Red Velvet M&M Bars

Adapted from Yellow Bliss Road
INGREDIENTS
1 Box of Red Velvet Cake Mix
1 egg
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cup of of Valentine M&Ms

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare a 9x13 pan, with cooking spray.
In a kitchenaid with the paddle attachment, mix cake mix, egg, butter and vanilla until blended.
Carefully fold in half of the M&Ms. This will be a pain in the butt.
Press batter into the prepared pan and sprinkle with the remaining M&Ms, pressing them into the batter.
Bake for 35-40 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Allow to completely cool before cutting into bars.

I hate red velvet cake. I will admit that it looks beautiful, because red is bae. However, I think it tastes like poop. It's just not my favorite, but I always find myself pinning recipes for it. So, I figured that I could bring a recipe to one of my ward's FHEs… cause that's how Mormon girls get a husband. They turned out to be super pretty, and pretty dang good. Not my favorite, but definitely a crowd pleaser.

Cowgirl Cookies

adapted from Bakerella

INGREDIENTS
1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup cooking oats
3/4 cup m&ms
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup white sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup melted butter, cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350ºF.

Stir the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, oats, m&ms, chocolate chips, pecans, coconut, brown and white sugar in a large mixing bowl. Blend well to break up any chunks of brown sugar. Create a well in the middle of the dry ingredients.

In a small bowl, beat the egg, butter and vanilla together.

Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, and mix together.

Scoop out 1 1/2 inch balls of dough, and place on prepared cookie sheet.

Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow to cool on cookie sheet before transferring to wire cooling rack.

Serve to that special cowboy or cowgirl in your life.

I first found this recipe during Erica Ellen's Cookie Extravaganza in Honor of Black History Month… and then I forgot about them. The other night my niece found out that I have a crap ton of cookbooks. Cookbooks are her new favorite books. So we were looking through my homemade one, and found this recipe and declared, "We HAVE to make these right now." I shot her down because it was 10:00 pm, and I am a grown up with a job. When I came home early from work the next day, we made them. I want to rename them because I added coconut, and have decided that they are even better, so I wanna rename them "Reverse Cowgirl Cookies" but I don't want you all to think I am super disgusting. Just know that they are that good, and easy soooo you need to make them yourself.

M&M Cookie Bars

adapted from Fantastic Family Favorites

INGREDIENTS
2 1/4 cups flour
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2 tsps vanilla extract
1 12oz bag M&M's, divided

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 325 °F. Adjust the oven rack to lower-middle position.
Spray a 9X13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

Mix the flour, salt, and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside.

With a mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the egg, egg yolk one at a time. Next, add in vanilla and mix until combined.

Gradually add flour mixture and beat until just combined; do not overmix. Remove from mixer.

Fold in 1 cup of M&M's and turn the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with the spatula. Sprinkle remaining M&M's on top and press in slightly.

Bake until the top of the bars is light golden brown, slightly firm to the touch, and edges start pulling away from sides of pan, 24-28 minutes. Cool on a wire rack to room temperature. Once cooled, cut into squares and serve.

M+M Cookies

family recipe

INGREDIENTS
1 cup butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 12-ouch package baking M&Ms

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350*F.
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla.
In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt.
Blend into creamed mixture. Gently stir in M&Ms.
Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake for 10-13 minutes, or until edges are lightly brown.
Cool on a wire rack, and then enjoy!