Santa Hat Brownie Cookie Cups

These adorable treats are easy to make and, oh, so fudgy!

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a mini muffin pan with 22 mini muffin liners. Spray the inside of the liners with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.

2. In a large bowl, combine the almond butter, coconut oil, maple syrup, sugar, vanilla extract and eggs until smooth and well combined. Gently fold in cocoa powder, flour, baking soda and salt until batter is smooth. Fold 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips into the batter. This batter should be rather thick.

3. Fill each muffin liner 3/4 of the way full with batter. Tap the bottom of the pan on a hard surface a few times to even out the batter. Bake for 13-18 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean or with just a few crumbs attached. Don't overbake.

4. After brownies have cooled, make the frosting: Add the softened butter, powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons milk and vanilla to the large bowl of an electric mixer. Beat for 1-2 minutes until fluffy, adding a teaspoon or two of milk if necessary. Place frosting in a plastic baggie and snip off the corner end. Swirl the frosting on top of the brownie and place strawberry on top. Place a little dot of frosting on top of the santa hat to complete. Store in the refrigerator after topping with a strawberry, or leave off the strawberries until ready to serve. 

Recipe and images courtesy of Ambitious Kitchen.