Keep Pounding: Football Cake Pops!

I have a sweet ending to your game day line of football food for the Super Bowl,

Football Cake Pops, aka Keep Pounding Pops!

As you can imagine, Panthers Pride abounds in anticipation of Super Bowl 50 in the hopes of Carolina Panthers’ victory over the Denver Broncos and  first-ever Super Bowl win this Sunday! I think I bought the last package of napkins to be found in a 30 mile radius and there was no Carolina Panther blue anything left at Party City as of a week ago.

Keep Pounding has become a team mantra in honor of late Carolina Panthers player and coach Sam Mills, who first used the phrase “Keep Pounding” as a coach in an emotional speech to the team prior to the Panthers’ playoff game in 2004, after being diagnosed with cancer. He spoke about commitment, dedication to teammates, team effort and never giving up and to “Keep Pounding.” His speech and legacy became a rallying cry for the team and the spirit of Keep Pounding continues today for anyone fighting cancer.

These football cake pops are appropriately made with pound cake. Theses cake or “fork pops” are easy to serve for a party! I used a Sara Lee Frozen Pound Cake which is easy to find and texture makes it ideal for cutting out shapes, using the same method as in Puppy Love Pops.

Follow the directions on the package to thaw your cake. I used the family size (1 pound) cake. Cut your thawed cake in to 1-inch slices and then use a cookie cutter to make your footballs. I didn’t have a football cookie cutter, so I used a round one to create a football shape.

Insert tines of a plastic fork carefully into bottom of your football to avoid breaking the cake. Transfer your cake forks to cookie sheet and freeze for 20 minutes.

Microwave your canned frosting 20 – 30 seconds, heating and stirring until the texture has a smooth consistency and that of lightly whipped cream. Remove cake from freezer and holding the plastic fork, dip into melted frosting to cover, allowing excess frosting to drip back into bowl. Press the bottom of the football against the rim of the bowl to remove excess frosting.

Microwave  5 – 10 seconds more as needed if frosting becomes too thick for dipping. Place your dipped footballs on a wire rack to allow frosting to set.

Note: I used Pillsbury Creamy Supreme Frosting as pictured above. Avoid using a whipped-style variety canned frosting that can break down when heated in the microwave.

Add laces to your football cake pops with vanilla frosting or melted white chocolate. Gently remove footballs from wire rack. I used a knife to help pry them up so the cake pops don’t break from any frosting that sticks when you lift the forks.

I used some faux grass from the craft store on top a styrofoam base to hold the forks for serving and then added some Panther blue chocolate candy (Sixlets from Party City in Caribbean Blue) to surround the grass “field” for a little team color and sweet ending.

Keep Calm and Keep Pounding!

Find more Winning Game Day Recipes for Football Season, HERE.

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 Metamorphosis Monday