Polka Dot Cookies & A Cooking Light Winner!!

Today I am bringing you a nice sweet treat, Polka Dot Cookies! Kids of all ages love these soft and chewy cookies with lots of colorful M&M's. I wanted to surprise the kids when they came home from school so I decided to make something fun. These cookies are so easy to make and you can change up this recipe very easily.

If you don't want to put a lot of time or effort into making cookies then you can easily make cookie bars. Just place all the cookie dough into a 13 x 9 inch or a 13 x 18 greased baking pan, depending on how thick you want your cookie bars.

These cookies would be great for the holidays because you could utilize all the fun holiday themed M&M's. My kiddos had these cookies polished off the next day. The texture of this cookie was perfect chewy and crunchy on the edges and soft in the middle. Just like a cookie should be. Why not make something fun and sweet for your little guys. I'm going to have to make another batch, Carson already said so.

Umm I love cookie dough there is just something about it that makes it so irresistible.



Ready to go in the oven to bake. A trick for making drop cookies the same size and shape; Use a spring-handled cookie or ice-cream scoop. Perfectly round every time. I also pressed a few more m&ms on top of the cookies before they baked.



A very patient Gracie waiting for the cookies to bake. She was making me laugh because she kept blowing and saying hot hot hot!


Cooling down.


Perfectly round Polka Dot Cookies!!! Nothing is better than milk and cookies.





Polka Dot Cookies

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, softened (2 sticks)
1 cup shortening
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 eggs
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups candy-coated chocolate candies (m&m s)

Directions:
Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, beat sugars, butter, shortening, vanilla and eggs with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon, until well blended.

Stir in flour, baking soda and salt. Stir in candies.

Drop dough by 1/4 cupfuls about 3 inches apart onto ungreased large cookie sheet.

 Bake 12 to 16 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 3 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.


Cook's Note: A trick for making drop cookies the same size and shape: Use a spring-handled cookie or ice-cream scoop.

To Make Cookies Bars
: If you dont want to put a lot of time or effort into making cookies then you can easily make cookie bars. Just spread all the cookie dough into a 13 x 9 inch or a 13 x 18 greased baking pan. It just depends on how thick you want your cookie bars. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-15 min, until light golden brown or until a toothpick comes out clean.

18 comments

T. in NYC said…
You take amazing food pictures.
Tina Butler said…
T. in NYC,
Thank you so much. I really am trying to take good ones. I look back at the pictures I took in the begining when I started my site, I thought they were so good. I look back and see how much I have improved since then. I will just replace the pics as i remake those dishes.
Sherri Murphy said…
I love the photo of the baby staring in the oven. Too cute!

These cookies sound great.
YUM YUM and YUM!! i love these cookies- combining cookies AND M&M's is the best! I cant wait to try your recipe. I wish I just lived next door to you. I bet your house ALWAYS smells delicious!
Lara said…
Now that's my kind of cookie...fun, colorful, and tasty!
Martha said…
Love your cookie baking photos. I think it's so cool that you are committed to passing on the cookie and baking tradition to your kids! M&M cookies are a long time favorite. Another great cookie baking tip is to line your cookie sheets with parchment paper. The cookies never stick and bake more evenly.
Mmmm, I love M&M cookies! My grandma had a different recipe, but she always made them at Christmastime with the red and green m&m's.... mmmm!
Tina Butler said…
I cant wait for the holidays to get here. Then I can use all the colorful m&ms to make cookies. I will try and remember the parchment paper. I keep forgetting to buy it at the store.
Mini Baker said…
I just found your blog and I love it! You've got so many yummy recipes :)
-Mini Baker
ps. cookies with M&ms are one of my favorites! crisy candy coating and melty inside mmmmm
Elizabeth said…
I LOVE m&m cookies! My mom always made them with coconut too. I don't know why I haven't made any yet. Maybe it's time.
Leslie said…
Yummy cookies! Love the photo of your little one waiting at the oven!
teresa said…
what a fun family pleaser!
Heather said…
I think I am the lucky winner. Tina, I just emailed you. Please let me know if you did not receive it.
Amy in NY said…
ok I made these into bars BUT i wasnt sure how long to bake them bc I dont think i saw the timing for the bars? anyhow theyre AWESOME. I used just straight brown sugar, i was way low on regular sugar and man theyre almost gone. made a 9 by 13 and an 8 by 8 pan. my son took some to school to share. was a hit thanks!
Suz said…
Oh my goodness this is an awesome recipe! These cookies are delicious! I was looking for something to make 1/2 m&m for my daughter and to do the other 1/2 in choc chip & pecans. They beat TollHouse's recipe HANDS DOWN. There is just something about them - I don't know if it's the brown sugar/white sugar ratio or the 1/2 butter 1/2 shortening, but they are DIVINE!

Thanks!! As always I LOVE your site!
Lisa said…
What a cute name for these cookies. It really suits them to a tee.
Sue said…
Love polka dots, especially in cookie form! Great photos too!
Sue said…
I linked to your blog in my polka dot cookie post:)