Soft Chocolate Crackles with Mint M and M's or I Should Have Baked These First

This week I've baked one coffee cake, one batch of chewies and three batches of cookies. Plus we received a box of fudge in the mail. Sugar is pouring out of our ears and Manservant is looking forward to January because he has no will power. To be honest, I was looking for a coffee cake that I made when my children were born 23 years ago. This wasn't it. But in that quest, I found the one I wanted. So now I have to bake it.

The chewies were one of those "this can't be good recipes" and you know what? They weren't. They were edible, but not anything I would have printed in a cookbook. But they still had quite a few bites out of them! Sugar does that to you. The fudge was a gift from two of Alex's friends who were with us for Thanksgiving. Their family owns a fudge shop which could be my dream job. Well, that and having chickens and goats. Maybe I could make goat milk fudge-well, in my dreams. The six varieties were all great but I sent them on with Alex who came to visit eat and sleep for not even 24 hours. Well, retrieve his stuff is more like it.

I did bake a successful batch of pineapple and dried cherry cookies that were surprisingly good. Those will make an appearance soon. I also did a batch of World Peace cookies. Those are always good. But then I made these. These cute, soft chocolate crackles that Manservant ate and then responded, "Why didn't you bake these first? They are cute and Christmasey and they are really good," as he reached for a third one to shove in his mouth.

Yes, the trash men and mailman might make out this year or could it be the neighbors? God knows we can't leave them here. They might disappear down someone's pie hole. I found this great cookie here. I was looking at all the perfect cookies from The Great Cookie Swap, which was a really great thing that I should have done, but sometimes life just gets in the way of things we should have done. So, I guess there is always next year!

These perfectly chocolatey, soft, minty cookies were something Zoe would like and I had a bag of mint M and M's from Target. I totally love these things and it was taking all my will power to not break the bag open. So with perfect logic, I decided to use them in this cookie. Yes, it was a great decision because these cookies were worthy of something this good. Trust me on this.

So these perfectly chocolatey, soft minty cookies will now be added to my holiday baking. They are a keeper and one I heartily recommend. Enjoy them with a giant glass of milk and to be honest, even if you left the mint candy off, you would have a luscious chocolate cookie. One that Santa would love as long as Santa loves chocolate. Zoe would love them, too. Just one problemo, my darling daughter. I think they are a bit too fragile to send. So I will keep baking. Just to find something to send to you...Miss you, baby.

Soft Chocolate Crackles with Mint M and M's
Makes 36-48

1 c semisweet chocolate chips
½ c softened unsalted butter
¾ c brown sugar
½ c sugar
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
⅓ c milk
1 ¼ c flour
½ c cocoa
2 t baking powder
¼ t salt
1 c confectioners sugar
1 bag of mint M and M's

Melt chocolate chips in microwave. I usually cook them in 30 second intervals at power level seven, stirring in between, until they are melted and the chocolate is smooth and shiny.

In a stand mixer beat the softened butter. Add brown sugar and white sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in melted chocolate that has cooled a bit. Beat in two eggs and vanilla.

Mix flour, cocoa baking powder and salt in a large measuring cup. Alternately with the milk, beat into chocolate mixture. Chill for about two hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350. Roll dough into 1" balls. Roll each ball in powdered sugar. Flatten by lightly pressing down on cookie. Place on parchment or Silpat lined cookie sheet. Bake for 8 minutes. Take out of oven and place three mint M and M's on each cookie. Bake for another 4-7 minutes. I baked mine only for 4 minutes so they stayed soft and fudgey.

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December Treats:
Gingerbread Waffles
German Apple Pancake
Belgian Liege Waffles

Cranberry Chipotle Wonton Cups
Mushroom Lover's Pastry
Onion Dip
3 Ingredient Artichoke Dip
Smoked Trout Pate
Savory Sweet Potato Latkes
Not My Mama's Chicken Pot Pie
Chicken, Artichoke, Mushroom Casserole
Porcini Mushroom Lasagna
My Mother's Brisket
Boneless Rib Roast and Baked Rice
Hot Brown Sandwich
Sweet and Hot Green Onion Mustard
Frozen Cranberry Salad
Fresh Cranberry and Apple Salad

Shortbread Nut Bars
Spritz Cookies
Fool's Toffee
World Peace Cookies
Chocolate Icebox Toffee Cookies
Shortbread Cookie Cut Outs
Double Chocolate Mocha Macadamia Bark
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bites
Marshmallows
Chocolate Krantz Cake or Babka