Grinch Cookies

Ingredients:

1 C. unsalted butter, softened

1 2/3 C. sugar

2 large eggs

2 t. vanilla extract

3-5 drops bright green food coloring

3 1/3 C. all-purpose flour

2 t. corn starch

1 t. baking powder

1 t. baking soda

1 t. salt

1 1/2 C. red and green M&Ms plus additional 1/2 C. for topping cookies, if desired

Directions:

1. Combine butter and sugar in a large bowl and use an electric mixer to beat until well-combined and light and fluffy (about 1 minute).
2. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3. Stir in vanilla extract and food coloring, until well-combined.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
5. Set mixer to low speed and gradually stir dry ingredients into butter mixture. 
6. Add ingredients and stir until well-incorporated.
7. Fold in M&Ms and cover bowl with plastic wrap. 
8. Chill in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
9. Once dough has finished chilling, preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
10. Drop cookie dough by heaping 1 1/2 Tbsp-sized scoops onto prepared cookie sheets, for perfectly round cookies roll dough in your hands into a smooth ball.
11. Bake on 350 degrees for 11-13 minutes. 
12. If desired, gently press additional M&Ms into the tops of each cookie for decoration while they are still warm.
13. Allow cookies to cool completely on cookie sheet before removing.

Variation:

• Substitute red/white/pink M&Ms and pink food coloring (in place of green) at Valentine's Day for a Valentine's Day treat.
• Substitute orange/purple/green M&Ms and orange food coloring for Halloween cookies.
• Substitute Easter pastel M&Ms for a Spring cookie.