Valentine’s Day M&M Cookies

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a medium sized bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl beat together (on medium speed) brown sugar, white sugar and shortening until light and fluffy. Then add vanilla extract and eggs and beat again until fully combined.
4. Slowly add the flour mixture in installments of 2-3 groups and mix on low speed until just combined. Add the M&Ms and chocolate chips and stir by hand (or on low speed) until evenly distributed.
5. Gently roll about 2-3 TBS of cookie dough into balls and place them, evenly spaced, on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Next, press about 3-5 M&Ms on each cookie dough ball. This gives an appealing polka dot result after the cookies are baked. Keep in mind they will spread out as they bake so you can really press on quite a few candies. Bake in the oven for 12-14 minutes until barely starting to turn golden brown.
6. Remove from the oven and allow to finish baking on the cookie sheet for 2-4 minutes until the dome top has settled into lumps and the cookies are firm enough to transfer to a wire cooling rack to finish cooling.