Gluesticks Blog

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • DIY
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • DIY
    • About Me
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Desserts » Cookies » Drop Cookies

    Cupcake Cookies With Chocolate Buttercream (+ Video)

    April 25, 2023 By Brandy Leave a Comment

    ↓ Jump to Recipe

    Cupcake cookies are just plain fun---when you want a soft buttery cookie AND fluffy chocolate cupcake frosting. We love these easy-to-make show-stopping cookies and don't forget the sprinkles!

    You might also like our cupcakes in a jar, our soft funfetti sprinkle cookies, or our popular sugar cookie bars.

    soft cupcake cookies with chocolate buttercream

    Watch our step by step videos!

    My daughter needed a batch of cookies for a youth activity and I knew exactly which ones I was going to make. Cupcake cookies. I know, I know, that sounds ridiculous, but that's what I call them and they are so fun.

    soft cupcake cookies on baking sheet

    Cupcake Cookies

    They start with a soft buttery cookie base and are topped with rich, chocolate buttercream frosting and rainbow sprinkles. I like them better than cupcakes, but that's just because I like cookies better than cake---unless it's Texas sheet cake. A sweet yellow vanilla cookie with chocolate frosting and sprinkles---you can see why I think of these as the cookie version of a cupcake, right?

    hand holding a soft cookie with chocolate buttercream

    What makes these cupcake cookies so amazing?

    1. No chill: I love no-chill recipes and this one comes together FAST.
    2. Basic ingredients: no heavy cream, chocolate baking bars, or other ingredients that you might not have on hand in your pantry or refrigerator. The frosting is made with butter, powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and cocoa powder and is GOOD. Rich, chocolatey, and smooth.
    3. Feeds a crowd: one batch makes a little over 3 dozen cookies! Need cookies for a bake sale, potluck, or birthday party? Look no further.

    chocolate frosting piped on cookies

    Cupcake Cookie Ingredients

    Basic cookie ingredients: butter, white sugar, powdered sugar, eggs, oil, vanilla extract, flour, baking soda, salt, and cream of tartar. Yes, this recipe calls for butter (for flavor and texture) AND oil (for a soft texture). Trust me, it's a good combination!

    Basic frosting ingredients: butter, powdered sugar, baking cocoa, vanilla, and milk.

    Note: if you want to take your cookies up a notch (and already have this on hand) you can add a teaspoon of cake batter flavoring in place of one of the teaspoons of vanilla. 

    cookie frosted with chocolate buttercream

    How To Make Soft Cookies with Chocolate Buttercream

    unfrosted cookies in a baking sheet

    The cookie dough couldn't be easier to whip up. Beat butter until fluffy then add sugars and mix. Add eggs, vanilla, and oil. Combined dry ingredients in a separate bowl then add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.

    No chilling is required! Scoop cookies using a medium (2 Tbsp.) cookie scoop onto ungreased baking sheets (or parchment-lined sheets) and bake at 325 degrees for 12 minutes.

    chocolate frosting on a spatula

    Once the cookies are cool, beat the butter for the frosting until fluffy then beat in the other ingredients. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes until smooth and fluffy.

    large frosting tip attached to frosting bag with chocolate frosting

    You can spread the frosting over the cookies with a butterknife or pipe with a frosting tip. I think piping the frosting is faster and love how easy it is to add rosettes with a 2D tip.

    chocolate frosting piped on cookies

    To pipe a rosette simply start in the middle of the cookie with a star then continue to pipe, going in a circle until the cookie is covered. For a better visual, watch my video!

    cupcake cookies on parchment paper

    Sprinkle rainbow sprinkles over the cookies and store them in an airtight container. The frosting will set up slightly as the cookies stand, enough to stack 2 cookies tall after a few hours.

    hand holding soft cookie with chocolate frosting

    Tips for Making The Best Cookies

    • Use room temperature ingredients. Butter can be slightly chilled, but should be soft when your thumb is pressed into it.
    • Use an electric mixer. A stand mixer or electric hand mixer works great. You can make cookies by hand, but an electric mixer is best for creaming the butter and sugar together.
    • Bake on light cookie sheets. All of my recipes are aimed at baking with light metal cookie sheets. That's all I bake with. If you use dark sheets you'll need to keep an eye on the cookies and adjust the baking times, if necessary.

