Mini Mint Chocolate Cookie Cups

Tiny chocolate mint cookie cups filled with thick and creamy mint Oreo frosting.  Don’t have Oreo cookies on hand?  Add mini chocolate chips or chocolate shavings to the frosting instead!

Makes 8 dozen

Prep time: 30 minutes

Cook time: 15 minutes (per mini muffin tin)

Cookie cups:

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 tablespoons peppermint extract
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

• 1 cup vegetable shortening (or butter)
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon meringue powder (optional)
• 1 tablespoon peppermint extract
• 3 tablespoons water
• Green food coloring/gel  (I used Wilton icing gel in leaf green)
• 1/2 cup finely crushed Oreo cookies
• Sprinkles, if desired

Heat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer on high speed until fluffy.  Add the eggs and peppermint and beat until mixed.  In the same bowl, add the baking powder and salt and beat until mixed.  Gradually add the flour and cocoa, beating on medium speed until mixed well.

Roll the dough into 1-inch balls, then press each ball into an ungreased mini muffin cup pan.  Bake 15 minutes, then immediately press center of each cup with the handle of a wooden spoon, making an indentation/well in each cookie cup.  Allow the cookie cups to cool 5 minutes, then remove from pan and allow to cool completely.

Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine the shortening, powdered sugar, meringue powder, peppermint extract, and water.  Beat with an electric mixer on high speed about 2 minutes or until light and fluffy.  Add the food coloring until you reach your desired shade of green (if using gels like I do, keep in mind the color deepens over time).  Stir in the crushed Oreo cookies.

Place the frosting in a piping bag or plastic bag, and cut the corner with a pair of scissors.  Pipe the frosting into the indentation of each cookie cup.  If desired, place sprinkles in a shallow dish and roll the frosted cookie cups in the sprinkles.