the best christmas cookies

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I know that I mostly post about nourishing your body with healthy foods and being active, but I’m all about balance. Like most people, I’m a HUGE fan of cookies and a few beers every once in awhile! Today, I baked my absolute favorite Christmas cookies because ’tis the season and more importantly, why the hell not?! #treatyoself

This recipe is seriously so dang easy, makes a ton of cookies and tastes amazing. I made it last minute today because I was home alone on a cold Sunday and I had some Christmas candles burning, so it just felt right.

Ingredients

• 1 cup softened butter
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 3 1/4 cups flour
• 1 cup M&M’s (greens + reds because festive!)
• 2 cups mini chocolate chips

Let’s Do Some Baking!

Start by pre-heating your oven to 375* and mixing together your softened butter, sugar and brown sugar. I softened my butter by putting it in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. Once those are mixed well, start to add in your wet ingredients. I know the lemon juice is weird, but it does some fancy science shit that makes your cookies pretty and prevents them from being flat once they cool down. I only know this because my Nana taught me her secrets, but I promise you don’t taste it.

Once the wet ingredients are mixed in, start to add your dry ingredients. If you’re using a hand mixer, I suggest adding the flour a cup at a time, depending on the size of your mixing bowl. It got a wee bit dusty in my kitchen when I was mixing in the flour. After all your dry ingredients are mixed together, add your candies. I mixed up the amounts of the M&M’s and the chocolate chips, but oh well, still delicious!

When you’re ready, roll into small balls (or use a cookie dough scooper *aff link*) and place onto a greased cookie sheet or parchment paper. Bake at 375* for 10 minutes. I did mine for 12 minutes, but just keep an eye on them, depending on how cooperative your oven may or may not be (mine is not). Once the cookies have cooled, you can move them to wherever you’re keeping them. Don’t forget to toss in a slice or two of bread into your storage container to keep the cookies nice and moist!

These cookies are super easy and festive for the holidays. My daytime job is working in an automotive parts department and the old crab-asses I work with start asking about homemade Christmas cookies in November, so they’re a crowd pleaser!

Make a batch (or two) and send me some pictures of yours! Happy Baking!