These Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups made with sugar cookie dough are filled with hot chocolate ganache, have a pretzel handle and mini marshmallows on top! Disclosure: Pillsbury provided me with Pillsbury Dough Products. All opinions are 100% my own.
Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups are perfect for cold winter days and they are a fun holiday cookie to bring to Christmas parties, cookie exchanges and potlucks!
They do take a little extra time to make because attaching the pretzel handles is time-consuming but the hot chocolate cookies cups are so cute that it’s worth it. And everyone loves the smooth hot chocolate ganache that they are filled with!
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I checked the weather and read that there are multiple Alberta Clippers on the way. I’m not even sure how that is possible but it looks like several of the northern states could have blizzards.
For those of you who don’t live in a northern state, Canada or the North Pole, the definition of a blizzard is: A severe snowstorm caused by strong, sustained winds of at least 56 km/h (35 mph) and lasting for a prolonged period of time – typically three hours or more. Sound like fun? Not so much!
What do we do during a blizzard or severely cold weather? We stay home and keep warm, of course. We also bake, play board games, drink hot chocolate and get cabin fever. Once again, for those of you who live in warm climates, cabin fever is: irritability, listlessness, and similar symptoms resulting from long confinement or isolation indoors during the winter.
But it’s not all bad, definitely not! I love living in Minnesota. On the days that are warmer, we enjoy our time outdoors. We go sledding, skiing, snowboarding, and ice skating. We build snowmen, have snowball fights and go for walks in the snow.
If the weather gets really warm, like 38 degrees last Sunday, a good percentage of native Minnesotans walk around without their winter coats! Sounds crazy but 38 degrees feels warm when you compare it to -21!
I made these Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups for the first time in the Pillsbury Test Kitchens. I first imagined making these cookies at the beginning of December. I was doing a little brainstorming about recipes to make in January and February.
What came to mind was cold weather and hot chocolate. I wanted to try making a hot chocolate cake, hot chocolate cheesecake and hot chocolate cookie cups so I made a list on my iPhone.
Then, when I was at the Pillsbury Test Kitchens and was given the challenge of making my own cookie, I remembered my list and decided to give these a try. These 4 pictures are from my day in the test kitchens.
How To Make Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups
Step One: Cookie Cups
To make the hot chocolate cookie cups, I started by putting 1 tablespoon of Pillsbury sugar cookie dough into greased mini muffin tins or try using a greased silicone mini muffin pan.
(Update – an optional step would be to roll the sugar cookie dough balls in granulated sugar before putting them into the mini muffin tins to help prevent sticking.)
I baked them for 12-14 minutes at 375 degrees. Allow the cookies to cool completely in the pan before gently removing them.
Step Two: Chocolate Ganache
Next, I made chocolate ganache by bringing the whipping cream to a boil.
After quickly stirring in hot chocolate, I poured the hot cream over semi-sweet chocolate chips and let it sit for 3 minutes. Then, I stirred the mixture until the chocolate chips were melted and the ganache was smooth.
Step Three: Pretzel Handles
I broke off the loops on some mini pretzels to use as handles. I melted a little white chocolate and used it to attach the pretzel handles to the cookie cups.
Step Four: Assembly
Spoon the chocolate ganache into the cookie cups and top with mini marshmallows (I used Jet Puffed Mallow Bits).
Enjoy the Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups with a cup of real hot chocolate. These cookies are super popular during the holidays and throughout the entire winter.
Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups FAQs
Question #1 How Do I Form The Cookie Cups? This recipe can be made with or without forming the sugar cookie dough in the pan.
1. Leave the dough as a ball and it will puff up while baking and sink when removed from the oven, leaving a “dip” for the ganache. This is the EASIEST method and it is how I made my Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups.
2. If you make an indentation in the sugar cookie dough ball before baking, it will still puff up while baking and sink when removed from the oven, leaving a “dip” for the ganache.
3. The straighter the sides of the mini muffin pan, the straighter the side of the cookie cups will be.
4. To make a bigger “cup” to fill with ganache, you can use a small cup (like a medicine cup) to make an indentation in each cookie, after removing them from the oven.
WARNING – when you press the cup into the soft cookie dough it can pull away or tear the cookie dough on the sides of the cup leaving small gaps. And you may need to make additional ganache if using the method.
Question #2 What should I do if my cookies overflowed in the muffin pan and spread out too far?
1. Use a small cookie cutter (mine is 2 inches in diameter) to cut away the extra cookie immediately after taking them out of the oven.
2. Try using less cookie dough in each of the cups.
Question #3: How do I prevent the cookie cups from sticking in the mini muffin pans? I’ve made sugar cookie cups using Pillsbury Sugar Cookie dough many, many times using different pans, from different brands, in different kitchens and have not had issues with them sticking, but several of you haves so here are some things to try:
1. Roll the sugar cookie dough in a granulated sugar before placing it in the cups.
2. If the cookie cups are only a little bit stuck, try using a thin knife to gently pry up the edges.
3. Remember, mini muffin pans vary by brand, materials used to make the pans and the age of the pan.
4. I now use this Grazia Silicone Mini Muffin Pan to make my Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups and it works great! If you want to try a new pan, I would definitely recommend that one.
Question #4: Will the chocolate ganache spill out of the cookie cups when you are eating them?
Here is a look at the inside of the hot chocolate cookie cup once the ganache has cooled in the fridge. It is fudge-like so no, it will not spill out.
Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups
Ingredients
- 1 package Pillsbury Sugar Cookie Dough
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 tablespoon hot cocoa mix
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup white chocolate chips
- 12 mini pretzels
- 1 cup Jet-Puffed Mallow Bits
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375˚F.