    Cupcake Cookies With Chocolate Buttercream Frosting Recipe

    cupcake cookie with sprinkles

    Soft Cupcake Cookies With Chocolate Frosting

    Cupcake cookies are just plain fun---when you want a soft buttery cookie AND fluffy chocolate cupcake frosting.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 22 minutes minutes
    Servings: 36 cookies
    Calories: 230kcal

    Ingredients

    Cookies

    • ¾ cup  butter softened
    • 1 cup sugar
    • ¾ cup powdered sugar
    • 2 large eggs
    • ½ cup vegetable or canola oil
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 ½ teaspoons cream of tartar
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

    Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

    • 1 ½ cups butter softened
    • 6-7 cups powdered sugar
    • 1 cup baking cocoa
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 5-6 Tablespoons milk
    • rainbow sprinkles

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
    • Beat butter until nice and fluffy, continue to beat (lowering speed) and add in sugars.
    • Stop mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl. Add eggs, 1 at a time, followed by vanilla and almond extract, then oil. Add baking soda, cream of tartar and salt.
    • Add flour 1 cup at a time, mixing thoroughly.
    • Roll dough into walnut-sized balls (or drop onto baking sheets using a cookie scoop 2-Tbsp.) and bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 12 minutes.
    • Cool cookies 3-5 minutes on the pan then transfer to a rack.
    • Beat butter with an electric mixer on high speed until fluffy. Add powdered sugar, cocoa, vanilla, and milk*. Beat on low speed until ingredients come together then mix on high speed for 3 minutes, occasionally scraping the side of the bowl with a rubber spatula, until fluffy.
      *If more milk is needed, add it 1 teaspoon at a time.
    • Fit a piping bag or large plastic storage bag with a 2D frosting tip.
    • Frost-cooled cookies with chocolate rosettes. (Watch my video to see how I do this)
      Add sprinkles, if desired.

    Notes

    Store cookies in an airtight container.
    The frosting will set up slightly as the cookies stand, enough to stack 2 cookies tall after a few hours.
    Cookies can be stored at room temperature or chilled.
    Optional: use 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon of cake batter flavoring.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 230kcal

     

     

    Share
    Pin

    More Cookie Recipes

    • baba bar on spatula
      Frosted Banana Nut Bars
    • tray of baked cookies on parchment paper
      Martha-Stewart-Fired-Me Cookies
    • frosted and unfrosted sugar cookies
      Old Fashioned Buttermilk Sugar Cookies
    • cookies on wire cooling rack
      Mrs. Fields Blue Ribbon Chocolate Chip Cookies

    About Brandy

    Welcome! I'm Brandy, mother to 5 darling kiddos and a cute black lab named Toby. My husband is in the Coast Guard so we've lived all over the place, turning each house into a home. I love baking, sewing, making cute things with my kids, and sharing what I've learned with all of you!

    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Welcome!

    I'm Brandy! I love to create and share my ideas through easy-to-follow recipes and tutorials.

    More about me

    As an Amazon Associate, I make a small commission on qualifying purchases.

    sew with me kids sewing book
    My Book

    Latest Posts

    • To Die For Blueberry Muffins
    • mini s'mores pie on white plate
      Mini S'Mores Pies
    • slab pie on white plate
      Peach Slab Pie
    • jar of homemade ranch dressing
      Homemade Ranch Dressing (Better Than Store-Bought!)

    Seasonal

    • M&M Cookies piled on top of each other
      Soft M&M Cookies (Soft and Thick) + Video
    • red, white and blue shortbread cookies
      Patriotic Shortbread Cookies (Video)
    • star shaped cookie with frosting and fruit
      Red White & Blue Mini Fruit Pizzas (Video)
    • Simple and Inexpensive Patriotic Wreath Tutorial

    Footer

    ↑ Back to Top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2025 Gluesticks Blog

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.