M&M Cookies

This recipe is almost exactly like my increasingly popular recipe for Best Chocolate Chip Cookies (EF).  I just replaced the chocolate chips with miniature M&Ms.  I did make them a little bit bigger, flattening them slightly before baking.  So, they had to cook for another minute or two.  Although the two recipes are very similar, I am listing them separately because they taste like a whole different cookie.  What a difference a simple substitution can make.  One of my kids way prefers M&Ms over chocolate chips.  Happy kid!!

M&M Cookies

½ c unsalted butter 
½ c vegetable shortening
¼ c sugar
¾ c brown sugar

1 small package instant vanilla pudding

1 t vanilla

2 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
½ t salt
2½ c flour
¹/₃ c milk
1½ c mini M&M candies
Preheat oven to 375^o.  Cream together the butter, shortening, both sugars, pudding mix and vanilla.  Add the baking powder, baking soda and salt mixing constantly.  Gradually mix in the flour.  Add milk one tablespoon at a time until dough starts to stick together.  Gently stir in M&Ms.  (I used my hands to mix in the M&Ms.)  Roll into balls, slightly flatten to make a thick disk and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet.  Bake for about 10-12 minutes.  Let cool for 2 minutes on cookie sheet before removing.  Makes about 28 cookies.