Irresistible Nutella Mousse Cookie Cups: The Ultimate Easy Dessert
Prepare to delight your taste buds with these absolutely irresistible Nutella Mousse Cookie Cups! Imagine golden-brown chocolate chip cookie cups, baked to perfection, then filled with a light, airy, and super simple Nutella mousse. This enchanting combination creates a dessert that Nutella lovers will undoubtedly go absolutely crazy for. These cute little cookies are not just a treat for your palate but also a feast for the eyes, making them ideal for any gathering or a special everyday indulgence.
These Nutella cookie cups offer an incredibly easy and delicious dessert experience that’s as delightful to look at as it is to eat. With our straightforward recipe, you can whip up a batch with minimal effort, yet achieve maximum flavor. Each bite promises a soft, chewy cookie base leading to a creamy, rich Nutella filling that will melt in your mouth. This recipe is a fantastic way to diversify how you enjoy Nutella, especially if you typically only pair it with fruit. I know many parents, myself included, often find Nutella mostly served with bananas. These cookie cups are a wonderful departure, proving Nutella’s versatility in baking!
What Exactly Are Nutella Mousse Cookie Cups?
Nutella Mousse Cookie Cups are an innovative and delightful dessert that combines two beloved treats: classic chocolate chip cookies and luscious Nutella mousse. The base of these adorable desserts is a simple chocolate chip cookie dough, baked in a mini muffin pan to form perfect, bite-sized cookie cups. Once cooled, these cookie cups are then generously filled with a decadent, homemade Nutella mousse. What makes this mousse so appealing is its simplicity – it requires only three ingredients and comes together effortlessly, providing a light and airy contrast to the chewy cookie.
The magic happens when the rich, sweet chocolate chip cookie meets the smooth, hazelnut-chocolate mousse. The flavors are perfectly balanced, creating an incredible dessert experience. These treats are so utterly irresistible that you might find yourself struggling to exercise restraint. Trust me, if you’re anything like me, you’ll be tempted to sneak one (or two!) at breakfast because they are simply too good to pass up. They’re a fantastic twist on traditional cookies and an even better way to enjoy the beloved hazelnut spread.
Key Ingredients for Your Nutella Mousse Cookie Cups
Creating these delightful Nutella Mousse Cookie Cups requires two main sets of ingredients: one for the rich, chewy cookie base and another for the light, dreamy Nutella mousse. Each ingredient plays a crucial role in achieving the perfect balance of texture and flavor.
For the Perfectly Chewy Cookie Cups, You Will Need:
- Butter: ½ cup (one stick) of softened butter is essential for a rich flavor profile and contributes to the cookie’s tenderness.
- Crisco (Butter Flavored Shortening): ½ cup of butter-flavored shortening helps create that desired soft and perfectly chewy texture in your cookie cups, preventing them from becoming too crisp.
- Sugars: A combination of ¾ cup each of granulated sugar and brown sugar is used. Granulated sugar provides sweetness and crispness, while brown sugar adds moisture, depth of flavor, and chewiness, resulting in cookies that are perfectly sweet and tender.
- Eggs: Two large eggs act as a binding agent, holding the cookie dough together and adding moisture, which contributes to the structure and richness of the cookies.
- All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of our cookie dough is 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour, providing the necessary structure for the cookie cups.
- Leavening Agents: To ensure our cookie cups rise beautifully and have a light internal structure, we use 2 teaspoons of baking soda and ½ teaspoon of baking powder. This combination provides the perfect lift.
- Salt: 1 teaspoon of salt is added to balance the sweetness and enhance all the natural flavors in the cookies, making them taste even more pronounced and delicious.
- Mini Chocolate Chips: 1 ¼ cups of mini chocolate chips are incorporated to ensure every single cookie cup boasts a generous amount of chocolate in every bite, adding that classic chocolate chip cookie charm.
