Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 tsp almond extract
- the seeds of 1 Madagascar vanilla bean (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)
- 5 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 drop of Americaolor “Red Red” food gel
Preparation
Step 1
1.Preheat oven to 375 F degrees. Line 13x18x1 in jelly roll pan (really big, deep cookie sheet!) with parchment paper and spray paper and sides of pan with cooking spray.
2.In the bowl of an electric mixer using a paddle attachment, cream together the butter, sugar, eggs, almond and vanilla. You want to beat this mixture on high for 4-5 minutes to get it very light and fluffy!
3.In another bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and baking soda.
4.With the mixer on low, add the flour in three parts. Scrape the sides of the bowl and mix until incorporated thoroughly.
5.Press the dough into the pan. NOTE: I used a piece of wax paper to help spread out the dough into the edges and corners.
6.Bake in the center of the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the edges begin to turn golden.
7.Cool completely on a wire rack, in the pan, before frosting.
Madagascar Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting
2oz cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 lb powdered sugar
3-5 tbsp Madagascar Vanilla Cream
1.Cream together the cream cheese and butter.
2.Slowly add the powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
3.Add the cream until you get your desired consistency. I like a thinner, smoother frosting for cookies so I add more cream than less.
4.Beat on high for 5-6 minutes.
To Assemble Cookies:
Cutting board
Offset spatula
Large knife
Cookie bar
Frosting
M&M candies
Heart shaped cookie cutter
1.Use a knife to loosen cookie from the pan. Gently slide the cookie out of the pan and onto the counter or a large cutting board.
2.Using an offset spatula, spread a thin layer of frosting evenly over the cookie.
3.Sprinkle whole M&M’s evenly over the cookie bar. Chop more M&M’s into small pieces, even crushed a bit, and sprinkle evenly over the cookie bar.
4.Cut into squares and serve with a big glass of milk!
5.You could also cut a few using a heart shaped cookie cutter too if you wanted to be really creative!