This Mini Version of A Dessert Favorite Will Win Your Heart and Your Taste Buds

The instruction list does look a little daunting on this recipe, but really when you get started, it’s not too hard. You don’t need a ton of ingredients, and what you do need is easy and affordable to find. The cookie cups are worth taking the time to get right, because they are the base for the entire recipe. If you really want to impress, consider giving these a trial run before you make them for a special day. Trust me, no one in your house will complain about having to eat the practice batch. Just be sure to save yourself one (or three!).

Ingredients

VANILLA COOKIE CUPS

3/4 cups (168g) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup (207g) sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups (260g) all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cornstarch
1/4 tsp salt

VANILLA PASTRY CREAM

2 egg yolks
6 tbsp (78g) sugar
1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
1 cup (240ml) milk
1 tbsp (14g) salted butter
1 tsp vanilla extract

CHOCOLATE GANACHE

6 oz (169g) semi sweet chocolate chips
1 tbsp light corn syrup
7 tbsp (105ml) heavy whipping cream

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C). Spray a regular sized cupcake pan with non stick cooking spray.

Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.

Mix in egg and vanilla extract.

Combine the flour, baking soda, cornstarch and salt in a medium sized bowl, then add to the butter mixture. Mix until well combined and a dough forms. Dough will be thick and a bit sticky.

Makes balls of about two tablespoons of dough. Press cookie dough into the bottom and about 1/3-1/2 way up the sides of each cupcake cup, forming a cup shape.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until edges are just golden. If they look a little undercooked in the center, that’s ok. They’ll continue to bake as they cool and firm up.

Remove from oven and allow to cool mostly in the pans, then remove to a cooling rack. If the centers aren’t cupped enough, use the bottom of a tablespoon to press the center down a bit while still warm.

While the cookies cool, make the pastry cream. Put the egg yolks in a medium sized bowl and gently beat them together. Set aside.

Add the sugar, cornstarch and milk to a large saucepan and mix until smooth.

Cook, stirring continuously, over medium-high heat until mixture begins to thicken and bubble.

Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat.

Add a little bit of milk mixture to the egg yolks and whisk together, then add egg mixture to milk mixture. This process ensures that you don’t cook the egg yolks.

Place the pan back on the heat and bring to a light boil. Allow to boil for 2 minutes, stirring continuously.

Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla extract. Stir until smooth, then top with clear wrap that touches the top of the cream (it helps prevent a film from forming on top). Refrigerate until cool.

To make the chocolate ganache, put the chocolate chips in a heat proof bowl.

Microwave the heavy whipping cream and corn syrup until it just begins to boil, then pour it over the chocolate chips. Allow it to sit for 2-3 minutes, then whisk until smooth.

Set ganache in the fridge until firm.

When you’re ready to build the cups, fill each cookie with about a tablespoon of pastry cream, then top with the chocolate ganache. If the ganache is a touch firm when you remove it from the fridge, let it sit on the counter a bit to warm up, or microwave it in 5 second increments until it’s a good consistency for piping.

Refrigerate the cookie cups in an air tight container until ready to serve.