December first! Christmas season is in full swing and it is the month of cookies.
I did some research and I really could not find an answer that I felt answered the question of where the tradition of baking Christmas cookies came from. I imagine that it came from some of the early traditions of the Pagans and the Romans who celebrated the Feast of Saturnella, the winter solstice, and other important holidays at this time. The early church was underground out of necessity – to be a Christian meant that you were in constant danger of arrest and death. So, rather than having a celebration that was different from those of the people around them, they adapted many of the traditions of the cultures they lived in.
Small cakes were sacrificed to various gods and given to neighbors and friends.
Anyway. It seems I am always looking for ways to add to my cookie repertoire. In cookies, like in all things Christmas, the more the merrier.
I am not sure who the first person was to dump a bag of M and M’s into cookie dough. My guess is it was a mom who promised her kids cookies and then found that someone had eaten all of the chocolate chips – not that that ever happens here. I imagine she found that she had a bag of M and M’s left over from Halloween and decided to improvise.
And as the Bible says …It was good.
I love M and M’s cookies but after awhile it just bores me. What to do, what to do?
Cream cheese. When in doubt just add fat and calories, right?
The cream cheese is used for part of the butter in these, giving them a thicker and cakier texture that stays soft and moist. There is a little tang from the cream cheese and the flavor is more delicate which allows the M and M’s to completely steal the show. These would work perfectly for Whoopie Pies if you made them larger.
Add these to your Christmas Cookie tray this year and see if the don’t disappear really fast.
Tender, chewy M&M's cookies with the delicate, tangy flavor of cream cheese. Use seasonal colors in your holiday cookies.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 2 cups M and M's candy
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350
- Cream together the butter and cream cheese.'
- Add sugars and beat well.
- Add eggs one at a time beating after each addition.
- Add vanilla.
- Stir together the dry ingredients and stir into the butter mixture.
- Fold in the M and M's
- Drop by rounded spoonfuls on an ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake 8-10 minutes
- Cool 5 minutes before removing from the pan.
Copyright © marye audet 2011, all rights reserved.
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