Name: Chocolate Football Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 1 h 40 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 1 h 50 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature; ⅔ cup granulated sugar; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 cups all-purpose flour; ½ cup nonpareil sprinkles; 1 ½ cups dark or milk melting chocolate; ½ cup white melting chocolate

If you love buttery, tender cookies with a playful twist, you're going to adore this Chocolate Football Shortbread Cookies Recipe. These festive treats combine a crumbly shortbread base coated in colorful sprinkles with adorable chocolate football decorations—perfect for game day or holiday celebrations!

The image shows sugar cookies covered in small round sprinkles in red, blue, white, and yellow colors, creating a colorful and textured base layer. On top of each cookie is a small, dark chocolate football-shaped piece with smooth glossy texture and white icing details that mimic the football laces. The cookies are arranged closely together against a white marbled surface, filling the frame with their bright and festive appearance. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Chocolate Football Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Chocolate Football Shortbread Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Chocolate Football Shortbread Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I remember the first time I made these cookies—they instantly became a crowd favorite at my family’s holiday party! The combination of the delicate shortbread and rich chocolate football detail truly brings a smile, and the sprinkles add such a fun pop of color.

Delightfully Simple: The recipe uses everyday ingredients that come together with ease, making it beginner-friendly.
Fun & Festive: The chocolate football accents make these cookies extra special for sports fans and festive occasions.
Perfect Texture: Tender, buttery shortbread with a subtle sugar crunch from the nonpareil sprinkles.
Long-lasting: These cookies keep well and taste great for up to two weeks stored airtight.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Before you dive in, here’s a quick look at the key ingredients that make these cookies so irresistible. I’ve found that choosing quality butter and good melting chocolate really elevates the flavor, plus the little touch of vanilla ties it all together beautifully.

Flat lay of a small mound of unsalted butter at room temperature, a small white bowl filled with granulated sugar, a small white bowl containing clear vanilla extract, a small white bowl holding all-purpose flour, a shallow white ceramic dish with colorful nonpareil sprinkles, a cluster of whole uncracked brown eggs, a small white bowl filled with dark melting chocolate chunks, and another small white bowl with white melting chocolate chunks, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Unsalted butter: Room temperature butter ensures a creamy dough and helps create that tender shortbread crumb.
Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness and helps with texture without overpowering the buttery flavor.
Vanilla extract: A warm, aromatic note that complements the subtle richness of the cookie.
All-purpose flour: The backbone of the dough, holding everything together with just the right softness.
Nonpareil sprinkles: These colorful, crunchy gems add a festive coating and a bit of fun texture.
Dark or milk melting chocolate: Forms the smooth, shiny chocolate footballs—choose your preferred chocolate for flavor balance.
White melting chocolate: For decorating the characteristic football laces, making the cookies look adorable and authentic.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the best parts about the Chocolate Football Shortbread Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to make it your own. Whether you're tweaking flavors, swapping decorations, or accommodating dietary needs, these cookies are a fantastic canvas for creativity and personalization.

Variation: I love swapping out the nonpareil sprinkles for finely chopped nuts like pistachios or toasted pecans for a subtle crunch and a more sophisticated look. It’s amazing how such a small change can elevate the treat and personalize it for holidays or game days.
Dietary tweak: For a gluten-free version, try using a gluten-free flour blend that works well for baking. Just keep an eye on the dough texture—it might need a smidge more flour or a shorter mixing time to keep it tender.
Seasonal twist: Instead of footballs, try shaping the chocolate accents into pumpkins for fall or snowflakes for winter to suit the occasion effortlessly.
Speed tip: No football candy mold? No worries! Using little chocolate Easter eggs works wonderfully — just remove the foil and press them right onto the cookies. It's a fun shortcut that still yields impressive results.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Chocolate Football Shortbread Cookies Recipe

The image shows four round balls arranged in two rows on a white marbled surface. The top row has two balls covered with tiny blue and yellow round sprinkles. The bottom row has two balls covered with small red, white, and blue round sprinkles. Each ball has a rough, bumpy texture from the sprinkles covering the whole surface evenly. The lighting highlights the bright colors and details of the sprinkles. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Crafting the Chocolate Footballs

Start by melting 1 ½ cups of dark or milk melting chocolate gently in a double boiler or microwave on 50% power. The key here is patience—you want it smooth and shiny, not burned or grainy. Transfer the melted chocolate to a disposable piping bag and carefully fill each cavity of your football candy mold. I like to tap the mold gently on the counter to pop any pesky air bubbles for a flawless finish. Pop the mold in the fridge for 5-10 minutes until firm, then flip and tap it out to reveal perfectly shaped chocolate footballs.

Step 2: Piping the White Chocolate Laces

Next, melt ½ cup of white melting chocolate just as carefully. Transfer this to a piping bag fitted with a tiny round tip (or simply snip a tiny corner off the bag if you don’t have one). Pipe the iconic white laces right onto your molded footballs. I like to take this step slowly—it’s the detail that brings the cookies to life! Chill again for about 5 minutes so the white chocolate sets beautifully.

Step 3: Prepping Your Oven and Baking Sheet

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pour the ½ cup of nonpareil sprinkles into a shallow bowl. Having everything set up beforehand makes the cookie assembly smooth and fun.

