Recipe: M&M Party Cookies

This recipe came out of my mother's recipe box.  I consider this box the go-to place for the best desserts from the 70s and 80s.  She probably hasn't cleaned it out in years, so every time I go digging in there, I find something new.  

These cookies are a favorite of mine, not just because the recipe came from some named Cookie.  Cookie's cookies actually taste really good. 

As much as I wanted to, naming this recipe "Cookie's Cookies" would have been a bit much for me.  So I stuck to their original name of "M&M Party Cookies".  The original recipe calls for shortening, but I have a problem putting a cup of shortening in a cookie batter.  So I replaced it with butter.  

Because butter makes everything better.

What does it say about me that I have no problems putting a cup of butter in anything? 

M&M Party Cookies - 2-3 dozen cookies depending on size

2 1/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla 

1 cup M&Ms

Preheat oven to 375.  Line cookies sheets with parchment or spray with baking spray.

Sift together flour, soda, and salt in a bowl; set aside.  Cream together butter and both sugars until creamy (about 3 minutes) with an electric mixer.  Beat in eggs until well blended.  Beat in vanilla.  Add flour mixture in three increments (to prevent making a mess), beating until just combined.  Mix in candy with a rubber spatula.  

Drop by rounded tablespoons (or more for bigger cookies) onto prepared baking sheets.  Be careful not to overcrowd as the cookies will spread.  Bake for 9-11 minutes or until edges are brown.  

Cook's Notes: Sometimes I mix about 3/4 cup of candy into the batter and then press 3-4 pieces onto each cookie before they go into the oven.  The candies crack a little and it adds a nice effect.  Chocolate chips, nuts, or reese's pieces make for great additions to this recipe.  

This post is linked to Tasty Tuesday