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Easter Basket Cookies Recipe

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★★★★

3.9 from 88 reviews

These delightful Easter Basket Cookies are perfect for celebrating spring with a fun and festive treat. Soft peanut butter cookie cups are baked in a muffin tin, filled with colorful vanilla frosting, and topped with peanut butter M&Ms to resemble cute little baskets. This recipe yields 24 servings and combines rich peanut butter flavors with a creamy, sweet frosting, making it an irresistible dessert for Easter gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

  • 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
  • 3–4 cups powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Food coloring (as desired)
  • Peanut butter M&Ms (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Prepare Cookie Dough: In a mixing bowl, combine the sugar, brown sugar, shortening, creamy peanut butter, salt, and vanilla extract. Mix well until all ingredients are incorporated. Then add the eggs and ¼ cup milk and continue mixing until the dough is creamy and smooth. Fold in the all-purpose flour and baking soda gently until just combined.
  2. Shape Dough in Muffin Tin: Using a large cookie scoop, place portions of dough into the cups of a greased muffin tin. Use a tart press or a similar tool to make an indent in each dough scoop to help mold the dough into the muffin cup shape.
  3. Bake the Cookie Cups: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the cookie cups for 10-12 minutes. During baking, the cookies will rise and will settle down once removed from the oven. Remove from oven and let cool completely in the muffin tin to hold their shape.
  4. Make the Frosting: In a large bowl, combine the unsalted butter, ¼ cup milk, vanilla extract, and 2 cups of powdered sugar. Mix on medium speed until the frosting is smooth and creamy, about 5 minutes. Gradually add the remaining powdered sugar to achieve the desired consistency and add food coloring of your choice. Mix thoroughly to combine.
  5. Assemble Easter Basket Cookies: Once the cookie cups are completely cooled, pipe the prepared frosting into each cookie cup’s indentation, filling it generously. Top each frosted cookie cup with peanut butter M&Ms to create a colorful basket appearance. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

  • Ensure cookies are completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting.
  • Use a tart press or a small glass to create uniform indentations in the dough.
  • Adjust the amount of powdered sugar in the frosting to achieve your preferred thickness.
  • Peanut butter M&Ms can be substituted with regular M&Ms or other small candy pieces as desired.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Keywords: Easter cookies, peanut butter cookies, holiday desserts, cookie cups, festive treats, spring baking

Find it online: https://foodiecara.com/easter-basket-cookies-recipe/