"Boy or Girl?" Cookies

Okay, okay, they are just M&M cookies, but this title sounds a lot more fun, right? I baked these cookies the day Alex and I told our jobs that we're expecting. I thought it would be fun to bring in a treat while sharing our good news. Of course, the day I do this is the day that everyone was on vacation in my office!

I got the recipe from the original M&M's and Mars website, and I picked this one because it didn't call for shortening...unlike the majority of the other recipes out there. It's a very easy cookie recipe and the M&M's add a nice colorful touch. They are really just chocolate chip cookies, with one small change.

Enjoy! Oh, and I got the pink & blue ones from the bulk candy section in our local market. So you don't wear yourself out trying to find "baby" colored M&M's in the store :-)

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1 large package M&M’S® Milk Chocolate Candies (regular or mini-sized)
3/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)

*Set aside a small amount of M&M's for later*

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°F.

In large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy; beat in egg and vanilla. In medium bowl combine flour, baking soda and salt; blend into butter/sugar mixture. Stir in M&M’S® Milk Chocolate Candies and nuts, if desired.

Drop dough by heaping teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. *If you want a prettier cookie, press some candies onto the tops of the cookies. These will show up better after baking*

Bake 10 to 13 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and centers are still soft. Do not overbake. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; cool completely on wire racks.

Store in tightly covered container. Makes about 40-50 cookies.