Peanut Butter Candy Cookies

Recipe: Peanut Butter Candy Cookies

The peeps are out; bright yellow, green and shocking hot pink round out the line up. I’m referring to the fluffy marshmallow concoction covered in colored sugar that only makes their appearance during the Easter holiday. This is the time of year that sweet pastel candies of every shape and flavor hit the stores, some traditional to the Easter holiday and others created in a new shape or flavor to add to the traditional Easter morning basket.

One of my favorite Easter treats is pastel m&m’s. Yes, I know they are no different than traditional primary colored m&m’s but there is something so beautiful knowing that spring is finally here while eating those pastel beauties!

Many of us know the traditional Easter story, but how did the gifting of treats in a basket piled with brightly covered plastic grass, or even the Easter bunny begin? Easter is a deeply religious Christian holiday that is celebrated the first Sunday after the first vernal equinox full moon. Easter baskets are said to have originated as a pagan offering to the goddess of fertility, spring is a time for re-birth and renewal and Eostre is said to have carried a basket of eggs with her as a symbol of this. Christians are said to have adopted this tradition as a way to introduce small children to the complex ideas of death and re-birth. Over the years the tradition has become commercialized and the traditional Easter basket is more about sweet treats and small gifts but the underlying meaning still remains. Whether you celebrate the religious beginnings of Easter or not, waking up to a sweet ladened basket of treats is so much fun!

While many of our Easter baskets are made up of commercially made treats and gifts, wouldn’t it be nice to add a few homemade treats to the mix! Peanut butter candy cookies are simple, incredibly delicious and can be easily wrapped in a small treat bag and tied with a brightly colored bow. Make them a day or two ahead of time (save a few for yourself) and watch your little ones gobble them up!

Happy Easter from our Beanilla family to yours!

Peanut Butter Candy Cookies Recipes

Yields 15 cookies

Ingredients

  • ½ cup butter (1 stick), softened
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ½ cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 whole egg
  • ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1â…“ cups all-purpose flour
  • Pinch of salt
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 ½ cups m&m’s
  • ¼ cup coconut sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment cream butter, brown sugar and white sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the peanut butter to the mixture and beat until light and creamy.
Add the eggs and vanilla extract. Beat until well incorporated.

Combine flour, salt and baking soda in a small bowl.
Add the dry ingredients to the batter in two parts with the stand mixer on the lowest speed. Do not over mix. Add the m&m’s and beat until dispersed throughout the dough. Create 15 equally sized balls of dough.
Add coconut sugar to a small bowl.
Roll each cookie in the sugar and place on a silicone-baking mat on a baking sheet, using the palm of your hand; press down slightly on the ball to flatten.
Bake cookies for 10 minutes until lightly golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool for 3-4 minutes.
Transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.