The Cutest Gnome Cookies

4.41 from 344 votes

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I don’t know what it is about gnomes during the holidays but I just love them. Santa Gnome cookies are starting to pop up here and there so I decided to make my own version using cookie cups and fresh strawberries.

These cookies were incredibly simple to make and taste so amazing. 

Gnome cookies cups with strawberry hats
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They look like mini cupcakes but they are actually delicious little Christmas gnomes that everyone will love. Looking for a chocolate version? Try these no-bake brownie bite gnomes.

In fact, they would look great next to these Christmas tree brownie bites or alongside a Santa Gnome dessert board.

Making cute food during the holidays is so much fun. And the best part about this little treat is you only need 4 ingredients!

What to Buy

Skip the gnome cookie cutter for these because all you need are a few ingredients and a mini muffin tin.

The best part about these though, is the strawberry hats.

We love strawberries! And we love hats! Check out our Buddy the elf cookie cups next!

gnome cookie cups ingredients
  • Refrigerated sugar cookie dough (I like the break and bake kind)
  • White Icing (grab one that comes in a tube and save the step of using a pastry bag)
  • Fresh Strawberries
  • Pink candies (I used Skittles “smoothie” flavors for these)

Bake the Sugar Cookies

Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a mini muffin pan with cooking oil spray. It’s important to be sure the pan is well coated as these cookies like to stick.

You can also use mini cupcake liners if you have them.

Place one cookie into each muffin cup. You don’t need to flatten or roll them. Just drop them in, easy peasy!

cookie dough in mini muffin tin

Bake cookies and place pan on a wire rack to cool.

While the cookies are still warm, take a small scoop to gently press the cookies into a cup shape. Then cool completely before removing from the pan.

cookie cups on wire rack
create cup in cookie

Our happy gnome cookies have hats made from fresh strawberries and the flavor combination is so good!

Wash your strawberries and cut out the crowns in a v shape.

This creates a hat shape in the strawberry when turned upside down.

sliced strawberries

Now comes the fun part!

Take a fully cooled cookie cup and pipe frosting into the cup. You want to be a little generous here.

cookie with frosting

Then push a strawberry on top of the icing and add a pink candy nose just under the strawberry.

add strawberry to frosted cookie

Take a toothpick to spread some of the icing to create the white beard. And you’re done!

How stinkin cute are these little guys??

santa gnome with beard

These adorable gnome cookies can be enjoyed year round though I am partial to enjoying them alongside my other favorite Christmas cookies.

gnome cookie cups on plate with milk

Want to change it up? Use orange frosting and dip the strawberries in green candy melts for a St. Patrick’s Day treat or decorate patriotic gnome cookies for July 4th!

Frosted cookies are simply delicious and when they can be cute too? It’s a total win.

If you make them, I would love to see your finished product!

Feel free to share it on our Facebook page after you dig in!

sliced cookie cups with strawberry

Want more gnomes? Check out our Valentine’s Day Gnomes and Leprechaun Gnome cookies. Enjoy!

4.41 from 344 votes
4-ingredient gnome cookies are as cute as they are delicious! A perfect dessert for your Christmas cookie exchange, a garden party or whenever you want a treat.
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
Yield: 24

Ingredients 

  • 1 pkg Refrigerated Sugar Cookie Dough, I used the break apart kind
  • 24 oz White Frosting, about 2-3 tubes of prepared frosting
  • 24 Strawberries
  • 24 Skittles, I used the pink ones from the Skittles Smoothie mix

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a mini muffin pan with cooking oil spray. You can also use mini cupcake liners if you have them.
  • Place one cookie into each muffin cup. You don't need to flatten or roll them.
  • Bake cookies for 20 minutes and place pan on a wire rack to cool.
  • While the cookies are still warm, take a small scoop to gently press the cookies into a cup shape.
  • Cool completely before removing from the pan.
  • Wash strawberries and cut out the crowns in a v shape.
  • Take a fully cooled cookie cup and pipe frosting into the cup. You want to be a little generous here.
  • Then push a strawberry on top of the icing and add a pink candy nose just under the strawberry.
  • Take a toothpick to spread some of the icing to create the white beard.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

See step by step photo instructions in the post if needed.
Optional: Dip strawberries in candy melts to add a variety of colorful hats.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g, Calories: 205kcal, Carbohydrates: 31.2g, Protein: 1.1g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 2.5g, Cholesterol: 5mg, Sodium: 107mg, Fiber: 1.2g, Sugar: 23.4g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American

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About Andrea Updyke

Andrea Updyke is a married mom of two boys living in Raleigh, NC. She is a published author and blogger of more than 18 years and loves to celebrate the little things that make life awesome.

Whether she's sharing tasty recipes, traveling or hanging with the family, Andrea's goal is to help make your days a little easier and a lot more fun! Email inquiries to andreaupdyke@gmail.com.

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71 Comments

  1. You could definitely use stabilized whipped cream…there are several ways to make it, and in my opinion, homemade whipped cream, stabilized with powdered milk tastes better than anything!?

    1. It is delicious! I think you can definitely be flexible with the ingredients where you want to.

  2. 4 stars
    Easy to make with only a few ingredients. TIP: if making ahead wait to put strawberry on until last minute otherwise will bleed into icing.