The right eats and treats can greatly enhance a football celebration. Manly dishes like hot wings, pizza, chili, chips and spicy dips are popular menu items at sports parties. Coming up with ideas for masculine desserts or treats, however, can be slightly more difficult. Most men enjoy hearty and pungent foods. A strong cookie offering spice, heat and kick is sure to be a crowd pleaser. This Football Cookie with Kick offers substance and a spicy surprise after the first bite.
The taste and flavor is reminiscent of a standard ginger-spiced sugar cookie; however, the black and red pepper flakes provide a spicy counter (or late) kick.
As an added touch, consider decorating these football cookies for your celebration. You can begin by cutting them into shapes related to the sport of choice, such as footballs or helmets. Next, frost them with a semisweet or spicy frosting such as vanilla, ginger or cream cheese. Avoid frostings that are too thick or ones that are too sweet; too much sugar or sweetness may take away from the spice and heat of the cookie.
Finally, top the cookies with manly candies or treats such as Red Hots (cinnamon-flavored candies) or candy footballs. You can also use gel icing to write the names of your favorite players and numbers on cookies, or you can incorporate the team's logo in your cookie design.
Football Cookies with Kick
Makes about ten cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 18-ounce package sugar cookie mix
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Vanilla, ginger or cream-cheese frostings, for decorating (optional)
- Red hot candy sprinkles, candy footballs and gel icing, for decorating (optional)
Directions:
- Preheat oven according to package instructions. Typically, this will be either at 350 degrees or 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cookie mix with butter and egg. Stir to combine.
- Add black pepper, red pepper flakes, nutmeg, ginger and cinnamon and mix to combine spices evenly in cookie dough. Add vanilla extract and mix to combine.
- Drop approximately 1 1/2 tablespoons cookie dough onto baking sheet. Repeat, spacing cookies at least 2 inches apart.
- Bake according to package instructions. This will usually be between 10 to 20 minutes.
- Remove cookies from oven when golden brown. Transfer cookies to a cooling rack.
- Allow cookies to cool completely before decorating. If desired, spread tops of cookies with vanilla, ginger or cream-cheese frostings. Garnish with red hot candy sprinkles, candy footballs or gel icing decorations, as desired (optional).
Dee Dee Smith - Dee Dee is a web content writer with over a decade of experience. She has held contracts with golf, sports and business publications.
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