#41. Pumpkin Spice M&Ms Pumpkin Cookies

Don’t you just love a bargain?

Well, I do, obviously, given my infatuation with discounted ingredients like this bag of pumpkin spice M&Ms I picked up at Kroger for 50 cents.

Mr. Orange M&M is deeply afraid. BUT OF WHAT???

And what better way to batter these highly processed squash-flavored treats than with some pumpkin spice cookie dough (significantly less processed).

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened

• 1 cup white sugar

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 egg

• 1 cup pumpkin puree

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp baking soda

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice

• 1 bag Pumpkin Spice M&Ms, preferably discounted

Directions

1. Preheat over to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugar, and vanilla using a hand-held mixer.

3. Beat in egg and pumpkin puree until thoroughly combined. Set aside.

4. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice.

5. Gradually incorporate dry ingredient mixture into wet ingredients, beating on medium speed.

6. Mix in M&Ms using a wooden spoon or spatula.

7. Place golf ball-size spheres of dough evenly spaced apart on cookie sheets.

8. Bake for 11-13 minutes until barely brown. (Or longer if you want a more cake-y cookie.)

#36. Astros Cookies

In celebration of their recent victory.

With hopes of a repeat!

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 2 sticks premium butter

• 1 cup white sugar

• 2 eggs

• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract

• 1 bag of Astros M&Ms (found online as well as at some Kroger and HEB grocery stores)

• Handful of optimism

• Sprinkle of hope

• Dash of derring-do

Directions

1. Preheat over to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

3. In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking soda.

4. In a separate mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar.

5. Add eggs, then vanilla extract.

6. Gradually beat in dry ingredient mixture.

7. Form into mounds (get it???) that are evenly spaced on cookie sheets.

8. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until just a bit brown.

9. Enjoy with ice-cold milk.