Tasty Thursdays: Football Season

To go along with our tailgating post here, today's Tasty Thursday is all about football season, and easy tailgating eats.  Love this peanut butter football dip, it's easy to make and portable so bringing it to any party is a breeze.  Perhaps substitute gram crackers instead of pretzels?

INGREDIENTS:

¼ cup butter, softened

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

1 cup peanut butter (your choice; crunchy or smooth)

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

1 ½ cups powdered sugar (up to 2 cups if needed)

½ cup mini chocolate chips

Chocolate sprinkles or chocolate chips for the outside of the football

White chocolate or frosting for the football laces

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cream butter, cream cheese, and peanut butter until mixed (using a hand-held mixer). Mix in vanilla.
2. Add powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time, and mix until combined. (If you want a stiffer mixture, add the extra ½ cup of powdered sugar.) Mix in chocolate chips.
3. Turn out mixture on a large sheet of waxed paper. Use your hands to form into a football shape. (This would also be cute as “lips” for Valentine’s Day!)
4. Place the waxed paper onto your serving plate. (It helps if the plate has sides…less mess!) Cover in sprinkles or chocolate chips, pressing them into the surface a little so they stick. Pipe on the laces using melted white chocolate or some leftover frosting and chill until ready to serve.
5. Serving suggestion: pretzels, animal crackers, cookies, a spoon