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Game Day Cheesy Football-Shaped Pull-Apart Bread: Easy Appetizer

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This Game Day Cheesy Football-Shaped Pull-Apart Bread is a last-minute hero that looks like you spent hours on it. Made with refrigerated biscuit dough, gooey mozzarella, and creamy garlic butter, it’s the perfect crowd-pleasing appetizer for any game day gathering.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 cans (16.3 oz each) refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
  2. Make the garlic butter: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the unsalted butter. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant, stirring constantly so the garlic doesn’t burn. Remove from heat and stir in the dried parsley, garlic powder, and salt. Set aside to cool slightly.
  3. Prepare the cheese filling: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the shredded mozzarella, softened cream cheese, grated Parmesan, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes if using. Mix until everything is well combined. The mixture should be thick and slightly sticky. If it’s too stiff, let the cream cheese sit at room temperature for another 10 minutes.
  4. Shape the biscuits: Open both cans of refrigerated biscuits and separate them. You should have 16 biscuits total. Using a rolling pin or your hands, flatten each biscuit into a 3-inch circle. Don’t worry about making them perfect—rustic edges add character.
  5. Assemble the footballs: Place about 1 tablespoon of the cheese mixture in the center of each flattened biscuit. Fold the dough over the filling to create a half-moon shape. Pinch the edges firmly to seal, then gently shape each piece into an oval football shape. Place the shaped pieces on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart. You should have 16 little footballs arranged in a rough football formation—think of it as a team huddle.
  6. Apply the garlic butter: Using your pastry brush, generously brush each football with the garlic butter mixture. Don’t be shy—this is where the flavor happens. Reserve about 2 tablespoons of the butter for after baking.
  7. Add the egg wash: In a small bowl, whisk together the beaten egg and milk. Brush this mixture over the top of each football. This will give them that beautiful golden-brown color.
  8. Create the laces: Sprinkle the sesame seeds and poppy seeds over the tops of the footballs in a line down the center. Use your fingers to gently press them into the dough so they stick.
  9. Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the footballs are golden brown and the cheese is bubbling through the seams. The kitchen will smell incredible at this point—try not to eat them straight out of the oven.
  10. Finish and serve: Remove from the oven and immediately brush the reserved garlic butter over the hot footballs. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a serving platter. The pull-apart magic happens when they’re still warm, so serve right away.

Notes

Don’t overfill the biscuits; stick to 1 tablespoon of filling per biscuit. Seal edges well to prevent cheese leakage. Work quickly with the dough; if it becomes too soft, chill shaped footballs for 10 minutes before baking. Use room temperature cream cheese for a smooth filling. Don’t skip the egg wash for a golden crust. If bottoms brown too quickly, slide another baking sheet underneath to insulate.

Nutrition

Keywords: game day, football-shaped, pull-apart bread, cheesy bread, appetizer, easy, quick, crowd-pleaser

Find it online: https://jollyfork.com/game-day-cheesy-football-shaped-pull-apart-bread-easy-appetizer/