Step 4: Mixing the Cookie Dough

In your mixer bowl, beat 1 cup of room temperature unsalted butter, ⅔ cup granulated sugar, and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract until the mixture becomes creamy and luxuriously smooth. Then, add 2 cups of all-purpose flour and mix just until the dough comes together. It will feel soft and slightly sticky — that's perfect for the tender crumb we're chasing!

Step 5: Rolling and Coating the Dough Balls

Using a 1-tablespoon scoop, portion the dough and roll it into smooth balls. Don’t skip this step—rolling ensures uniform cookies that bake evenly. Then, roll each dough ball generously in nonpareil sprinkles until completely coated, adding a fun, colorful crunch. Place them about two inches apart on your prepared baking sheet to give them room to bake.

Step 6: Chill Before Baking

Pop your tray of dough balls into the refrigerator for about 10 minutes. This crucial chill time keeps the cookies from spreading too much, so you end up with those perfectly round, thumbprint-ready shapes.

Step 7: Baking and Freezing

Slide the chilled dough into the preheated oven and bake for 12 minutes. Watch for the bottoms to turn a light golden hue while the tops stay pale and tender. Meanwhile, place your chocolate footballs in the freezer—this nifty trick helps them hold their shape without melting once they meet your warm cookies.

Step 8: Merging Cookies and Footballs

After baking, let the cookies cool on the sheet for just 2 minutes—warm enough for a little softness but cool enough to handle. Gently press one chilled chocolate football onto the center of each cookie, creating that iconic thumbprint look with a delicious twist.

Step 9: Final Chill to Set

Transfer your assembled cookies onto a cutting board or platter and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes. This final chill helps the chocolate footballs set firm, preventing any melted mess and making them perfectly presentable and ready for sharing or gifting.

Top Tip

These Chocolate Football Shortbread Cookies are a real crowd-pleaser, and a few handy tips can make your baking experience smoother and your cookies absolutely perfect every time.

Chill Dough Balls Before Baking: From my experience, chilling the dough balls for about 10 minutes before baking prevents them from spreading too much, keeping their round shape nice and perfect for the thumbprint design.
Freeze the Chocolate Footballs: I learned the hard way that placing the chocolate footballs in the freezer while the cookies bake is a game changer—it stops the chocolates from melting when they meet those warm cookies.
Refrigerate Assembled Cookies: Popping the cookies into the fridge for 20-30 minutes after pressing on the chocolates really helps the chocolate set quickly and keeps everything looking pristine without any melty mess.
Use Ethically Sourced Chocolates: I avoid commonly used candies like Kisses because they aren’t always ethically sourced. Instead, I recommend looking for fair-trade chocolate bars or even peanut butter cups for a mindful twist.

How to Serve Chocolate Football Shortbread Cookies Recipe

A white plate filled with round cookies covered in colorful sprinkles with two different color patterns: one with red, blue, and white sprinkles, and another with yellow and blue sprinkles. Each cookie has a small dark chocolate shaped like a football placed on top, decorated with white icing lines to look like football laces. The plate is set on a white marbled surface with soft, natural lighting. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Garnishes

These festive cookies already have a fun look with their colorful nonpareil sprinkles and detailed chocolate footballs, but feel free to amp them up with extra garnishes! A light dusting of powdered sugar adds a soft snow-kissed effect during the holidays. You could also scatter small edible gold stars or drizzle a little white chocolate around the edges for an extra touch of elegance and whimsy.

Side Dishes

Serve these cookies alongside a warm cup of hot chocolate, coffee, or spiced cider to complement their buttery richness. For game day, pair them with a platter of salty snacks like pretzels or nuts for a sweet-and-salty vibe everyone will love. They’re also fantastic next to a bowl of fresh fruit or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delightful dessert spread.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once your Chocolate Football Shortbread Cookies have cooled completely and the chocolate is firm, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay fresh and delicious for up to two weeks—perfect for making ahead for holiday parties or football get-togethers.

Freezing

If you want to keep them fresh longer, these cookies freeze beautifully. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze first, then transfer to a sealed freezer-safe container with wax paper between layers. They can be frozen for up to two months. When ready to enjoy, thaw at room temperature for a couple of hours.

Reheating

These cookies are best enjoyed at room temperature, especially to keep the chocolate footballs nicely firmed up. If you prefer a slightly warm cookie, heat one gently in the microwave for about 10 seconds, but be careful not to overheat as that could melt the chocolate decoration.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make the chocolate footballs without a mold?

Absolutely! If you don’t have a football candy mold, you can use small chocolate Easter eggs or shape the melted chocolate by hand on parchment paper. It’s a great quick alternative and still looks adorable.

Why do I need to chill the dough balls before baking?

Chilling the dough balls helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking, maintaining their perfect round shape that's ideal for the thumbprint style.

How long do these cookies last?

Stored properly in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies stay fresh and tasty for up to two weeks.

Can I use regular chocolate instead of melting chocolate?

Melting chocolate works best because it melts smoothly and hardens with a nice shine. However, you can use regular chocolate chopped into pieces and melted carefully, just be mindful to temper it or handle gently to avoid bloom or dull finish.

Final Thoughts

There’s something truly special about making Chocolate Football Shortbread Cookies—combining the buttery richness of shortbread with playful, festive chocolates brings smiles whether it’s a holiday gathering or a big game day party. I hope this recipe and tips inspire you to bake a batch that’s not just delicious but full of fun and heart. Happy baking and enjoy every sweet touchdown moment!