- Put 1 tablespoon of the sugar cookie dough into 24 greased mini muffin tins. See note 1 for optional sugar coating.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes at 375˚F. Allow the cookies to cool completely in the pan before gently removing them.
- Make the chocolate ganache by bringing the whipping cream to a boil.
- Stir in the hot cocoa mix.
- Pour the hot cream over the semi-sweet chocolate chips and let it sit for 3 minutes. Then, stir until the chocolate chips are melted and the ganache is smooth.
- Break off the loops on some mini pretzels to use as handles.
- Melt the white chocolate and use it to attach the pretzel handles to the cookie cups.
- Spoon the chocolate ganache into the cookie cups and top with mini marshmallows.
Video
Amanda says
Hello Tonia!
I saw your recipe recently after Pillsbury shared it on their Facebook page and just made them this morning. I couldn’t get the pretzel handles to stick, but they still came out awesome (for the first batch). I also ended up rolling the dough in my hand and flattening them and shaped them into the muffin pan. Some came out great and some didn’t (need to measure better I guess). After they came out of the oven, there wasn’t a big “bowl” so I used the bottom of a 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon to make a better indentation.
I am bringing them into work tomorrow for kicks (and because my boss wants me to after I “shared” the post from Pillsbury.
Gwen says
Tonia: I’m 88 years old and I love to bake. I think your hot chocolate cookie cups are so cute. I want to make them for my family. I have 7 children, 16 Grand and 33 Great Grand kids. I will have to make a lot of them. You say you use the mini muffin tins. How would the standard size muffin tin do. How much longer would you need to bake them? Would you make 12 out of the one pkg. of dough?
Tonia says
Hi Gwen,
7 children, 16 grandchildren and 33 great grandchildren are fantastic! You are so blessed!
The package of sugar cookie dough that I used is the 16.5 oz size and I was able to get about 12 tablespoons of dough out of it.
I’ve never tried making these Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups in a regular muffin tin, but I found a recipe on the Taste Of Home website for ice cream cookie cups made in the regular muffin tins. You can find the recipe here: http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/coffee-ice-cream-cookie-cups
Happy Baking,
~Tonia
Gwen says
Tonia thank you for the Ice Cream recipe from the Taste of Home. I will make these next week for my family I know they will love them.
I think maybe in a few weeks I will try the ice cream in them. Thanks again.
Veronica says
These look great, how many does one batch make?
Tonia says
The package of sugar cookie dough that I used is the 16.5 oz size and I was able to get about 12 tablespoons of dough out of it. Thanks Veronica!
Julie says
Hi Tonia! You will be featured @ “Inspiration Monday Party” this Sunday @ 2pm EST! Congrats! Thanks so much for linking up. Julie redheadcandecorate.com
lisa says
Those are so clever! I wish I had seen these last month, when I had a holiday party. They would have been a wonderful addition to my Hot Chocolate Bar!
Tonia says
Thanks Lisa! You will have to keep it in mind for the next party!
Kat Ryan says
How cute are these??? The look amazing! I am not a cook, are they to hard to make?
www.confessionsoftheperfectmom.com
Tonia says
Hi Kat,
They are very easy to make! The cookie dough is ready-to-cook so you just have to melt together the chocolate chips and heavy cream to fill the cups. You could even use chocolate frosting, if you prefer. The hardest part, if you can even call it that, is breaking the pretzels. 🙂
Happy Baking!
~Tonia
Eleni says
These are way to cute, they have made my list already, thanks for the tutorial! I’ll let you know how they turn out.
Tonia says
Wonderful! Thanks, Eleni!
Tonia says
Thanks so much Jen!
Lyuba@willcookforsmiles says
These are so stinking cute, Tonia! Love it!
Tonia says
Thanks Lyuba!
Jenna says
the cookie cups are just too cute!! Thanks Tonia!
Tonia says
Thanks Jenna!
Renee@Two in the Kitchen says
These are super cute! My kids would LOVE them!! Thanks for giving us a peak into your day at Pillsbury. Your pictures there turned out beautiful!
Tonia says
Thanks so much Renee! I’m happy to share with everyone!
ColleenB. says
Oh, Yummy. Absolutely adorable with the pretzel handles
Tonia says
Thanks Colleen!
Tonia says
Thanks Erin!
alexandra says
These look adorable and I think I’m going to try them for my oldest daughter’s birthday next month. One question, do you make the indentation in the cookie after it’s baked and before putting it in the oven? Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Tonia says
Hi Alexandra,
I didn’t do anything to make an indentation! The cookies did it all on their own. If you bake the cookies and the centers don’t fall, go ahead and make an indentation using a small cup or something. For a birthday party, I would suggest adding a little food coloring to the dough or adding sprinkles! That would make the cups really festive. Happy Baking!
~Tonia
alexandra says
Thanks Tonia! I can’t wait to try. Love the idea of sprinkles 🙂
shari lynne @ faith filled food for moms says
What a total blast Tonia and those are about the CUTEST cookies I’ve ever seen!! You ROCK!!
Tonia says
Thanks Shari Lynne! Do you mind telling my kids that? 😉
Sarah @ Miss Candiquik says
I just love these! Pinned and shared on twitter 🙂
Tonia says
Thanks Sarah!
Anna Bennett says
Tonia,
You spoil us,but that is okay because we love it.The Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups are so cute.
Thank you.. 🙂
Lisa says
These are so cute! I totally want to make them…hmmm
Cate @ Chez CateyLou says
The Pilsbury day looks like so much fun! These cookies are SOOO cute. Seriously. Adorable. and they look delicious! What a fun recipe.
Tonia says
Thanks Cate! My kids loved them!
Vanessa says
What a delicious idea! Yummy!