{recipe} mini sugar cookie fruit cups

I love bite size food and really loved it when desserts come in mini size. I just love the thought of being able to take a bite and savoring it, without the guilt of not finishing it when the portions are too big. They say the best bite is the first one.

I first discovered these cute mini sugar cookies while browsing Pinterest and followed the pin to the original blog post.  I adapted the recipe and adjusted the ratio of the whipped topping.

I’ve been making these a lot lately and they are my go-to dessert if I’m pressed for time.  I make sure I have all the ingredients for one batch in the freezer.

Sugar Cookie Fruit Cups

Ingredients (makes 24 mini cups):

• 1 small package Pillsbury sugar cookie dough
• 4 oz package cream cheese, softened (this is 1/2 of the standard package)
• 1 small container cool whip (or make homemade whipped cream)
• 2-3 cups of chopped fruit

Directions:

Use baking spray liberally on the mini muffin pan. Cook sugar cookie dough at 350 F according to package instructions.  Do not over cook. While the cookies are baking, whip softened cream cheese then add in cool whip until well incorporated. I add the whipped icing in a large ziplock and pipe them into the cooled cookie cups.

I made these during my baby shower last year, at first I thought they were a lot of work for something so tiny. I was frustrated mostly when removing the cookies from the mini cupcake pans and they would all break and tear. I’ve since learned thru trial and error that I had to wait until it cooled a bit, before I can remove them from the pan.  Once removed, they are still warm and I am able to re-shape them into cups and create a deeper hole in the middle. More room for the filling and fruits.  I don’t shape the dough before baking, since I’m shape the mini cups after they bake.

In March, I made these for Baby H’s 1st birthday party. I did two batches and displayed them in 3 layers.

In April, I made these for my sister’s birthday. Kiwis were already in season and I included canned peaches.

During ladies night in May. I pre-baked the cookies at home and frosted them after work.

Served with chilled wine…..even better!

Then I made them for a girlfriend’s graduation party.

Although it was served along side catered desserts, my homemade cookie cups were a hit.