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Easter Basket Cookies Recipe

5 from 69 reviews

These Easter Basket Cookies are a festive and delicious treat perfect for spring celebrations. Soft cookie cups filled with creamy peanut butter frosting and topped with colorful Peanut Butter M&Ms make for an irresistible dessert that both kids and adults will love.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Cups

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup shortening
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 3½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda

Frosting

  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 34 cups powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Food coloring (as desired)
  • Peanut Butter M&Ms (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Cookie Dough: In a mixing bowl, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, shortening, creamy peanut butter, salt, and vanilla extract. Mix well until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Add the eggs and milk, then continue mixing until fully incorporated.
  2. Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually fold in the all-purpose flour and baking soda into the wet ingredients, blending gently until a dough forms.
  3. Scoop Dough into Muffin Tin: Grease a muffin tin and use a large cookie scoop to place portions of dough into each cup.
  4. Create Indents for Cookie Cups: Use a tart press or similar tool to make an indentation in each dough ball inside the muffin cups. This will shape the dough as it bakes to form a cup.
  5. Bake the Cookies: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake the cookie cups for 10-12 minutes. They will rise during baking and settle down once removed from the oven. Allow them to cool completely in the muffin tin.
  6. Make the Frosting: In a large bowl, cream together the unsalted butter, milk, vanilla extract, and 2 cups of powdered sugar until smooth and creamy, about 5 minutes. Then gradually add the remaining powdered sugar along with your choice of food coloring until the desired consistency and color are achieved.
  7. Assemble Cookies: Pipe the colored frosting into each cooled cookie cup to fill the indentations created earlier.
  8. Decorate and Serve: Top each frosted cookie cup with Peanut Butter M&Ms for a festive look. Serve and enjoy your Easter Basket Cookies!

Notes

  • Ensure the cookie cups are completely cool before frosting to prevent melting.
  • You can adjust the amount of powdered sugar in the frosting to reach your preferred thickness or sweetness.
  • Use a variety of food coloring to make colorful frosting matching your Easter theme.
  • Substitute shortening with butter if preferred for a richer flavor, though texture may vary.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days for best freshness.

Keywords: Easter cookies, peanut butter cookies, cookie cups, holiday dessert, festive treats, cookie frosting