Carrot Patch Cookie Cups

Close up of one of the cookie cups with some in the background.

Carrot Patch Cookie Cups are deceptively simple to make with a brownie mix, Reese's miniature peanut butter cups, store-bought chocolate frosting, Oreo cookie crumbs, and Mike & Ike's candy made to look like cute little carrots in the dirt.

Course Dessert, Easter

Cuisine American

Keyword carrot patch cookie cups, creative easter desserts, fun easter recipes

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 10

Total Time 40

Servings

Calories 226kcal

Author Jessica - Together as Family

Equipment

Ingredients

Cookie Cups

1 box (18 oz) brownie mix
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon water
36 Reese's Miniature Cups unwrapped

Carrot Patch Toppings

1 tub (16 oz) chocolate frosting
8 Oreo cookies crushed & crumbled
orange and green Mike & Ike's candy

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350℉. Prepare a mini muffin pan (I use a 24-cup mini muffin pan) and spray it well with cooking spray, making sure to get each mini cup on the bottom and sides.
In a large mixing bowl using a handheld electric mixer, add the brownie mix, flour, eggs, oil, and water. Blend together, starting at low speed and increase speed as needed, until a thick and combined batter forms.
^{*Use a spatula to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure that everything is mixed in well.}
1 box (18 oz) brownie mix, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 2 large eggs, 1/3 cup vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon water
Use a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop to measure out the batter and place it into the prepared mini muffin pan.
Carefully press a Reese's miniature cup into the center of each brownie cup. Make sure the brownie batter is on each side of the peanut butter cup once you've pressed it in.
36 Reese's Miniature Cups
Bake for 8-10 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the baking pan to cool on a cooling rack for about 10 minutes.
Gently remove the cookie cups from the pan onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
^{* Don't try to move the cookie cups while they're still really warm, they will just fall apart. Let them first cool inside the pan for at least 10 minutes.}
While the cookie cups are cooling prepare the carrot candies.
First, cut a green Mike & Ike into 3 slices. Stick a small green portion on top of a whole orange Mike & Ike to form a mini 'carrot'. Repeat this step to prepare as many carrots as you want. For each cup to have 3 carrots (as pictured) you will need to make 108 of these.
^{*Adhere the small green candy on top of an orange candy using the sticky side of the candy from when you sliced it into 3 pieces.}
Once the cookie cups are cooled completely, gently pipe or spread the chocolate frosting on top of each one. Sprinkle the frosting with some Oreo cookie crumbs.
Lastly, add your mini carrots by gently sinking them into the chooclate 'dirt'.
1 tub (16 oz) chocolate frosting, 8 Oreo cookies

Notes

Mike & Ike's Candy : I bought a family-size bag and just sorted out the orange and green ones. You will need 108 orange candies + 36 green candies (because you cut each green one into 3 slices).

Variation & Changes -

- Carrots : Instead of candy carrots using the Mike & Ike's candy, you can use melted chocolate (candy melts or almond bark, or melting wafers) to draw on the carrots. Or, you can use the decorative carrot cake toppings that look like carrots. They are not exactly edible (really hard and crunchy) so they would have to be removed before eating, but it will give that carrot patch look.
- Frosting : The recipe calls for store-bought frosting (you won't use it all) but you can also use homemade chocolate buttercream frosting, melted chocolate chips spread on top, or use some Nutella.
- Oreo Cookies : Any variety can be used. Chocolate Oreos, dark chocolate, or even the carrot cake version would all work.

Tips -

Let Cookie Cups Cool Before Transferring Them : It's important that you allow the cookie cups to cool inside the warm mini muffin pan for at least 5 minutes, before moving them to a cooling rack. If they are too warm/hot they will fall apart when moving them which is why you want to let them cool for a bit.
Spray Mini Muffin Pan Well : Spray each mini muffin cup well with cooking spray so the cookie cups come out easily.
Time Tip : These might look complicated (especially that candy carrot part) but I promise it's so easy to make. While the cookie cups are baking get started on the carrots. You can also make the carrots ahead of time and store them at room temperature (covered) until you're ready to use them. Making the carrots is simply just cutting some Mike & Ike's candy and sticking two pieces together.
Don't Overbake : This might seem obvious but it is really important that you watch the cookie cups carefully to not let them over cook. Once a toothpick comes out clean they are good to come out. With the Reese's in there it's sometimes hard to tell if the brownie part is cooked, so try sticking the toothpick into the side of the cookie cup into the brownie part. It's a short cook time because they don't need long to cook through - once you press that Reese's into the brown cup, the brownie batter becomes thinner which means it cooks faster.

Nutrition