Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Week of Sweets: Day 4, Red Velvet Cookies


My Pandora Christmas Station has gone into overdrive, and I've been singing "Jingle Bells" like it's my second job.

Did I mention that I'm watching "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" tonight? We all need a little Chevy Chase in our lives this time of year.

And if the old adage "You are what you eat" is true, then I've most definitely turned into a giant vat of cookie dough,
Peanut Butter Balls, and red and green sprinkles.

Friends, with evidence this clear, there's no doubt that the holidays are here.

Today's sweet recipe screams "holidays!" almost as much as Lampoon's Uncle Eddy and Chevy Chase's light display. We're talking Chewy Red Velvet M & M Cookies.

Oh yes I did.

I spied Chewy Red Velvet Cookies on
Jessica's blog earlier this month, and I knew it would be a unique twist on the classic red and green M & M cookies I make every Christmas. The cocoa powder adds a surprising flavor, and the bright red hue says "Eat me! I'm an adventurous Christmas cookie!"

If you're looking for an extra layer of wow-factor, I suggest making miniature size versions of this cookie and sandwiching a layer of chocolate ganache between two of them.

Now if you'll excuse me, there's a glass of eggnog and a couch calling my name.


Red Velvet M&M Cookies
(recipe from Jessica at How Sweet Eats)

Who doesn't love red velvet cake? Better yet, who doesn't love a chewy M & M cookie? Mash these two together and you've got yourself Chewy Red Velvet M & M Cookies. The holidays are good to us, aren't they?

Ingredients:
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp. red food coloring
  • As many red and green M&Ms as your heart desires
Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat baking sheets with cooking spray.

2) Cream butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and beat until well-combined. Beat in dry ingredients and red food coloring. Stir in M & Ms.

3) Drop dough by rounded spoonfuls onto baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes.

13 comments:

  1. I just have this inkling that Egg Nog, the couch and I are about to become BFF. Way to be a trail blazer.

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  2. Have not tried making red velvet cookies before...These cookies look delicious :D

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  3. haha you are.. I bought the movie... isn't it funny.. I esp love the part where chase is in the attic.. I downloaded the song by ray charles too... LOVE it..

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  4. I've never even tried anything red velvet--can you believe it!? I know, either can I! These cookies look like the perfect excuse to jump on the "red velvet" bandwagon!!! Hope all is going well and you're almost ready for Christmas! :-)

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  5. Can you believe they blocked pandora at my work!? It's so sad.. no Christmas music :( but I think having these cookies around would make me start singing my own carols! They look great! I hope you have a very merry Christmas :)

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  6. I love Pandora! I can't listen to it on my work computer but that's what phone apps and headphones are for ;)

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  7. mmm sounds great! enjoy your christmas :)

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  8. Mmmmm red velvet cookies!!! Now i'm in love! The addition of the red and green m&ms is a great idea, they look so festive. Love it! :)

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  9. Ooooh red velvet cookies? What an excellent idea! I love red velvet cake but haven't heard of having them in cookie-form. I will most definitely be giving this a try for Christmas! Thanks for sharing :)

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  10. Genius!! I love red velvet cake, ao I can only imagine how much I would love these cookies. ANd it has m&ms? Oh girl you so know the way into my heart!!

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  11. Red Velvet is my favorite! Love the cookies.

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  12. Give me milk and red velvet cookies and I can die a complete man. Glad I'm not the only one with Pandora chritmas music going on overdrive!

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  13. I love red velvet cake, cookies, and M&M's so these sound awesome!! Super festive, too. :)

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