The fireworks are over, and summer is in full swing, but that doesn’t mean that the colors of red, white, and blue need to be hurriedly packed up and totally forgotten again until next year. Those three patriotic colors, which have come to symbolize all that is American, can easily stand strong all through the summer months, adding a festive touch to whatever occasion you might happen to be celebrating. Throw those same well-matched colors into a cookie, along with brown butter and chocolate chips, and you’re ready for an even bigger blow out bash. Think you need some elaborate excuse to whoop it up? Not necessary. How about you mowed the lawn without cutting off a toe, or perhaps you successfully excited Target with under fifty dollars worth of merchandise, or better yet, maybe you just need an excuse to show off that sexy pair of new sandals you just purchased on sale. I’m sure you’ll think of something worth celebrating, and when you do, make sure you include these cookies, some balloons, and perhaps a few fireworks you still have kicking around from the big holiday. Oh, and don’t forget to share with some friends and/or neighbors, because when it comes to a celebration, I say the more the merrier. Oh, and if anyone has any sparklers left over, please share with me. I’ll pay you in cookies.
Ingredients:
- 1 Cup Unsalted Butter
- 2/3 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 2/3 Cup Light Brown Sugar
- 1 Egg
- 4 Tablespoons Milk
- 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 2 Teaspoons Baking Soda
- 1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 3/4 Cup Milk Chocolate M&M’s Minis Baking Bits
- 1 Cup White Chocolate Baking Chips
- 1/2 Cup Dark Chocolate Baking Chips
- 1/2 Cup Red, White, and Blue Non-Pareils
Directions:
- Place butter in a saucepan over high heat for 4 minutes, stirring often.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat, and allow the butter to come to room temperature. It should begin to solidify again within 1 to 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cream butter and sugars together for 3 minutes on medium speed.
- Add the egg; mix for 1 minute.
- Add the milk and vanilla; mix for 1 minute.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter and sugar mixture on low speed; mix until just incorporated.
- Using a silicone spatula, fold the M&M’s, white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, and non-pareils into the dough until well combined.
- Use a cookie scoop to make even cookie dough balls, and place them on a parchment paper or Silpat lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 9 to 10 minutes, or until medium brown.
- Allow to rest on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes, before removing to a baking rack to finish cooling completely.
Suggestions:
- Be careful not to over-brown your butter. Also make sure to scrape all of those burnt butter bits out of the pan; they add flavor.
- Don’t be afraid to separate out all of the colors in a bag of M&M’s Minis Baking Bits. It’s something to keep you busy in the evenings while watching television.
- DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT leave out the non-pareils; they give this cookie a super duper texture.
Improvements:
- Add 1/2 cup of nuts to the cookie batter.
- Package the cookies up, and distribute them to your friends and neighbors.
Ingredients:
- 1 Cup Unsalted Butter
- 2/3 Cup Granulated Sugar
- 2/3 Cup Light Brown Sugar
- 1 Egg
- 4 Tablespoons Milk
- 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 2 Teaspoons Baking Soda
- 1/2 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 3/4 Cup Milk Chocolate M&M's Minis Baking Bits
- 1 Cup White Chocolate Baking Chips
- 1/2 Cup Dark Chocolate Baking Chips
- 1/2 Cup Red, White, and Blue Non-Pareils
Directions:
- Place butter in a saucepan over high heat for 4 minutes, stirring often.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat, and allow the butter to come to room temperature. It should begin to solidify again within 1 to 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cream butter and sugars together for 3 minutes on medium speed.
- Add the egg; mix for 1 minute.
- Add the milk and vanilla; mix for 1 minute.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter and sugar mixture on low speed; mix until just incorporated.
- Using a silicone spatula, fold the M&M's, white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, and non-pareils into the dough until well combined.
- Use a cookie scoop to make even cookie dough balls, and place them on a parchment paper or Silpat lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 9 to 10 minutes, or until medium brown.
- Allow to rest on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes, before removing to a baking rack to finish cooling completely.
