How to Make the Cutest Gnome Cookie Cups for Christmas

Hello, Good News! Welcome to another delicious and festive article from your favorite baking blog. Today, we are going to show you how to make the cutest gnome cookie cups for Christmas. These adorable treats are perfect for adding some whimsy and fun to your holiday table. They are also super easy to make and only require a few ingredients.

Gnome cookie cups are basically sugar cookies baked in a mini muffin tin and topped with a strawberry hat and a candy nose. They look like little Santa gnomes with white icing beards. They are so sweet and tasty, you won’t be able to resist them. Plus, they are a great way to use up some fresh strawberries that might be going bad in your fridge.

Why You Should Make Gnome Cookie Cups

There are many reasons why you should make gnome cookie cups for Christmas. Here are some of them:

• They are super cute and festive. They will make your guests smile and admire your creativity.
• They are easy and quick to make. You don’t need any special skills or tools to make them. You can even use store-bought cookie dough and icing if you want to save some time.
• They are delicious and satisfying. They have a soft and chewy cookie base, a creamy and sweet icing filling, and a juicy and tangy strawberry topping. They are a perfect balance of flavors and textures.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your ingredients and let’s get started!

What You Need to Make Gnome Cookie Cups

To make gnome cookie cups, you will need the following ingredients:

• Refrigerated sugar cookie dough (or your favorite homemade sugar cookie dough)
• White icing (you can use store-bought or homemade)
• Fresh strawberries (with the tops cut off)
• Pink candies (such as M&M’s, Skittles, or Smarties)

You will also need the following tools:

• A mini muffin tin
• Cooking spray or mini cupcake liners
• A small scoop or spoon
• A piping bag or a ziplock bag with a corner cut off
• A toothpick

How to Make Gnome Cookie Cups

Here are the steps to make gnome cookie cups:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and spray your mini muffin tin with cooking spray or line it with mini cupcake liners.
2. Place one cookie dough ball into each muffin cup. You don’t need to flatten or roll them.
3. Bake the cookies for 12 to 15 minutes until lightly golden brown.
4. Remove the cookies from the oven and place them on a wire rack to cool slightly.
5. While the cookies are still warm, use a small scoop or spoon to gently press the cookies into a cup shape.
6. Let the cookies cool completely before removing them from the pan.
7. Wash your strawberries and cut off the tops in a V shape. This will create a hat shape when you turn them upside down.
8. Fill a piping bag or a ziplock bag with white icing and pipe some icing into each cookie cup. Be generous with the icing as this will create the beard effect.
9. Place a strawberry on top of each cookie cup, upside down, pressing it slightly into the icing.
10. Place a pink candy under each strawberry, in the middle of the icing, to make the nose.
11. Use a toothpick to spread some of the icing around the nose and under the strawberry to make the beard more realistic.
12. Pipe a small dot of icing on top of each strawberry to make the pom-pom of the hat.

Tips and Tricks for Making Gnome Cookie Cups

How to Store Gnome Cookie Cups

Gnome cookie cups are best enjoyed fresh, but you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months. To thaw them, let them sit at room temperature for about an hour before serving.

How to Customize Gnome Cookie Cups

You can customize gnome cookie cups in many ways. Here are some ideas:

• You can use different colors of candies for the noses, such as green, yellow, or blue.
• You can use different flavors of icing, such as chocolate, vanilla, or cream cheese.
• You can use different types of cookies, such as gingerbread, oatmeal, or peanut butter.
• You can use different fruits for the hats, such as raspberries, blueberries, or cherries.
• You can add some sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, or nuts to the icing for some extra crunch and decoration.

How to Make Gnome Cookie Cups Ahead of Time

If you want to make gnome cookie cups ahead of time, you can bake the cookies and store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. You can also prepare the strawberries and store them in a ziplock bag in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When you are ready to assemble the cookie cups, just pipe the icing and add the strawberries and candies.