For the Light and Dreamy Nutella Mousse, You Will Need:
- Nutella: ½ cup of the beloved hazelnut spread is the star of the mousse, providing its signature rich, chocolate-hazelnut flavor. Ensure it’s at room temperature for easier mixing.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: 1 ½ cups of heavy whipping cream will be whipped to create the light, airy, and fluffy texture that defines a perfect mousse. Chilled cream whips best!
- Powdered Sugar: ¼ cup of powdered sugar (also known as confectioners’ sugar) is added to sweeten the mousse and help stabilize the whipped cream, ensuring a smooth, sweet, and delightful filling.
Crafting Your Nutella Mousse Cookie Cups: A Step-by-Step Guide
Making these Nutella Mousse Cookie Cups is a fun and rewarding process. Follow these detailed steps to create a batch of perfect, crowd-pleasing treats.
To Make the Delicious Cookie Cups:
Begin by preheating your oven to 325 degrees F (160°C). Generously spray a mini muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray, ensuring every cup is well-coated to prevent sticking. Set the prepared pan aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter and butter-flavored shortening. Using an electric mixer, cream these two ingredients together until they are light and fluffy. This step is crucial for incorporating air and creating a tender cookie.
Next, add both the granulated and brown sugars, followed by the eggs, to the creamed mixture. Mix again with the electric mixer until all ingredients are well combined and the mixture is smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is fully incorporated.
In a separate bowl, whisk together half of the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Overmixing at this stage can lead to tough cookies.
Once the first half of the dry ingredients is mixed in, add the remaining flour and continue to mix just until no streaks of dry flour remain. Be careful not to overmix the dough. Finally, gently stir in the mini chocolate chips by hand until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough. This ensures every cookie cup is packed with chocolatey goodness.
Using a cookie scoop (approximately 1 ½ tablespoon-sized balls), scoop and round the dough. Press each ball firmly into the prepared mini muffin cups. Bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. The centers might still look soft, but they will firm up as they cool.
Allow the cookie cups to cool in the pan for about 5 minutes after baking. While they are still warm and pliable, use the back of a tablespoon or a mini tart tamper to gently press a well into the center of each cookie. This creates the perfect space for our Nutella mousse filling. Let the cookies cool completely in the pan before attempting to remove them; this helps them hold their shape. For a quicker cooling process, you can carefully place the pan in the freezer for 5-10 minutes.
For the mousse preparation, place a metal mixing bowl in the freezer while your cookies are cooling. A chilled bowl will significantly speed up the whipping process for your heavy cream, ensuring a light and stable mousse. Once fully cooled, carefully remove the cookie cups from the pan. A small offset spatula or butter knife can help gently loosen them if needed. Place them on a wire rack until you are ready to fill and serve.
To Make the Fluffy Nutella Mousse:
Retrieve your chilled metal mixing bowl from the freezer. Pour in the heavy whipping cream and add the powdered sugar. Ensure both ingredients are cold for optimal whipping results.
Using an electric mixer, beat the mixture on medium-high speed for approximately 5 minutes. Continue mixing until the cream transforms into a thick, airy mousse that holds stiff peaks. When you lift the beaters, the peaks should stand upright without drooping.
Gently spoon the room-temperature Nutella into the whipped cream. Mix again on low speed, just until the Nutella is fully incorporated and the mixture is uniform in color. Be careful not to overmix, as this can cause the mousse to lose its light texture.
Using a spatula, scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure all ingredients are well combined. Transfer the prepared Nutella mousse into a piping bag fitted with your desired tip (or simply a sturdy sandwich bag with one corner snipped off).
Now, it’s time to assemble! Pipe a generous amount of Nutella mousse into each cooled cookie cup, filling the wells created earlier. For an extra touch of decadence and visual appeal, place about 2 tablespoons of additional Nutella into a separate small sandwich bag, snip the corner, and drizzle it artfully over the tops of the filled cookie cups. Serve immediately and enjoy these delightful treats!
