Chewy M&M Cookie Bars

I've made these cookies bars so many times I had to check my blog archives to see if I had posted the recipe before. These are soooo good! It's become my favorite recipe to make for crowds. Just grab a bag of M&M's and you should have everything else in your pantry! I first made these around Thanksgiving and used the fall colored M&M's. That's what's nice about M&M recipes you always have a go-to for holidays! I searched all over for a bag of green M&M's for St. Patty's day, but they don't make them. I ended up having to buy the expensive ones from the party store.

Chewy M&M Cookie Bars
Orignal recipe from Fantastic Family Favorites
Ingredients: 
2 1/8 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 sticks of butter melted and then cooled slightly (be sure to do this)
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 white sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2 tsps vanilla
1 (12oz) bag of M&M's divided

Directions: 
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a 9x13" pan with foil letting the excess hang over the edges, so you can grab the edges and pull the bars from the pan once they have baked. Spray the foil lined pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Melt butter in a medium bowl. In another bowl mix flour, salt, and baking soda. Whisk sugars in butter bowl. Add eggs, vanilla and mix well. Fold in dry ingredients. Do not over mix. Fold in 1 cup of M&M's. Save the rest for later.

Smooth the batter into the pan. Sprinkle remaining M&M's on top and slightly press in with spatula.

Bake for 24-28. (Mine took 35 minutes) The top should be golden brown on top.

Remove the bars from the pan by pulling the foil, cut and serve.

Enjoy! 

Fudge Pie

Hey! Did ya'll know that I grew up in the south? My family lived in Tennessee, and Alabama for a short time too, before moving to Indiana in middle school. I promptly stopped saying "ya'll" after being made fun of for my southern accent. Ha! I took a lot from my childhood in the south and still keep up with some friends there as well.

When I graduated college my mom gave me a book with her favorite recipes in it to have for my own kitchen. Many of the recipes she received from friends and family over the years. "Kit's Fudge Pie" is one of my favorites and an easy go-to dessert! Kit was our neighbor in Tennessee and the mom of my childhood friend Kati. We have lots of pictures and memories being very small and living across the street from one another. Every time I make this pie I think about their family.

I make this pie fairly often because it's so good and easy to make. Besides the crust, I always have all the ingredients on hand.

Kit's Fudge Pie
Ingredients:
-pre-made pie shell
-1 stick of butter
-1/4 cup of flour
-1/4 cup of cocoa
-1 tsp. vanilla
-2 eggs
-chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:
Melt butter and mix all ingredients well. Pour into unbaked pie shell. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.

Enjoy! 

Cookies for Christmas

I was a baking fool this year! There are just so many sweets that I love, I couldn't decide so I made them all.

 

   

Pretzel Rolos, Peanut Butter Kiss cookies, Iced Sugar Cookies, Red Velvet Whoopie Pies with Peppermint filling, Mini Cranberry Bread, Peanut Butter crunch Buckeyes.