These Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups are made with ready to bake sugar cookie dough and pudding cups! They make a fun holiday dessert and are perfect for Christmas parties, cookie exchanges or just to put a smile on someone's face!
Place one piece of ready to bake cookie dough in the bottom of each mini-muffin baking cup. Using your fingers, gently press the dough up and along the side of the pan to make a cup shape.
Bake for 10 minutes. Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, take the end of a wooden spoon (or something similar) and gently re-form the "cup shape" by widening the center and flattening the bottom of cup.
Bake for an additional 2 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool completely. Once cooled, use the end of a knife to gently pop out the cookie cups (you may have to gently twist them, but the should easily pop out).
Using a sharp knife, carefully cut the mini candy canes and create a "cup handle" with the curved section and a "straw" with the remainder of the candy cane.
Melt the white chocolate. Once melted, dip the end of the curved candy cane piece into the white chocolate and attach the candy cane handle to the cookie cup (see notes if you are having trouble keeping the candy cane handle sticking). Let the handle dry and set.
Just before serving, spoon chocolate pudding into the cup. Add mini marshmallow bits, sprinkles and candy cane "straw"
Video
Notes
If you are not serving the cups right away, wait to put the pudding and toppings in them. Fill them right before serving!
NOTE, these are NOT mini marshmallows, but mini marshmallow BITS - they can usually be found by the hot chocolate in the grocery - see link to view product!
Regarding the candy cane handle... if you have trouble getting the handle to "stick" to the cup. Follow this tip.
TIP: after dipping the candy cane in the white chocolate, hold the handle on to the cup and hold it in your freezer for about 30-60 seconds so the chocolate will set. Once it can stick without you holding it, place it in the freezer for another 1-2 minutes to help it quickly dry!