Nutella Mousse Cookie Cups
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Ingredients
- ½ cup butter softened
- ½ cup butter flavored shortening
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
Nutella Mousse:
- ½ cup Nutella room temperature
- 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream chilled
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
Instructions
To make the cookie cups:
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Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F (160°C). Liberally spray a mini muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal.
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In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and butter-flavored shortening using an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
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Add both the granulated and brown sugars, then crack in the two eggs. Mix again with the electric mixer until the mixture is well combined and smooth, scraping down the bowl as needed.
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In a separate bowl, whisk together half of the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix on low speed until just combined.
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Add the remaining flour and continue mixing until the dough comes together and no dry streaks of flour remain. Be careful not to overmix.
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Gently stir in the mini chocolate chips by hand until evenly distributed throughout the cookie dough.
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Scoop a rounded 1 ½ tablespoon of cookie dough into each mini muffin cup. Press the dough firmly into the cup.
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Bake for 15 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. Let the cookie cups cool in the pan for about 5 minutes. While still warm, use the back of a teaspoon to gently press a well into the center of each cookie.
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Allow the cookies to cool completely in the tin before carefully removing them. To speed up cooling, you can place the pan in the freezer for 5-10 minutes.
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While the cookies are cooling, place a metal mixing bowl in the freezer. A chilled bowl helps the heavy cream whip faster and more effectively for the mousse.
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Once cooled, carefully remove each cookie cup from the tin and place them on a wire rack until ready to fill.
To Make the Nutella Mousse:
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In the chilled metal mixing bowl, pour in the heavy whipping cream and add the powdered sugar.
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Using an electric mixer, beat on medium-high speed for approximately 5 minutes, or until the cream holds stiff peaks.
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Gently spoon in the room-temperature Nutella and mix again on low speed, just until the Nutella is fully incorporated and no streaks remain. Avoid overmixing.
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Scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure everything is mixed. Transfer the mousse into a piping bag (or a sturdy sandwich bag with one corner snipped off).
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Pipe the fluffy Nutella mousse into each cooled cookie cup, filling the created wells.
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For an elegant finish, place about 2 tablespoons of additional Nutella in a small sandwich bag and clip the corner.
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Drizzle this additional Nutella over the tops of the mousse-filled cookie cups. Serve immediately and savor every bite!
Notes
Nutrition
Tips for Success & Troubleshooting
To ensure your Nutella Mousse Cookie Cups turn out perfectly every time, here are a few extra tips and tricks:
- Room Temperature Ingredients: For the cookie dough, make sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature. This allows them to cream together smoothly, creating a uniform dough that bakes evenly.
- Chilled Equipment for Mousse: Always use a very cold metal bowl and beaters when whipping heavy cream for the mousse. You can place them in the freezer for 10-15 minutes before starting. Cold equipment helps the cream whip faster and achieve stiff, stable peaks.
- Don’t Overmix the Cookie Dough: Once the flour is added, mix only until just combined. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, leading to tough, dense cookies instead of soft, chewy ones.
- Creating the Wells: Press the wells into the warm cookie cups promptly after removing them from the oven. If they cool too much, they’ll become brittle and difficult to shape without cracking.
- Gentle Mousse Folding: When incorporating Nutella into the whipped cream, fold it gently. Aggressive mixing can deflate the whipped cream, resulting in a less airy mousse.
- Storage: Store the assembled cookie cups in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This keeps the mousse firm and fresh. They are best enjoyed within 3-5 days.
Variations and Customizations for Your Cookie Cups
While the classic Nutella Mousse Cookie Cup is delightful on its own, don’t hesitate to get creative with variations!
- Different Cookie Bases: Instead of chocolate chip, consider using a peanut butter cookie dough for a Reese’s-like experience, a sugar cookie dough for a sweeter base, or even a brownie batter for ultimate chocolate indulgence.
