My daughter LOVES to cook with me. I am always on the lookout for fun recipes we can do together. Last week, she “bought” a special cooking project from her “Chore Store.” She got out one of her favorite cookbooks, “Cooking for Kids Collection” (which you can find for ONE PENNY (plus shipping) over on amazon.com!!)

She carefully flipped through the pages and found the recipe for Cookie Cups. The result was a fun, perfectly-sized treat that the kids loved. And seriously, how CUTE are these things? (And super easy!)

What You’ll Need:

1 roll sugar cookie dough (By ALL means, make your own!)

whipped cream and assorted decorative toppings

That’s it folks!

Spray your muffin pan with cooking spray. Roll your dough into small balls. You may need to experiment a bit to see just how much you’ll need. Press the ball of dough into the muffin pan. (I used my mini muffin pan, but this would work with a regular muffin pan as well. ) Press the dough up around the sides of the pan, leaving a hollowed out indentation in the middle. The dough will spread as it cooks, so try to keep your dough level with the top of the pan. (You may want to place your muffin pan on top of a larger cookie sheet. The tops of a few of mine expanded right off the edge of the muffin pan and onto the oven floor!) My four year old daughter was able to do this with me, which made the cooking project all the more fun and special for her. She loved rolling the dough in her hands, and it was fun to watch her create increasingly better little cups each time she tried.

Once you have filled your muffin pan with dough, pop it in the freezer for about 15 minutes. Then, bake at 350 degrees for about 7-8 minutes. Pull them out and re-press the indentation with a spoon. Then, pop the pan back into the oven for another 2 minutes. Cool cookie cups on a wire rack. When cool, remove from pan and fill with your favorite topping. We used “squirty” whipped cream because it was so convenient (and hey, it’s fun! And..you know you sneak a little taste right in the mouth when your kids aren’t looking…am I right?!) The kids had a ton of fun putting their own sprinkles on top as well. You could also use M&M’s, chocolate chips, or any other small candies you have on hand.

I loved that this was something I could do with my kids, and truly have them participate, rather than just watch. Getting your kids into the kitchen with you is SO important, and will create memories that will last a lifetime. These perfectly portioned little treats were fun, tasty, and the perfect little snack. Try them out with your kids! Happy baking!