Christmas Sprinkle Cookie Cups

These Christmas Sprinkle Cookie Cups are everything you want in a holiday cookie—easy to make, festive, and full of flavor. With no rolling pin or cookie cutters needed, they’re a stress-free way to create a treat that looks bakery-worthy. The red and green sprinkles give them a merry touch, and the creamy frosting is the perfect finishing detail.

The holidays are the perfect time to bake something that feels festive and fun, and these Christmas Sprinkle Cookie Cups hit all the marks. They’re bright, colorful, and irresistibly delicious, making them a standout addition to any holiday cookie tray. What’s even better? They’re incredibly simple to make.

When it comes to Christmas cookies, all I really need are these cream wafer cookies. For years, they have been (and will probably always be) my absolute favorite. However, that doesn’t stop me from experimenting with a few new cookie recipes every year. (You can find all of my Christmas cookie recipes here.) This year, I’m trying these Christmas Sprinkle Cookie Cups!

I don’t know about you, but when it comes to Christmas cookie baking, I’m usually doing it about a week before the big event. And after an extremely busy time with the blog (Christmas is my craziest season on IBC.) and the stresses that come with holiday preparation, the last thing I want to deal with is complicated cookie recipes.

That’s why I’m always on the hunt for simple recipes that look beautiful and taste great. I promise you these Christmas Sprinkle Cookie Cups are just that.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• These cookie cups are as easy as they are adorable. By skipping the rolling pin and cookie cutters, you get the perfect bite-sized treat without the fuss. With just a mini muffin pan and simple ingredients, you’ll have a dessert that looks like it took much more effort than it actually did.
• Festive sprinkles make these cookie cups burst with holiday cheer. The bright red and green colors add a playful and joyful touch to your cookie tray, making them the perfect addition to holiday gatherings or gift boxes.
• The combination of a classic sugar cookie flavor and creamy frosting is simply irresistible. Each bite offers the perfect balance of buttery sweetness and a soft texture that will have everyone reaching for seconds.

Ingredients

You just need some basic ingredients (and a few sprinkles) to make these festive cookies.

• Unsalted Butter: Provides a rich, creamy base for both the cookies and frosting, ensuring a soft texture and perfect flavor.
• Powdered Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a smooth, melt-in-your-mouth consistency in the cookies and frosting.
• Baking Powder: Gives the cookies a light lift, ensuring they bake up perfectly in the mini muffin pan.
• Salt: Enhances all the flavors, balancing the sweetness beautifully.
• Egg: Acts as a binder, holding the dough together and adding richness.
• Vanilla Extract: Infuses the cookies and frosting with a warm, classic flavor that complements the sprinkles.
• All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of the cookies, creating structure and stability.
• Red and Green Sprinkles: Add a festive pop of color and crunch, perfect for the holiday season.
• Milk: Used in the frosting to achieve the ideal creamy consistency.

How to Make

1. Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Spray mini muffin pans with baking spray and set aside.
2. In a bowl, add the butter and beat with a mixer for about 1 minute. Then add the powder sugar, baking powder, and salt. Beat until creamy (2-3 minutes), scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
3. Next, beat in the egg and vanilla. Then beat in the flour until just combined.
4. Divide the dough into two portions. Stir green sprinkles into one half and mix red sprinkles into the other half.
5. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Then, press the balls into the prepared mini muffin pan. Press each dough ball with your thumb.

6. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are light brown. Remove from the oven and press the centers with the rounded side of a measuring teaspoon. Cool in pan for 5 minutes. Then remove to finish cooling on a wire rack.

7. In the meantime, prepare the frosting by beating together the softened butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Add as much milk as needed to create a smooth frosting.
8. Use a piping bag with a large star tip to frost the cooled cookies. Top with additional sprinkles. Pack and store in an air-tight container.

And just like that, you have several dozen of these Christmas Sprinkle Cookie Cups ready to add color and more deliciousness to your holiday cookie platters.

Delectably doable!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to chill the cookie dough before baking?

No chilling is required for this recipe! The dough is ready to use as soon as it’s mixed, which makes this recipe even quicker and easier to prepare.

What’s the best way to store these cookie cups?

Store the frosted cookie cups in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. If you’d like to keep them fresh longer, refrigerate them for up to a week, but allow them to come to room temperature before serving.

What if I don’t have a piping bag for the frosting?

No piping bag? No problem! You can use a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off, or simply spoon the frosting onto the cookie cups for a rustic, homemade look.

More Christmas Cookie Recipes You’ll Love

• The BEST Crock Pot Candy
• White Chocolate Cherry Shortbread Cookies
• Cream Horns (Lady Locks)
• Festive Kitchen Sink Cookies
• Easy Creamy Fudge Recipe
• Christmas Pinwheel Cookies

If you’re looking for something unique to add to your cookie exchange or just want a sweet treat to share with loved ones, these Christmas Sprinkle Cookie Cups are sure to be a hit. If you make them,  I’d love to know what you think. Would you please stop back and leave a comment and a 5-star rating below? I’d appreciate it! 

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Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Cups

These Christmas Sprinkle Cookie Cups are an easy and delicious Christmas cookie recipe that is certain to add color and fun to your holiday cookie tray.

4.80 from 10 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: christmas, christmas cookie, cookie, dessert, holiday, sprinkles

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups unsalted butter softened
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1/4 cup red sprinkles
• 1/4 cup green sprinkles

Frosting:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
• 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 – 3 tablespoons milk
• Additional sprinkles for garnish

Instructions

• Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F. Spray mini muffin pans with baking spray and set aside.
• In a bowl, add the butter and beat with a mixer for about 1 minute. Then add the powder sugar, baking powder, and salt. Beat until creamy (2-3 minutes), scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
• Next, beat in the egg and vanilla. Then beat in the flour until just combined.
• Divide the dough into two portions. Stir green sprinkles into one half and mix red sprinkles into the other half.
• Shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Then, press the balls into the prepared mini muffin pan. Press each dough ball with your thumb.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are light brown. Remove from the oven and press the centers with the rounded side of a measuring teaspoon. Cool in pan for 5 minutes. Then remove to finish cooling on a wire rack.
• In the meantime, prepare the frosting by beating together the softened butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Add as much milk as needed to create a smooth frosting.
• Use a piping bag with a large star tip to frost the cooled cookies. Top with additional sprinkles. Pack and store in an air-tight container.