Chewy Valentine's M&M Cookies

Happy Valentine's Day!

I don't know about you, but Valentine's Day has to be my least favorite holiday in the world. As a child who was somewhat different from most of my peers, Valentine's Day really served as a reminder that I was a little weird. Other girls in my classes would end up traipsing home with a folder stuffed full of Valentine's, while I returned home with a few. Does anyone else think kids should have to bring Valentine's for their whole class? I think this might be the policy in most classrooms these days, but not so in my day.

I didn't develop a deep and abiding love for Valentine's Day later in life either. I hated Valentine's Day all through high school, college, and the early days of my career. It never failed that everyone else seemed to get flowers and chocolates when I never did. It's not fun feeling left out, and that has always seemed to be the purpose of the day. Look at the flowers I received. Look at that giant teddy bear someone bought me. Look how much someone loves me. Don't get me wrong, this post is not meant to be one long complaint. I just think there are better ways of showing your partner you love them. As an adult, I feel somewhat indifferent towards the holiday. I have a Valentine, I just choose not to lord that over the rest of the world. Especially towards people that may be feeling a touch left out. I also firmly believe in treating your partner well every day of the year, not just on a day when corporate America tells you to.

I may dislike the holiday, but there's nothing wrong with Valentine's treats! Anyone, regardless of romantic status, can whip up some cupcakes or cookies. In fact, I recommend it. Relationships may be temporary, but chocolate is forever. Right?? Absolutely.

Rest assured friends, this holiday is only one day. Everyone will go back to yelling and talking smack about their partners tomorrow :) Joking!

Ingredients:

3/4 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg + 1 egg yolk
2 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups Valentine M&M's

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine butter and sugars. Whisk until no lumps remain. Mix in egg and egg yolk. Mix in vanilla.
2. Add flour through salt to the bowl. Whisk to combine. The dough will be very soft. Mix in M&M's with a spatula. Chill dough in fridge for 1 hour (this is a must).
3. Preheat oven to 350º. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper. Place dough on countertop, allow to come to room temperature for 10 minutes.
4. Using a 2 tbsp cookie scoop roll cookie dough into a little log. Yes, not a ball, a log. A short, stout log. Stand the logs up tall on the cookie sheet. Take care to make sure the dough is pretty secure on the cookie sheet. If your little log falls in the oven, while it will still be delicious, it will resemble a biscuit rather than a cookie. These cookies fall and spread, so making them little logs allows them to spread into a perfect cookie. Place 9 logs on a sheet.
5. Bake in preheated oven 11-13 minutes. Cookies will look under-baked in the middle, but they are done. Allow to cool 10 minutes on the cookie sheet before removing them to a cooling rack. Cool completely before storage.

Linked to: Weekend Potluck, Snickerdoodle Sunday