Chocolate Shortbread Footballs

By Treebs

Win or loose, these delicious chocolate shortbread footballs will liven up or soften the outcome no matter the results on game day.

Ingredients

• FILLING:
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup cocoa, sifted
• 1 cup Mascarpone
• 2 tablespoons confectioner's sugar
• ROYAL ICING:
• 1 cup confectioner's sugar
• 1 tablespoon egg white

Preparation

Step 1

Cream together the butter and sugar for 5 minutes. Add the cocoa and flour and mix together well until it combines. Allow to rest for 1 hour, covered in plastic.

Preheat oven to 350°F.

With a rolling pin, roll the dough to 1/4-inch thickness and with a cookie cutter shaped like a football, cut the dough into footballs. Place on parchment paper on cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Turn the sheet and bake another 5 minutes. Allow to cool.

Mix together the mascarpone and 2 tablespoons of confectioner's sugar until well blended. Spread a little of this mixture on on football and top with a second football to make a sandwich. Continue spreading the mixture until all cookies are used.

To make the royal icing, combine the 1 cup of confectioner's sugar with the egg white. Mix until the consistency is very smooth. Pour icing into a piping bag fitted with a round #1 tip. Pipe a football lace design on the cookies. Let dry.