Sugar Cookie Cups are one of the cutest and easiest desserts you can make for Valentine’s Day. These Sugar Cookie Cups are baked in a muffin pan to create soft, buttery cookie shells that are filled with smooth, fluffy buttercream frosting. They are festive, colorful, and perfect for school parties, family gatherings, or holiday baking. Because the dough is pressed into muffin tins, shaping is simple and beginner-friendly. Once filled with buttercream and topped with sprinkles, these cookie cups look bakery-perfect but require minimal effort.
Key Takeaways
• Perfect bite-sized Valentine’s Day dessert
• Easy muffin pan baking method
• Soft sugar cookie base with fluffy buttercream
• Great for parties and gifting
• Beginner-friendly recipe
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These Sugar Cookie Cups are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. The cookie base is soft and buttery with slightly crisp edges, while the buttercream frosting adds creamy sweetness on top. Unlike traditional cut-out cookies, there’s no rolling or complicated decorating involved. The built-in cup shape makes it easy to pipe frosting neatly, even for beginners. Plus, you can customize colors and sprinkles for different holidays like Easter, birthdays, or baby showers.
Ingredients
For the Cookie Cups:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Buttercream Frosting:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Food coloring (optional)
Valentine’s sprinkles for decoration
Equipment
Standard muffin pan
Mixing bowls
Electric mixer
Measuring cups and spoons
Cooling rack
Piping bag (optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F and lightly grease a standard muffin pan.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, beat softened butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until fully combined.
Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture and mix until a soft dough forms.
Roll tablespoon-sized portions of dough into balls and press each ball into a muffin cavity, pressing gently up the sides to create a cup shape.
Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Immediately after removing from the oven, gently press the center of each cookie with the back of a spoon to deepen the cup shape if needed.
Allow cookie cups to cool completely in the pan before removing.
For the frosting, beat butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then mix in cream and vanilla until fluffy. Add food coloring if desired.
Pipe or spoon buttercream into each cooled cookie cup and decorate with festive sprinkles.
Tips & Variations
Chill the dough for 20 minutes if it feels too soft to handle.
Use different frosting colors for different holidays.
Add a small chocolate heart or candy in the center for extra decoration.
Store unfilled cookie cups in advance and frost the day of serving.
For a chocolate version, add 2 tablespoons cocoa powder to the dough.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Sugar Cookie Cups at Valentine’s Day parties, school events, or as edible gifts. Package them in decorative boxes for a thoughtful homemade treat. They also make a fun baking activity with kids because decorating is simple and creative.
Storage & Reheating
Store frosted cookie cups in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Allow refrigerated cookie cups to come to room temperature before serving for best texture.
Nutrition (approx.)
Calories: 210 per cookie cup
Carbohydrates: 26g
Fat: 11g
Protein: 2g
Sugar: 18g
FAQs
Can I make these ahead of time?
Yes, bake the cookie cups a day ahead and frost before serving.
Do I have to use a piping bag?
No, you can spoon the frosting into the cups if you prefer.
Can I freeze sugar cookie cups?
Yes, freeze the unfrosted cups for up to 2 months.
Can I use store-bought frosting?
Yes, but homemade buttercream gives the best flavor and texture.
Conclusion
These Sugar Cookie Cups with Buttercream are the perfect combination of soft cookie texture and creamy frosting. Easy to bake, simple to decorate, and endlessly customizable, they’re an ideal Valentine’s Day treat that looks impressive without complicated steps. Once you make them, they’ll quickly become one of your favorite holiday dessert recipes.