M&M's

I very seldom meet folks who don't like M&M's. My favorites are the peanut M&M's. My daughter loves dark chocolate and loves the Peanut M&M's.

I recently spoke to someone who ordered M&M's with inscription on them. I wanted to share some M&M recipes with my readers.

This is a just a "plain and simple" M&M cookie:

M&M Cookies

1 cup softened butter or margarine
2/3 cup white sugar
1/2 packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups mini M&M baking pieces
3/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat over to 375 degrees. In a large bowl cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. In a seperate bowl combine the flour, baking soad and salt. Blend into creamed mixture. Stir in M&M's and nuts. (I personally don't care for nuts so don't add them). Drop by heaping tablespoons about 2 inches apart onto baking sheet. Bake for 9-12 minutes. Allow to cool for one minute thentransfer to wire rack.

Chocolate Crackle Cookies

2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine
4 squares unsweetened baking chocolate, chopped up
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 3/4 cup mini M&M baking chips
sugar to roll balls in

Combine flour and baking soda. Set bowl aside.

In a saucepan, combine the sugar, butter and chocolate, stirring until butter and chocolate are melted. Remove from heat. Slowly stir in eggs and vanilla. Add flour mixture and blend well. Stir in M&M's and mix lightly. Refrigerate dough for one hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degree. Line cookie sheets with foil. Create one inch balls and roll in sugar. Place on cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake 10-12 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

Minty Shortbread Squares

1 1/2 cups butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 teaspoons mint extract, divided
3 cups flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 3/4 cup M&M's mini baking bits, divided
1 - 16 ounce cnotainer prepared white frosting

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease a 15x10 baking pan. In a large bowl, cream togehter the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add 1 teaspoon mint extract. In medium bowl, combine the flour and cocoa powder. Blend into creamed mixture. Stir in 1 cup of the M&M's. Press dough into prepared baking pan with lightly floured fingers. Bake 16-18 minutes. Cool completely. Combine frosting and 1 teaspoon mint extract. Spread frosting over shortbread and sprinkle the remaining 3/4 cup M&M's on top. Cut into squares.

Chocolate Berry Squares

1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cup Mini M&M Baking Bits
1/2 cup seedless red raspberry jam

Preheat oven to 350. Line a 13x9 baking pan with foil. In a large bowl cream butter and sugars until light an dfluffy. Beat in egg and vanille. In medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt, blend into creamed mixture. Stir in M&M's. Reserve 1 cup dough. Spread remaining dough into prepared pan. Spread jan evenly over top of dough. Drop reserved dough by teaspoonfuls randomly over jam. Bake 30 to 35 minutes. Should be light golden brown. Cool completely. Lift foil out of pan and cut into squares.

Audrey :)