Football is a wildly popular sport throughout much of North America. That popularity kicks up a notch when collegiate and professional teams are battling it out in their respective playoffs with an end goal of winning a championship.

Watch parties have become a game day tradition for millions of football fans, and it's customary to provide some delicious food when hosting such get-togethers. Chicken wings and nachos might be must-have foods for adults come game day, but it's important to provide something special for young fans as well. This year, playoff party hosts can whip up these tasty football cake pops from Lines+Angles for young fans.

Football Cake Pops

Makes 30 servings

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups cake flour

2 cups granulated sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature

4 large eggs, at room temperature

2 large egg whites, at room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 cup prepared chocolate frosting

2 to 2 1/4 pounds milk chocolate

3 tablespoons shortening

40 candy sticks

White icing, for decorating

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly butter and flour two 8- or 9-inch round cake pans.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, sift or whisk together the cake flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the butter and half the buttermilk. Beat with the paddle attachment on a medium-low speed until combined and smooth, about three to four minutes.

3. In a medium-size bowl, with a fork, whisk together the eggs, egg whites, the rest of the buttermilk, and the vanilla to combine, just until eggs are broken up. Add the egg mixture to the batter in three additions, mixing on medium speed for two minutes after each addition, being sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl frequently.

4. Divide the batter evenly between the two pans and bake on the middle rack of the oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick or skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in pans until they are cool to the touch, then turn out of pans and cool completely on wire racks.

5. Make sure the cakes are completely cool before attempting the cake pops; otherwise, the frosting will melt and it may be difficult to roll intact balls.

6. Put the baked cake in a large mixing bowl. Use hands to crumble the entire cake. Add about half of the chocolate frosting to the crumbled cake. The frosting acts as a glue to hold the cake balls together. Use hands to mix the frosting evenly throughout the crumbled cake mix until the cake mix is well moistened. The cake mix should be moist enough to shape into a large mound and keep its shape.

7. Roll the cake mix into 1 1/2-inch, football-shaped cake balls using the palms of your hands. A single batch of cake mix should be able to make 30 to 35 football-shaped balls.

8. To prepare the chocolate shell, pour milk chocolate into a microwave-safe bowl and melt on 50% power for four minutes, or longer if necessary.

9. Pull out the melted milk chocolate and stir thoroughly with a spoon until completely smooth. Once smooth, add shortening to the chocolate to thin out the consistency a bit. Stir thoroughly again.

10. Take a candy stick and dip into the chocolate about 1 inch and place it into the center of the cake ball on the top. This will act as a glue keeping the cake pop and stick attached. Continue for all cake pops. Wait 10 minutes for the chocolate to harden on the stick and on the cake pop.

11. Now the cake pops can be coated in the chocolate. Place the pop in the chocolate at a sideways angle with one hand. Using the other hand, spoon the chocolate mixture all around the pop. Try to do this as quickly as possible before the chocolate begins to harden and get lumpy. Once the pop is evenly coated, gently tap the stick on the side of the bowl to get off any excess chocolate that would drip. Once the chocolate shell hardens, decorate the football pops with grip marks using the white icing. Let the icing dry and serve at room temperature.