Gnome Cookie Cups Nutrition Facts

Here is a table that shows the nutrition facts for one gnome cookie cup, based on using refrigerated sugar cookie dough and store-bought white icing. The values may vary depending on the brand and type of ingredients you use.

Nutrient	Amount	% Daily Value
Calories	120	6%
Fat	4.5 g	7%
Saturated Fat	1.5 g	8%
Trans Fat	0 g	0%
Cholesterol	0 mg	0%
Sodium	85 mg	4%
Carbohydrate	19 g	6%
Fiber	0 g	0%
Sugar	12 g	N/A
Protein	1 g	2%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Gnome Cookie Cups FAQ

Are gnome cookie cups gluten-free?

No, gnome cookie cups are not gluten-free. They are made with wheat-based sugar cookie dough and icing. If you want to make them gluten-free, you will need to use gluten-free sugar cookie dough and icing. You can also check the labels of the strawberries and candies to make sure they are gluten-free.

Are gnome cookie cups vegan?

No, gnome cookie cups are not vegan. They are made with sugar cookie dough and icing that contain eggs and dairy products. If you want to make them vegan, you will need to use vegan sugar cookie dough and icing. You can also check the labels of the strawberries and candies to make sure they are vegan.

Are gnome cookie cups nut-free?

Gnome cookie cups are nut-free by default, unless you add some nuts to the icing or use a nut-based cookie dough. However, some of the ingredients may be processed in facilities that also handle nuts, so there may be a risk of cross-contamination. If you have a nut allergy, you will need to check the labels of the cookie dough, icing, strawberries, and candies to make sure they are nut-free.

How many gnome cookie cups can I eat?

Gnome cookie cups are a delicious treat, but they are also high in sugar and calories. Therefore, you should enjoy them in moderation and limit your intake to one or two per day. You can also balance them out with some healthy snacks, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, or yogurt.

Can I make gnome cookie cups with other shapes?

Yes, you can make gnome cookie cups with other shapes besides circles. You can use a cookie cutter to cut out different shapes from the cookie dough before baking them in the muffin tin. For example, you can make stars, hearts, flowers, or animals. Just make sure the shapes are not too big or too small for the muffin cups.

Can I make gnome cookie cups without a muffin tin?

No, you cannot make gnome cookiecups without a muffin tin. You need the muffin tin to create the cup shape and hold the icing and the strawberry. If you don’t have a muffin tin, you can try making gnome cookies instead. Just bake the cookie dough on a baking sheet and decorate them with icing, strawberries, and candies.

Can I make gnome cookie cups with homemade cookie dough and icing?

Yes, you can make gnome cookie cups with homemade cookie dough and icing. You can use your favorite recipes for sugar cookie dough and white icing, or you can follow the recipes below:

Homemade Sugar Cookie Dough

You will need:

• 3/4 cup of unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup of granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt

You will do:

1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
2. Add the egg and vanilla and beat well.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until a soft dough forms.
5. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour or overnight.

Homemade White Icing

You will need:

• 2 cups of powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons of milk
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• A pinch of salt

You will do:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and salt until smooth and creamy.
2. If the icing is too thick, add more milk, one teaspoon at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.
3. If the icing is too thin, add more powdered sugar, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.

Can I make gnome cookie cups for other occasions?

Yes, you can make gnome cookie cups for other occasions besides Christmas. You can change the colors and decorations to suit different themes and seasons. For example, you can make:

• Gnome cookie cups for Valentine’s Day by using red icing and heart-shaped candies.
• Gnome cookie cups for Easter by using pastel-colored icing and mini eggs or jelly beans.
• Gnome cookie cups for Halloween by using orange icing and candy corn or licorice.
• Gnome cookie cups for Thanksgiving by using brown icing and candy pumpkins or pecans.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed this article on how to make gnome cookie cups for Christmas. They are a fun and easy way to add some magic and joy to your holiday baking. They are also delicious and adorable, and your family and friends will love them.

If you liked this article, please share it with your friends and leave us a comment below. We would love to hear from you. And don’t forget to check out our other articles for more amazing recipes and tips. Happy baking!