About a month ago I made a batch of these M&M sugar cookies, but after discovering that I was completely out of white sugar, I used brown sugar instead. They turned out really well, but since I’d made such a drastic substitution I didn’t want to post the recipe until I tried it as written. So when one of my DC co-workers heard about the cookies and requested a batch when she was in town, I took the opportunity to be true to the original recipe. These M&M sugar cookies were definitely a hit when I brought them to work on Wednesday. I’ve even had several other co-workers as for more yesterday and today. They seem to think I bake cookies every day! It’s always nice to get compliments like that. I have to say, though, that I like these M&M sugar cookies better with brown sugar instead of white! I guess that makes them brown sugar cookies, but they’re delicious no matter what you call them. Customizable recipes are great so I listed the option to use your favorite sugar (or whatever you have in the house) in the ingredients below. And with the addition of red and green Christmas M&M’s these are a simple and tasty holiday treat!

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 c butter, softened
3/4 c sugar (white or brown)
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
1/4 tsp salt
6 oz M&M’s candies

DIRECTIONS:
In a large bowl cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat to combine. Add the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt) and mix until well combined. (The original recipe asked you to mix the dry ingredients together before adding them to the butter mixture, but I’m a one-bowl-cookie kind of gal.) Stir in the M&M’s. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil and coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 deg F for 8-9 minutes or until the cookies start to brown on the edges. Remove from oven, wait 5 minutes, then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!

Based on Jamie Cooks It Up’s M&M Sugar Cookies.

P.S. I’m only two recipes away from my goal of trying a new recipe every week in 2011! They might not have been evenly distributed, but I figure fifty-two recipes within the calendar year is quite an accomplishment.