Easy Cookie Cups - The Perfect Easter Treat

This Easy Cookie Cups recipe is made with or without chocolate chips, making a cookie dough cup, nest or bowl to fill with ice cream, and more!

The festivities of Easter bring out the kid in all of us. One look at these Easter egg cookie nests and you get my point.

As the primary baker and cook of the house, it's on me to make the Easter experience as pleasurable and as memorable as possible for my family. I take it in stride and have a good time along the way. 

Making these Easter egg cookie nests is all play and no work in my opinion.    

In my son's younger days, when Easter was getting close, he knew I was going to make Easter egg cookie nests. Always eager to help, Patrick would gather the ingredients as we got ready to dive in. 

In 20 minutes we were both staring at these gorgeous little nests we'd created and Patrick was excited to fill them with candy coated chocolate Easter eggs. They looked like real bird's eggs and the pastel shades of yellow, pink, blue and purple eggs were a sight for sore eyes!

As Easter Sunday was coming to a close, and shortly after eating that special Easter meal, we'd treat ourselves to one of these delightful Easter egg cups. It marked the end of a fabulous day.

Even though he's all grown up and has moved on, he still talks about these cookie nests! Just look at them. What's not to love?

The nests themselves look real and filled with colorful mini Easter eggs, they're enough to bring brighten anyone's day whether they be little people, big people or in between.

My lovable, elderly neighbor and food critic, Renate, dropped by once on Easter and saw these Easter cookie nests sitting on the counter. She couldn't take her eyes off of them!

Too polite to ask, she would patiently wait until one was offered to her. After that first bite, her eyes lit up and she became a kid all over again! Desserts of any kind were something she could never resist and this Easter egg nest was no exception. 

Renate was beyond delighted when I sent a couple home with her. Days later, she was still talking about them!    

There's something about these cookie dough cups that makes them so special. Maybe it's the cookie dough or the coconut. Or perhaps it's what you fill them with that counts. Only you can decide that. All I know is that every time I make them, they're a big hit all around.

There's no getting away from it, these Easter egg cups can capture the hearts and imaginations of children of all ages. Even the big kids disguised as adults. Because that's what we all are inside if the truth be told. And Easter is one those occasions that does just that.  

Call them cookie nests for short if you will. At the end of day it doesn't really matter what you call these little gems. Filled with sweet, shredded coconut and topped with candy coated chocolate eggs or your favorite little candies and you've got cookie nests that will be gobbled up in no time.    

Cookie Cup Recipes 

I just love this cookie dough as it is easy to work with and takes no time at all to prepare. You can easily add chocolate, caramel, peanut butter or butterscotch chips, dried fruits or nuts to create your preferred cookie cup. Whatever your heart desires.

We love combinations like dark chocolate and pumpkin seeds or pecans, toffee bits and chocolate chips or milk chocolate, coconut and walnuts or slivered almonds, dried cranberries and white chocolate or dried cranberries, raisins and pecans and so much more.

No matter what you include in this cookie dough, it will not disappoint. We use this wonderful dough to make our Holiday Surprise Basket Cookies, they include lids, and Adorable Easter Egg Cookie Nests that are pictured on this post.

These baskets or cups are perfect for any holiday, not just Christmas and Easter! Think of all the things you could put in them for Halloween, Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving and more!

My favorite thing to put in these baskets is a scoop of ice cream and some chocolate or caramel sauce but you get the idea.

The baskets can be chocolate flavored as well if you add some cocoa or different colors if you add a little food coloring.

The possibilities are truly endless and all are delicious.

Chocolate Filled Cookie Cups 

I have shoved everything I can think of inside these wonderful cookie cups. I love putting a peanut butter cup or a couple chocolate covered caramel candies inside the cookie as soon as they come out of the oven.

You can also easily create a Chocolate Filled Cookie Cup and boy oh boy are they delicious!

Simply microwave a cup of chocolate, think chocolate, caramel, peanut butter or butterscotch chips, individually or in any combination, with a tablespoon or two of butter, stirring in 15 second intervals in a microwave safe bowl.

Once melted, immediately pour or scoop the melted chips inside the baked cookies, up to no more than about the halfway point.

Are they ever delicious. Chocolate filled cookie cups need to be on your bucket list. Really.

Also don't hesitate to mix your chips up. I have melted both chocolate and caramel chips as well as peanut butter and chocolate chips and loved every bite. Don't hesitate to try it!

This may appear a little excessive but as soon as you put the melted chocolate inside each cookie cup quickly follow with another treat if you were planning on it.

Think chocolate covered caramels, toffee bits, your favorite chopped up chocolate bar, shredded coconut or nuts, or a pinch of festive sprinkles or sparkles, just to add some color and a little more flavor perhaps, to your chocolate filled cookie cups but of course it is up to you.

The key here is to get the additional toppings on before your melted chocolate hardens, and it hardens fast, so you have to have everything ready before you start pouring the chocolate into your baked cookie dough cup.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups

You always have the option of adding chocolate, caramel, butterscotch or peanut butter chips to this wonderful cookie cup dough recipe and I regularly do. Somehow the chips make everything taste just a little better, in my mind anyway. 

Oh boy I almost forgot about nuts! You can always include them as well into the dough, with or without chips. Any chopped up nut or nuts that you desire!

Chocolate chip cookie bowls are absolutely perfect for so many things. Hopefully you won't mind sharing exactly what you do with your cookie cups as the longer the list the better!

S'mores Cookie Cups

Try making our version of a s'mores bowl with a piece of chocolate and marshmallow added as soon as the cookies are removed from the oven, my son's personal favorite.

He adds a piece of chocolate, then a marshmallow or two, depending on their size, and returns the cookies to the oven for a moment or two to make sure the chocolate and marshmallow are somewhat melted.

