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Easter Basket Sugar Cookie Cups – Easy Easter Treats for Kids School Parties Thumbnail

Easter Basket Sugar Cookie Cups

Easter Basket Sugar Cookie Cups are an easy, festive dessert made with soft sugar cookies baked in a muffin pan, filled with fluffy vanilla buttercream, and topped with colorful chocolate eggs. These adorable treats are perfect for Easter parties, school events, and spring celebrations. Kids love helping decorate them, and adults love how simple they are to make using prepared cookie dough. Whether you’re baking for family, gifting treats, or adding something fun to your holiday table, these cookie cups deliver big Easter charm with minimal effort and maximum cuteness.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 14 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • Ingredients You’ll Need
  • Prepared Sugar Cookie Dough flat pack
  • Grab the flat, pre-portioned squares—not the roll. Each square fits perfectly into a muffin cup with zero guesswork.
  • Butter
  • This forms the base of the buttercream. Salted or unsalted both work—just adjust the added salt accordingly.
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Provides sweetness and structure for the frosting.
  • Heavy Cream
  • This is the secret to ultra-smooth, fluffy buttercream. Substituting milk just won’t give the same results.
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Adds classic flavor to the frosting.
  • Salt
  • Only needed if your butter is unsalted.
  • Green Food Coloring
  • Optional, but it gives that fun “Easter grass” look.
  • Chocolate Eggs
  • Any egg-shaped candy works here—Cadbury Mini Eggs, Reese’s Eggs, or even jelly beans.

Method
 

Step 1:

Coat two standard muffin pans generously with nonstick spray. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

    Step 2:

    Press one square of cookie dough into each muffin cavity. Bake for 10–14 minutes, watching closely toward the end.

      Step 3:

      While the cookies are still warm, gently press the center using the bottom of a shot glass, spice jar, or small cup to create a shallow well.

        Step 4:

        Let the cookie cups cool completely. Once cooled, prepare your buttercream and decorate as desired.

          Notes

          Helpful Tips for Best Results

          • Watch the bake time
             You’re looking for lightly golden edges—not deep browning. Overbaking leads to dry, crumbly cookie cups.
          • Go gentle when shaping
             Press just enough to form a cavity. Too much force can crack the cookie. Minor cracks are totally fine—frosting hides everything.
          • Prep your pan well
             A well-sprayed muffin tin makes removal easy. Baking spray with flour is a great extra precaution.
          • Cool before frosting
            Warm cookies will soften or melt the buttercream. Patience pays off here.
          • Easy release trick
            Run a butter knife carefully around each cookie cup to lift it out cleanly.

          Common Questions

          What can I use to make the indentation?
           Anything flat-bottomed works: a tart tamper, shot glass, spice jar, measuring cup, or even a spoon and your fingers (very gently).
          How should leftovers be stored?
          • Unfrosted cookie cups: airtight container at room temp for up to 1 week
          • Decorated cookie cups: best enjoyed within 3 days
          Can these be frozen?
           Yes! Freeze unfrosted cookie cups for up to 3 months. Thaw fully before decorating.
          Easy swaps and variations:
          • Use store-bought frosting to save time
          • Add Easter sprinkles inside or on top
          • Swap candy eggs for pastel M&M’s or jelly beans
          • Try pink or blue frosting instead of green
          • Use another flat-style cookie dough flavor
          Can I make these ahead?
           Yes—bake the cookie cups up to 2 days in advance. Store airtight and decorate the day before serving for best flavor.
          No piping bag? No problem.
           A zip-top bag with the corner snipped off works perfectly. You’ll still get a neat, bakery-style look.

          Final Thoughts

          These Easter Basket Sugar Cookie Cups are one of those recipes that look fancy but secretly couldn’t be easier. They’re playful, customizable, and perfect for baking with kids—or whipping up quickly when you need a festive treat that delivers big smiles. Whether you’re making them for a party, gifting, or just because chocolate eggs exist, this recipe is a keeper. 🐰🍪✨