Heart-Shaped Cookies

Heart-Shaped M&M Cookies
Yield: 1 9x13" pan

One of my favorite things to do is make cookies with speciality M & M's.  Considering Valentine's Day is right around the corner, I knew I had to think of something fun to bake. I used an idea I had a few years ago, where I used cookie cutters to make heart-shaped cookies.  This technique is so easy and can be used with any cookie recipe and any shaped cookie cutter.  Just bake your cookies in a sheet/brownie pan and use cookie cutters afterwards!  No rolling, no loss of shape.

Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup M&Ms
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

You do not need a mixer for this recipe.

Instructions:

1. Melt butter in a pan until it is frothy/ bubbling.  Takes 3-5 minutes. Turn off burner and add in brown sugar, mixing together.  Note: the sugar and butter may not fully combine in this step.
2. Transfer the butter and brown sugar mixture to a heat-proof bowl.  Add in the granulated sugar, mixing well with a spatula until the sugars and butter are all combined.
3. When the sugar and butter mixture is no longer hot, mix in the eggs and vanilla.  It is important that the mixture is not too hot, otherwise the eggs will start to cook.
4. Add in the baking soda, salt, and flour.
5. Stir in the M&Ms and chocolate chips.
6. Place into a 9x13 pan. 
7. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.
8. Pull out of the oven and let cool for 10 minutes.
9. Using heart-shaped cookie cutters, cut out the cookies!  You can save the scraps and eat them later.
10. 
    

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Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Blondies

Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Blondies
Yield: 1 8x8" pan

My friend Hannah Long from the Millennial Cook makes the most amazing blondies ever.  I made her blondies with a little spin on them for a family get together...lets just say that there were none left within 24 hours of cutting into them.

Ingredients:

14 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup (skim) milk
1/2 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

Instructions:

1. Beat melted butter together with the granulated and brown sugar.
2. Mix in the eggs until combined.  Add in the vanilla.  Scrape down the sides as needed.
3. Add in the baking powder, salt, 1 tbsp milk, and flour.
4. Add in the rest of the milk.
5. Stir in the butterscotch chips and chocolate chips.
6. Place into an 8x8 or 9x9 pan.  The blondies will turn out extra thick!
7. Bake at 325 for 30-40 minutes.

Enjoy them while they last!

National M & M Day!

M & M Cookies
Yield: 3 dozen

What better way to celebrate National M & M Cookie Day then baking and eating M & M Cookies?  Nothing?  Well then you have to try these.

Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp vanilla pudding mix
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup M & Ms (I used the fall ones but you can use any kind you want)
3/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

Instructions:

1. Beat room temperature butter together with the granulated and brown sugar.
2. Mix in the eggs until combined.  Add in the vanilla.  Scrape down the sides as needed.
3. Add in the baking soda, salt, pudding mix, and flour.
4. Mix in the M & Ms and then the chocolate chips.
5. Refrigerate while heating up the oven.
6. Bake for 12-15 minutes.

Eat Morning, 'Noon, and Night