When you’re sending Christmas cookies to your grown kids, it’s always nice to include a couple of cookie choices just for any little one that might be visiting or living with them. So, this year I decided a sugar cookie with red and green M&M’s and sprinkles on top would fit the bill nicely. Along with a couple of other simple cookies I knew young children would love, I felt I’d covered any child over the age of two. What I didn’t take into consideration were the big kids, like my husband, who found these cookies to be delightful. Well, silly me! Next time I make Christmas cookies, I will be certain to make a double batch and send some along in every goodie package.
I found the basic recipe for this cookie on the celebratingsweets.com site. I made a couple of slight changes only to make life a bit easier for myself. (It’s all about me, right?) Anyway, the cookies are so good. Just the right amount of everything that’s required in a great cookie.
So, if you too are looking for a “Christmas cookie for all ages”, I highly recommend you give this recipe a try.
And you know, these cookies could be made at any old time of year with regular M&M’s or chocolate, butterscotch, peppermint, etc. chips and/or nuts of any kind. This dough is worthy of any kind of addition you decide upon.
Well, that’s it for today. Being Mrs. Santa is not an easy job. And I didn’t even apply for the position. I think it must just come with being a woman. One of those jobs a lot of us women (and yes, some of you guys too) take on because if we didn’t do it, it probably wouldn’t get done. (Sound familiar.) But believe me, I am not complaining. I just feel lucky to still be able to bake cookies and make Christmas as nice as I can for the people I love. And the goodie packages are all in UPS’s capable hands, which is always a relief. (One job done, only 43 more to go!) Like a few more gifts to purchase, finding the time to decorate the house and even though our tree is up, it is still devoid of lights and ornaments, and get to all the other tasks on my “TO DO” list without ending up driving Mr. C. crazy or driving our kitties into temporary seclusion under the guest bed! But enough about my desire to be queen of Christmas!
So, before I go any further, I want to recommend you read Out of the Darkness by David A. Jacinto. A truly fascinating and horrifying story of coal mining in England during the middle of the 19th century. Beautifully written and just an amazing story of courage and the will to make a better life for yourself and the people you love.
May you too be the person who strives to make the best life possible for those you love.
And as always, from our home to yours, peace and love. And MERRY CHRISTMAS.
1½ c. plus 1 T. unbleached all-purpose flour, fluffed
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. fine sea salt
½ c. (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temp.
½ c. granulated sugar
⅓ c. brown sugar, lightly packed
1 lg. egg
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1½ c. red & green M&M’s
holiday sprinkles
Line a baking sheet that will fit in your refrigerator with parchment paper.
In a bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until well combined.
Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
At low speed, add the flour mixture and mix until just combined.
Gently stir in the M&M’s. (I use a plain table knife for this type of mixing. “Cuts” through the dough nicely and works much better than a spatula.)
Place a small number of sprinkles in a small, shallow bowl. (You can always add more when needed)
Using a #40 (1½ tablespoons) ice cream scoop, form balls of cookie dough. Press the top of each ball into the bowl of sprinkles. Place on the prepared baking sheet, sprinkles side up, as close together as possible. Place the baking sheet in your refrigerator for a few hours or overnight.
When ready to bake, place the dough balls onto parchment paper lined baking sheets leaving an inch or two for spreading.
Bake in a pre-heated 350-degree oven for 8-11 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are set but the center is still slightly underdone. This helps create a soft cookie.
Remove from oven and place the baking sheets on wire racks and allow the cookies to cool completely. They will firm up as they cool.
Store in an airtight container.