Super Bowl Snackin’: Come up clutch with football brownies

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Photo by Rebekah Devorak | Opinions Editor

By Rebekah Devorak | Opinions Editor

The glorious Super Bowl Sunday. It’s the perfect excuse to gather with friends and family in celebration no matter what team you root for, forgetting the winter doldrums for at least a night. There’s something for everyone: the hoopla of the Big Game, the anticipated advertisements and the mouthwatering snacks that overwhelm every table in front of the television.

In fact, the food just might be the best part. Secretly, of course.

Score a Touchdown by adding these brownies to the array of tasty tidbits at your Superbowl party – or party for one – to make the best part of the day even better. Their football shape is festive, and they are a cinch to make. That means they are perfect for any last-minute party invites, even though they taste anything but. Homemade frosting works expertly to create the laces on the pigskin, but store-bought is just fine if that last-minute invite is truly a Two-Minute Warning.

Photo by Rebekah Devorak | Opinions Editor
Photo by Rebekah Devorak | Opinions Editor

Ingredients:
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 eggs
3/4 cup flour
1/3 cup + 2 1/2 teaspoon cocoa powder
1/4 + 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a stand mixer, incorporate oil, sugar and vanilla extract. Then, mix in the eggs until well combined. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Slowly add this to the wet ingredients, pausing to mix well each time. Grease a 9-by-9 inch baking pan with cooking spray or line with parchment paper. Pour the batter into the pan and spread until evenly distributed. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let them cool completely before cutting into footballs and frosting. This recipe yields 12 to 16 brownies.

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Photo by Rebekah Devorak | Opinions Editor

Frosting Recipe

Ingredients: 1/4 cup unsalted butter at room temperature, 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, 1/8 cup milk

Directions: In a stand mixer, beat butter until fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar to the butter, one cup at a time. Lastly, add the milk and vanilla extract and mix until traditional frosting consistency. Place frosting into a snack-size plastic baggie, and cut off a tiny corner of one side. Squeeze the frosting through the hole to decorate the brownies.