cookies made with packaged cookie mixes

Looking for a quick and easy recipe for Christmas cookies, perhaps for a cookie swap or as a gift – how about making these Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies with Peanut Butter-Filled M&M’s? (Of course – these quick, easy and delicious cookies aren’t just for the Holidays !!)

All you’ll need is a package of Peanut Butter Cookie Mix, a package of Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix, a cup of butter, a package of (red & green) peanut butter filled M&M’s, 3 eggs and some quick cooking oatmeal. It doesn’t get much easier than that!

Oven at 375 F Bake cookies for 11 – 12 minutes, until they’re lightly browned

++ Tip I recommend using at least 2 cookies sheets and two cooling racks, so you always have one cookie sheet in the oven and another being prepared for baking.

++ Tip It’s a good idea NOT to use a hot cookie sheet when baking cookies. Doing so can make cookies flatten out too much.

Ingredients & Method Yield – about 4 dozen good-sized cookies

1 cup butter or margarine, softened Tub margarine is NOT recommended.
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats Not instant oatmeal !
1 (1 lb. 1.5 oz.) package Betty Crocker Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
1 (1 lb. 1.5 oz.) package Betty Crocker Peanut Butter Cookie Mix
1 bag (11.40 oz.) peanut butter-filled M & M’s (I used red & green colored M & Ms.)

Place 1 cup softened butter or margarine, 3 eggs and 1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal in a large bowl and blend together on medium speed. (Takes less than a minute…)

Add a package of Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix & a package of Peanut Butter Cookie Mix. You can try to mix it all together with a wooden spoon but I used my freshly-washed hands because it’s easier. (The dough may seem to dry at first – just keep smoshing it with your hands and it’ll come together.)

Now add the bag (11.40 oz.) of peanut butter-filled M & M’s. Again, I recommend using your hands because the dough is very stiff.

On an ungreased cookie sheet, using a 1/8 measuring cup, drop dough about 2 inches apart. (I found that ‘knocking’ the measuring cup against the side of the bowl helped the dough fall out….) You’ll probably be able to bake 12 cookies at a time, depending upon the size of your cookie sheet.

Bake cookies at 375 (F) for 11 – 12 minutes, until your cookies are lightly browned. Cool cookies about 2 minutes before removing them from the cookie sheet to a cooling rack. Enjoy !