M&M Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

I have a thing for M&M's.

Like a buy-those-huge-bags-from-Costco-and-hoard-them-all-to-myself thing.

Yep.

And this is an easy recipe to whip together, throw in a pan, and lick the bowl until they're done baking. Not that I support eating raw egg or salmonella…but I still do it anyways.



M&M Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup butter, softened
2 large eggs
2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup M&M's
1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

2. Combine flour, soda, and salt in a bowl. Set aside.

3. In an electric mixer, blend sugars. Add butter and mix until a grainy paste. Add eggs and vanilla extract. Mix until light and fluffy.

4. Add flour mixture, M&M's, and chocolate chips at low speed.

5. Place in greased 9x13 baking dish. Bake at 300 degrees for 35 minutes. Check with a toothpick.



Enjoy the warm chocolate gooeyness!

Peanut Butter Blossoms

While growing up, I can remember a few staple cookie recipes that my mom would make. Peanut Butter Blossoms were one of them. And if you could snatch some right after they came out of the oven…Oh the melted chocolate goodness!

I've also seen fun variations online using caramel kisses or other flavors! I have yet to try them because I'm such a fanatic of straight chocolate…but it would be fun to do!

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Ingredients:

48 Hershey Kisses, unwrapped

1/2 cup shortening

3/4 cup peanut butter

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 egg

2 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Beat shortening and peanut butter. Add sugars and beat until light and fluffy. Add egg, milk, and vanilla.

2. In separate bowl, stir together flour, soda, and salt. Gradually add to peanut butter mixture.

3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and roll in granulated sugar. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

4. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes. When finished, immediately place Hershey Kiss on top of each cookie, pressing down so the cookie cracks around the edges. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ok. This is the BEST chocolate chip cookie recipe E.V.E.R. 

At least to me, haha!

This recipe of goodness was passed along to me from a close friend a few years ago (Hi Kayse!) and it's one I just keep going back to. So whip up a batch and try not to snatch too much cookie dough before baking :)

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup shortening

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/4 cup flour

1 bag of chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Combine shortening and sugars in a mixing bowl. Mix until smooth.

2. Add eggs, salt, soda, vanilla, and flour. When everything is mixed well add the chocolate chips.

3. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Make 5 dozen cookies…or about 4 1/2 if you snatch some dough :)

*Time-Saving Tip: After the cookies have cooled, put half of the cookies into a ziploc freezer bag, remove the air, and close up tight for the freezer. This makes an easy dessert to grab on the go or quickly take to a neighbor or friend.

Mom's Brownies

Our mom makes some of the yummiest food around, especially desserts! When you visit her home you can always count on having cookies, brownies, or some other piece of sugary heaven.

This is her go-to brownie recipe that she uses solo or as a brownie base for other recipes.

Mom's Brownies

Ingredients:
2 squares butter
1/2 cup cocoa
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour

Directions:
1. Melt butter in saucepan on medium heat. When melted, removed from heat and stir in cocoa following by the sugar.

2. Add eggs and vanilla. Stir well. Then mix in flour.

3. Bake in a 9x13 pan at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. Check with a toothpick.