Double-Dutch Chocolate Holiday Cookies

This recipe for chocolate-y cookies originally comes from the December 2011 Taste of Home publication, Gifts in a Jar.  I love recipe in a jar cookies, because I can prep cookies and display them in a pretty jar until I’m ready to make them.  Now, that being said, there’s no reason that you have to put the dry ingredients in a fancy jar – just make cookies straight away.  This recipe uses the red and green Christmas M&Ms, but I’m planning on making some with the pastel Easter M&Ms soon.

Ingredients:

Dry jar ingredients –

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2  cup double-dutch dark cocoa
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar – this recipe calls for light, but I use dark anyway
• 1 1/4 cups holiday M&Ms
• 1/3 cup white baking chips

Moist cookie ingredients –

• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions:

For making jarred ingredients –

1. In small bowl, combine flour baking soda and salt.
2. In 1-quart glass jar layer flour mixture, cocoa, sugar, brown sugar, M&Ms, and baking chips.
3. Cover and store in a cool dry place up to 1 month.

For finishing cookies –

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. In large bowl, beat butter, egg, and vanilla until well blended
3. Add contents of jar, mix thoroughly.
4. Drop onto prepared baking sheets, by rounded teaspoonfuls, 2-inches apart.
5. Bake 12-14 minutes, or until set.
6. Cool on sheet for 2-3 minutes before removing to cooling rack.