- Toppings Galore: Beyond the Nutella drizzle, sprinkle your finished cookie cups with finely chopped toasted hazelnuts, mini chocolate curls, colorful sprinkles for a festive touch, or a dusting of cocoa powder. A dollop of whipped cream on top before serving also adds visual appeal and a cloud-like texture.
- Flavor Boosters: A tiny pinch of espresso powder added to the Nutella mousse can enhance the chocolate flavor. A dash of vanilla extract in the mousse also works wonders.
When is World Nutella Day?
For those who adore Nutella as much as we do, you’ll be thrilled to know about World Nutella Day! This delightful holiday takes place every year on February 5th. It’s a special occasion for recipe blogs, food websites, and Nutella enthusiasts worldwide to showcase their most creative and beloved Nutella-inspired products and recipes. While not a traditional public holiday like Easter or Christmas, it’s a wonderfully fun day to acknowledge and celebrate, especially when you can share delicious creations like these Nutella Mousse Cookie Cups with friends and family. It’s a perfect excuse to indulge in your favorite hazelnut spread!
How Long Do Nutella Mousse Cookie Cups Stay Fresh?
These delectable Nutella Mousse Cookie Cups are best stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When properly stored, they will remain delicious for up to 5 days. While they are undeniably amazing on the first day, many find that their flavor and texture deepen and become even more delightful a day or two later. The cookie base often becomes softer and chewier, perfectly complementing the creamy mousse, creating an even more harmonious dessert experience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are answers to some common questions you might have about making these Nutella Mousse Cookie Cups:
- Can I use store-bought cookie dough? Yes, absolutely! For a quicker shortcut, you can use pre-made chocolate chip cookie dough. Simply press it into the mini muffin pan and bake according to package directions, then create the wells.
- What if my mousse doesn’t whip to stiff peaks? Ensure your heavy cream is very cold and that your mixing bowl and beaters are also chilled. Sometimes, humidity can affect whipping, so try placing the bowl over an ice bath while mixing. Also, ensure you’re using heavy whipping cream, not half-and-half or light cream.
- Can I make these ahead of time? You can bake the cookie cups a day or two in advance and store them in an airtight container at room temperature. Prepare the Nutella mousse and fill the cups closer to serving time for the freshest texture.
- Can I freeze Nutella Mousse Cookie Cups? Freezing assembled cookie cups is not recommended as the mousse texture may change upon thawing. However, you can freeze the baked cookie cups (without mousse) in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw them before filling.
More Delicious Cookie Cup Recipes to Try
If you love the concept of these amazing cookie cups, you’re in luck! There are many other exciting variations to explore:
- BANANA SPLIT COOKIE CUPS
- RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE COOKIE CUPS
- STRAWBERRY COOKIE CUPS
- REESE’S CHOCOLATE COOKIE CUPS
- HOT CHOCOLATE COOKIE CUPS
- FUDGE PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE CUPS
- SNICKERDOODLE APPLE PIE COOKIE CUPS
And speaking of delightful creations, here’s a little peek into my world! This is my baby boy – isn’t he just the cutest? He’s not so little anymore, growing up so fast, but every now and then, I catch him immersed in imaginative play that only children truly master, and it just warms my heart. It’s tough being the youngest, constantly striving to keep up with his older brothers! So, I absolutely adore it when he finds a quiet corner to simply PLAY on his own. I once asked him if he needed any help with his ‘project,’ and he confidently replied, “No, Mom, I’ve got this. Need anything else fixed?” Ha! (Just look at that adorable plastic drill!)
No matter the season, you’re going to fall in love with these Nutella-filled cookies. They are wonderfully simple to prepare, incredibly easy to bake, and unequivocally delicious! With these Nutella Mousse Cookie Cups in your repertoire, you’ll always have a perfect, impressive dessert ready to share or to enjoy all by yourself. They’re a testament to how effortlessly you can create something truly special and memorable.
