Valentine Sugar Cookie Cups
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Made with sugar cookie mix, these Valentine sugar cookie cups bake up soft and sweet with creamy vanilla frosting. They’re cute, festive, and irresistible!
Valentine’s Day Sugar Cookie Cups
Valentine’s Day sugar cookie cups are a fun twist on classic sugar cookies, baked into soft pink cookie cups and filled with creamy vanilla frosting. They’re perfect for Valentine’s Day classroom parties or a sweet weekend baking project.
If your kids love helping in the kitchen, this is a cute, hands-on recipe they’ll love to make, especially if they already enjoy decorating treats like my cut-out sugar cookies or easy sugar cookie bars.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Simple to make using a sugar cookie mix, so you get soft, sweet Valentine cookie cups with minimal effort
- Cute and festive, making them perfect for Valentine’s Day or treating loved ones!
Ingredient Notes
Find the full printable recipe with directions.
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- Sugar cookie mix: I used Betty Crocker, but any standard sugar cookie mix will work.
- Butter: Make sure it’s softened so it mixes smoothly into the dough and frosting.
- Egg: A room-temperature egg helps the dough come together evenly.
- Red food coloring: Just a few drops are enough to get a soft pink color.
- Vanilla extract: Use pure vanilla for the best flavor in both the dough and frosting.
- Powdered sugar: Sift if lumpy for a smoother frosting.
- Milk or cream: Add a little at a time to reach your desired frosting consistency.
- Sprinkles: Add them right before serving so the colors stay vibrant.
How to Make Valentine Sugar Cookie Cups
Preheat the oven and lightly grease a mini muffin pan. In a mixing bowl, combine the sugar cookie mix, softened butter, egg, and vanilla, then mix until a soft dough forms.
Add a few drops of red food coloring and mix just until the dough turns pink.
Scoop the dough evenly into the muffin pan and press a small indentation into the center of each one to form a cup. Bake until the edges are set and lightly golden.
While the cookies are still warm, gently press the centers down again, then let them cool completely.
To make the frosting, beat the butter until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla, then gradually mix in the powdered sugar, adding milk or cream as needed until smooth and pipeable. Fill each cookie cup with frosting, top with sprinkles, and serve.
Recipe Tips
- Press the centers while the cookies are still warm so the cups form easily without cracking.
- Let the cookie cups cool completely before frosting or the frosting will soften and melt.
- Pipe the frosting instead of spooning it in for a neater, bakery-style finish.
- Swap the frosting color and sprinkles to match any holiday, party, or special occasion.
More Cookie Recipes to Make
Valentine Sugar Cookie Cups
Ingredients
- 1 17.5 ounce sugar cookie mix , I used Betty Crocker brand
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter , softened
- 1 egg , room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- red food coloring
Frosting
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter , softened
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3-4 cups powdered sugar
- 1-2 Tablespoons heavy cream
- Valentine's Day sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 24-well mini muffin pan with nonstick spray and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a medium bowl using a hand mixer, combine the sugar cookie mix, butter, egg, and vanilla extract. Mix on medium speed until a soft dough forms.
- Add in the food coloring a few drops at a time and mix on low speed just until a pink color is achieved.
- Scoop the dough into the prepared mini muffin pan, filling each well evenly. Use your finger or the back of a teaspoon to press a small indentation into the center of each dough ball to form a cup.
- Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, until the edges are set and lightly golden. The centers will look soft and slightly puffed.
- Remove the pan from the oven and gently press down the centers with a teaspoon. Let the cookie cups cool in the pan for 20 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once the cookie cups have cooled, scoop the homemade frosting into a piping bag fitted with a tip. Squeeze a bit of frosting into each cup, add sprinkles then serve and enjoy!
Frosting
- Add softened butter to a mixing bowl if using hand mixer or to the bowl of a stand mixer. Cream until light and fluffy.
- Add vanilla extract and 1 Tablespoon of whole milk or cream. Mix to combine.
- Add powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time while mixing on low speed. Scrape down sides of bowl as needed. Continue to add more powdered sugar until desired consistency adding the Tablespoon of milk as needed.
- Pipe frosting into each cookie cup and add sprinkles.
