Accompanied by the "Best Job" story in the 6-12 edition
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup butter or shortening
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups M&Ms (reserve 1/2 cup for decorating)
Position one of your oven racks in the middle of your oven and preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper for best results. Otherwise, use ungreased cookie sheets.
In a medium size mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and baking soda until well blended.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter (or shortening) and sugars with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy (This will take several minutes). Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula to make sure everything is well blended.
Beat in the eggs and vanilla until creamy.
Stir in flour mixture with a wooden spoon just until blended.
Stir in 1 1/2 cups M&Ms.
Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheets.
Press several additional M&Ms into each cookie.
Bake one cookie sheet at a time in the middle rack of the oven for 9 to 12 minutes or until the cookies are golden brown around the edges and just set in the center.
Remove from the oven and transfer the cookies with a thin metal spatula to a wire rack to cool completely.
This recipe yields about 5 dozen 2 1/2-inch Original M&M Cookies.