If using a large marshmallow, that is piled above the cookie edge, you can broil for a minute or two to brown the marshmallow but don't leave your oven unattended, the marshmallow can burn and will do it quickly, but they look beautiful and taste out of this world.

These chocolate chip cookie cups, as a s'more, are so addictive and definitely worth a try. Are they ever.

Ingredients in Chocolate Chip Cookie Bowls

Dough

• flour
• sugar
• brown sugar
• baking soda
• baking powder
• salt
• vanilla extract
• eggs
• butter
• cocoa powder (optional)
• candy, nuts or dried fruit (optional)
• chocolate, caramel, peanut butter or butterscotch chips (optional)

Decoration Options

• sweetened shredded coconut
• chocolate or candy coated eggs
• cooking spray

How do you make Easy Cookie Cups

In a large bowl, ideally with a handheld or stand mixer, cream together the room temperature butter and sugars on medium speed until combined.

Blend in the eggs and vanilla.

Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Next with the mixer on low speed, add the flour, baking soda and baking powder until combined. The cookie batter will become very thick.

Transfer the dough to a smooth surface and knead by hand to evenly distribute and incorporate the candy or chocolate, nuts and/or fruit you have chosen to include in the cookie.

You can either bake immediately or cover and refrigerate at least an hour, up to overnight. I prefer baking chilled dough but it is not necessary with this dough.

If baking regular cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare baking sheets with cooking spray or parchment paper. Set aside.

Shape dough into discs between ¾ inch in height and 1 ½ inches wide.

Bake until the edges of the cookies have just begun to brown and set but the centers are still very soft, and cracked.

Anywhere from 11-15 minutes, depending on the size.

Remove from oven and allow to cool completely on baking sheet.

Store in a airtight container. 

The picture below was taken the first year I started this blog and I made sure this cookie dough was included as one of the first recipes I published. I just had to.

I remember taking hundreds of photographs or shots just trying to find one that was good enough to put on this site. That used to happen with every picture I tried to take back then. 

I apologize but I just couldn't take this photo down. 

How to make Easy Cookie Cups

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare a regular sized muffin pan (holds 12 muffins) with cooking spray.

Press dough into each cup so it lines the bottom and sides of the tin.

You have to press the dough as thin as possible into the sides and bottom of each muffin cup.

Bake for 13-16 minutes or until golden brown and the bottom of the cup looks somewhat cooked.

The dough will fall slightly to the center while baking. This is ok.

Remove from oven and cool in the muffin tin for at least 5 minutes. Then place on a wire rack to cool completely.

If decorating for Easter you can fill each cup with a small pile of sweetened shredded coconut and candy coated chocolate eggs.

If desired, toss coconut with food coloring to dye coconut different colors.

Serve with chocolate bunnies, Easter eggs or whatever your heart desires!

What size muffin tin for Cookie Cups?

I use a regular sized, 12 hole, muffin pan or tin. I tried repeatedly to use a mini muffin pan and overall was disappointed in the results. The muffin hole just isn't big enough to make a cup or basket. 

If you decide to try for yourself just remember to reduce your baking time.

 How to Store Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups

If you do happen to have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container or resealable bag, with as much air removed as possible, for 3 days. If you want to make them last a little longer, you can freeze them for up to 3 months.

It’s best to freeze them plain, or with chocolate or a treat melted into the bottom, if you’re making them ahead of time. 

Easter Egg Cookie Nests

This recipe for egg nests is an old favorite of ours. We put sweetened shredded coconut on the bottom of the "nest" and colored or chocolate eggs on top.

With a little food coloring added to the coconut tossed in a separate bowl you can make the nests any color you want! Simply grab a small bowl and add a tablespoon or so of water and a couple drops of food coloring.

Stir until combined, toss in your coconut and allow the coconut to sit until colored. Drain liquid and dry coconut on a paper towel lined plate. 

We make these Adorable Easter Egg Cookie Nests for Easter but we actually make these baskets all year 'round.

Check out our Holiday Surprise Basket Cookies for Christmas but don't forget about Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving, Halloween and all other holidays and events like birthdays.

Also, if you need a gluten free or different kind of basket check out our Easy Rice Krispie Baskets as they work perfectly for any holiday as well!

Frankly, any excuse will do and you can stuff or fill these baskets with anything your heart desires! You will be surprised at what will fit inside!

Easy Easter Desserts 

Easy Swirled Easter Fudge

Carrot Cake Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

Easy Carrot Cake Bars

Holiday Surprise Basket Cookies

Easy Rice Krispie Baskets

Mini Easter Cheesecakes

Cookie Dough Cup 

These cookie dough cups are so versatile. You have the option of adding a few drops of food coloring to the dough, any color that you want or is appropriate for the occasion.

That being said you can always add cocoa to your dough to give it a chocolate flavor and color, if that is your personal preference. Chocolate chocolate chip cookie dough cups are terrific too and definitely worth considering!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bowls

This cookie dough cup or cookie cup recipe is wonderful with chocolate chips but don't forget about all of the other kids of chips that are out there too and you can easily include any combination you desire as well.

When making cookie dough ice cream bowls I usually add chocolate chips, or chips of some kind. I just can't help it.

Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bowls

There is something about creating an ice cream station where you can make your own ice cream sundae inside a cookie cup! This Cookie Cup recipe is perfect for kids and their parties or any type of event or gathering, even a family dinner.

If you prefer, you can always add a scoop of ice cream and some chocolate, caramel, strawberry or your favorite ice cream sauce and toppings. 

Decorate with anything you can think of, as you can see, everything works! It's cookies and ice cream after all and it is going to be impossible to make a mess of these cookie dough ice cream bowls!

Easy Cookie Cups Video