of the fridge, add the dippers around it, and serve.
Keep the shaped football or mini footballs in an airtight container, or cover with plastic wrap and in the fridge until ready to serve.
The dough will soften as it sits out at room temperature.
Can this be frozen?
It freezes well for up to 2 months. Keep it tightly covered with plastic wrap. When you’re ready for game day, thaw overnight in the fridge.
Serving suggestion
This dessert dip is great with more Oreos (pipe melted white candy melts into laces on those as well), graham crackers, pretzels, Nilla wafers, Wheat Thins, Ritz Crackers, or fruit like apple slices or strawberries.
Changes to the recipe
This is a fun dessert to play around with as well.
Swap the Oreos for another type of cookie or another flavor or Oreo. Try Mint Oreos, Nutter Butters, Chips Ahoy Cookies, or shortbread cookies like Sandies or Walker’s.
Coat it with mini chocolate chips instead of cookie crumbs.
Want to serve this for another event? Shape it into a round instead of a football. Decorate it to look like a basketball for March Madness. Or just serve it in a bowl.
And it’s great made into truffle shapes for Christmas cookies or serve it year-round as a delicious no bake treat! These Coffee Walnut Bars are another great easy to make Christmas cookie recipe!
How to make Cookies and cream truffles
Roll a scant tablespoon of the dough into a 1-inch ball and drop onto a small cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Repeat with the remaining dough.
Roll the cookies in the reserved crumbs, rounding them with your palms.
Freeze the truffles until firm, about 15 minutes. Store in the refrigerator.
Quick fix: If your cookie dough gets too soft as you’re working, put it in the freezer for a few minutes.
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Recipe
Cookies and Cream Football
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons brewed coffee rum, or water
- 2 tablespoons instant espresso powder or instant coffee granules
- Pinch Kosher salt
- 13.29 ounce package Oreo sandwich cookies
- 4 ounces unsalted butter softened
- White candy melts or white chocolate chips, or white frosting, for decorating
Instructions
- In a small bowl, stir together the coffee, espresso powder, and salt; set aside.
- In a food processor, pulse the cookies until finely ground; set aside 1/3 cup crumbs.
- Transfer the remaining crumbs to a medium bowl. Stir in the espresso mixture. Beat in the butter until combined.
- Using your hands, shape dough into the shape of a football on a serving plate or baking sheet covered with parchment paper.
- Press reserved cookie crumbs into top and sides of the football until completely covered.
- Decorate the football with the laces. Place melted candy melts, melted white chocolate, or white frosting in a plastic bag and snip a small corner off, or use a piping bag with a small round tip.
- Football can be served, or refrigerated to firm up.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations, and should be considered estimates. Actual nutritional content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
Debi
This is so fun. But even more than that, it’s so tasty! And it can be made into the football shape or into little truffle shapes that are great year round, or for Christmas cookie trays! I know you’ll love this as much as I do! Debi, author, Life Currents