Christmas Sugar Cookie Cups

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Have yourself a merry little cookie cup! These Christmas sugar cookie cups are rolled in red, green, and white sprinkles, filled with a swirl of white frosting, and topped with tiny sugar cookie people. Those little green bow ties? Somebody needs to tell these guys how cute they look.

I love a Fun Food Crafts treat that starts with something I can grab right out of the fridge. For these, I used precut Pillsbury sugar cookie dough. Roll each piece in sprinkles, bake it in a mini muffin pan, and press the center while it’s still warm. Once the cups cool, you get to give each little cookie person a snowy seat.

Why You’ll Love These Christmas Sugar Cookie Cups

• The dough is already portioned. Each precut piece makes one mini cookie cup.
• The sprinkles do most of the decorating. Roll the dough balls in sprinkles before baking so the festive colors show all the way around the cups.
• You can fill them with your favorite frosting. I went with a white swirl for that snowy look. You can pipe it in or use a little spoon.
• They’re made for a Christmas cookie tray. Set the little cookie people upright so those faces and bow ties peek out over the frosting.

How to Make Christmas Sugar Cookie Cups

Roll the sugar cookie dough in Christmas sprinkles, then bake the dough balls in a mini muffin pan. Press a shallow well into each cookie as soon as it comes out of the oven. Once the cups are completely cool, fill them right in the pan and tuck a little sugar cookie into each swirl.

Kitchen Tools

• Mini muffin pan
• Small bowl for the sprinkles
• Small tart tamper or wooden spoon with a rounded handle
• Piping bag or small spoon

Ingredients

• Pillsbury refrigerated sugar cookie dough. Grab the package with individual precut pieces. You’ll use one piece per cup.
• Christmas sprinkles. I used tiny red, green, and white sprinkles for a little Christmas confetti on every bite.
• Your favorite frosting or filling. White frosting gives the cups the snowy look you see in the video. Choose a filling thick enough to hold the toppers upright.
• Mini decorated sugar cookies. I used tiny sugar cookies decorated to look like gingerbread people, complete with green bow ties. You’ll need one for each cup.

Step 1. Roll the Dough in Christmas Sprinkles

Pour the sprinkles into a small bowl. Roll each pre-cut piece of sugar cookie dough between your palms to make a ball, then roll it in the sprinkles. Set one sprinkle-covered dough ball in each well of the mini muffin pan.

Step 2. Bake the Cookie Cups

Bake according to the directions on your package of sugar cookie dough. Set your tart tamper or wooden spoon next to the pan before it comes out of the oven so you’re ready for the next step.

Step 3. Press the Centers While the Cookies Are Warm

As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, gently press the center of each one with a small tart tamper or the rounded end of a wooden spoon handle. Make a shallow well for the frosting and leave enough cookie underneath to hold it.

Step 4. Cool, Fill, and Add the Cookie People

Let the cookie cups cool completely in the pan. With the cups still in the pan, pipe or spoon a little frosting into each well. Set a mini decorated sugar cookie upright in each swirl, then gently lift the finished cups out of the pan.

I like to tilt the toppers forward just a little so you can see their faces. Those bow ties deserve their moment!

Tips for Making Mini Cookie Cups

• Give the tamper a gentle press. You only need enough room for a small swirl of frosting. A tool that’s narrower than the cookie will leave a sprinkle covered rim around the top.
• Let the cups cool all the way. They firm up as they cool, and the frosting will hold its shape better in a cool cookie.
• Keep the frosting swirl low enough to show off the sprinkles. A little dollop gives the topper a seat and leaves that colorful rim visible.

More Merry Ways to Decorate Them

• Let It Snow Cookie Cups. Use blue and white sprinkles, white frosting, and a tiny snowman sugar cookie.
• O Christmas Tree Cookie Cups. Tuck a mini Christmas tree sugar cookie into each frosting swirl. Add a few colorful sprinkles around the tree for little ornaments.
• Hot Cocoa Cookie Cups. Fill the cups with thick chocolate ganache, then add a mini star cookie and a couple of tiny marshmallows.

How to Store Christmas Sugar Cookie Cups

You can bake the cups ahead and let them cool completely before storing them in an airtight container. Fill and decorate them when you’re ready to put together your cookie tray.

Once the cups are filled, follow the storage directions for the frosting or filling you used. If your filling needs refrigeration, refrigerate the assembled cups.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make cookie cups with store bought sugar cookie dough?

Yes. I used Pillsbury refrigerated sugar cookie dough that comes in precut pieces. Roll each piece into a ball, coat it in sprinkles, and bake it in a mini muffin pan according to the package directions.

What can I use if I don’t have a tart tamper?

Use the rounded end of a wooden spoon handle. Choose one that fits inside the top of the cookie with room to leave a rim around the edge.

Do I press the cookie cups before or after baking?

Press the centers right after baking, while the cookies are still warm and soft. Let the shaped cups cool completely in the pan before adding the filling.

Are the little gingerbread people made of gingerbread?

The little people on mine are decorated sugar cookies. They’re dressed like gingerbread people, green bow ties and all. You can use mini gingerbread cookies, too, if you like.

More Christmas Food Crafts to Make

Give those little cookie people some company on the Christmas tray with Santa Chocolate Cups and Christmas Sugar Cookie Pizza.

If you make these Christmas Sugar Cookie Cups, tell me what you put in the middle. I’m already picturing a whole tray of little snowmen!

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