Cauldron Cookie Cups Recipe

Introduction

These Cauldron Cookie Cups are a fun and festive treat perfect for Halloween parties or spooky gatherings. Chocolatey cookie cups filled with vibrant green buttercream and decorated with spooky sprinkles make for a delightful and eye-catching dessert.

Ingredients

• 1 (15.25 ounce) box Devil’s Food cake mix
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
• Black food coloring (optional)
• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1-3 tablespoons milk
• Green food coloring
• Round green sprinkles
• Halloween sprinkles
• Candy eyeballs
• Pretzel sticks

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease three 12-count mini muffin pans.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, mix the cake mix, eggs, canola oil, and black food coloring (if using) until well combined.
3. Step 3: Scoop about 1/2 tablespoon of dough and place it in the mini muffin pans. Flatten the dough slightly with your fingers.
4. Step 4: Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are set. Remove from the oven and immediately press an indentation into each warm cookie using the back of a 1 tablespoon measuring spoon. Set aside to cool completely.
5. Step 5: While the cookie cups cool, make the buttercream. In a medium bowl, beat the butter until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt, beating until smooth. Add milk a little at a time until the buttercream is smooth and pipeable. Mix in green food coloring until you reach the desired shade.
6. Step 6: Pipe the buttercream into the cooled cookie cups, filling each to resemble a bubbling potion.
7. Step 7: Decorate with green sprinkles, candy eyeballs, and Halloween sprinkles. Break pretzel sticks in half and insert one into each cookie cup as a stir stick.

Tips & Variations

• Use black food coloring to deepen the cookie color and create a more dramatic cauldron effect.
• If you prefer a thinner buttercream, add milk gradually until it reaches your desired consistency.
• Try different colored sprinkles for a unique look or to match other holiday themes.
• For a gluten-free option, substitute the cake mix with a gluten-free chocolate cake mix.

Storage

Store the cookie cups in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If stored in the refrigerator, allow them to come to room temperature before serving for the best texture. Avoid freezing, as the buttercream texture may change upon thawing.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make these cookie cups ahead of time?

Yes, you can bake the cookies a day ahead and store them in an airtight container. It’s best to fill and decorate them with buttercream the day you plan to serve for the freshest taste and best texture.

What can I use instead of pretzel sticks?

If pretzel sticks aren’t available, you can use small candy canes, chocolate sticks, or even decorative plastic stirrers to give the same cauldron stirring effect.

Cauldron Cookie Cups Recipe

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These Cauldron Cookie Cups are a spooky, fun Halloween treat that combines rich Devil’s Food cake mix cookies with creamy green buttercream frosting, decorated with festive sprinkles, candy eyeballs, and pretzel stick stirrers. Perfect for parties and celebrations, the cookie cups are baked in mini muffin pans, filled with vibrant green buttercream to resemble bubbling potions in a witch’s cauldron.

• Author: Stella
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 36 mini cookie cups 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cookie Cups

• 1 (15.25 ounce) box Devil’s Food cake mix
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
• Black food coloring (optional)

Buttercream Filling

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1–3 tablespoons milk
• Green food coloring

Decorations

• Round green sprinkles
• Halloween sprinkles
• Candy eyeballs
• Pretzel sticks (broken in half)

Instructions

1. Preheat and Prepare Pans: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease three 12-count mini muffin pans to prevent sticking.
2. Mix Cookie Dough: In a large bowl, combine the Devil’s Food cake mix, eggs, canola or vegetable oil, and black food coloring if using, mixing until the ingredients are well incorporated and a dough forms.
3. Fill Muffin Pans: Scoop about 1/2 tablespoon of dough for each cup and place it into the mini muffin pans. Use your fingers to flatten the dough evenly in each cup.
4. Bake and Shape Cups: Bake the cookie dough for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are set. Immediately after removing from the oven, press an indentation into each warm cookie using the back of a 1 tablespoon measuring spoon to create a cup shape. Let them cool completely in the pans.
5. Make Buttercream Filling: While the cookie cups cool, beat the softened butter in a medium bowl until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt, beating continuously until the mixture is smooth. Add milk one tablespoon at a time to achieve a pipeable consistency. Mix in green food coloring until the desired shade is reached.
6. Fill Cookie Cups: Pipe the green buttercream into the cooled cookie cups, filling each to resemble a bubbling potion inside the cauldron.
7. Decorate: Sprinkle round green sprinkles, Halloween-themed sprinkles, and candy eyeballs on top of the buttercream. Break pretzel sticks in half and insert one into each filled cookie cup to serve as a stir stick.

Notes

• If black food coloring is not desired, you can omit it and still have delicious cookie cups.
• Ensure the cookie cups are completely cooled before piping the buttercream to prevent melting.
• For varied designs, try different colored sprinkles or candy decorations.
• These cookie cups can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for longer freshness.

Keywords: Cauldron cookies, Halloween treats, cookie cups, buttercream filling, spooky dessert, mini cookies, party snacks