Now that you have your ingredients ready, let’s get baking! Follow these steps to create your delightful Cream-Filled Cookie Cups:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a muffin tin to prepare it for the cookie cups.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes.
3. Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a dough forms.
5. Divide the dough into 12 equal parts. Press each piece into the prepared muffin tin, forming a cup shape.
6. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Allow the cups to cool completely before removing from the tin.
7. While the cups are cooling, prepare the cream filling by whipping the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and almond extract (if using) until stiff peaks form.
8. Spoon or pipe the cream filling into the cooled cookie cups. Add chocolate chips or fruit preserves on top for extra flavor.

As you prepare these cups, remember the joy of creating something from scratch. It’s a lesson I cherished from my family kitchen—patience and love make all the difference.