I was wrangling a two pound bag of confectioners’ sugar around the kitchen when, I happened to notice a recipe for “chocolate chip teacakes” on the back of the bag.
Hmmm.
The recipe looked a lot like one my mom used to make – but with crushed almonds instead of chocolate chips; and with almond flavoring in place of the called for vanilla. And, they were shaped like crescents…
but! Other than that, EXACTLY the same!
Meanwhile, in Canada, a cousin had set me on the search for “Pecan Pie M&M’s,” and, of course, Amazon did not disappoint.
The M&M’s, however?
Waaay too sweet to eat as is, but…
hmmm…
chopped up in cookies?
That MAY very well work!
So, here’s what I did:
I added the M&M’s to a food processor and coarsely chopped ’em into bits.
Then…
well, let’s do the details…
INGREDIENTS
•1 cup unsalted butter, softened
•3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
•1 tsp vanilla
•1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
•1 cup confectioners’ sugar (for rolling)
Note: I was, somehow, out of vanilla the day I made these, and so used almond extract. Worked a treat. If you want to make these the way my mom did, go ahead and use the almond extract, and replace the mini chocolate chips with finely chopped almonds.
Heat your oven to 325º and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cream the butter, the 3/4 cup of confectioners’, and the vanilla or almond extract together until a bit fluffy.
With the mixer set on low, beat in the flour, then stir in the chocolate chips or crushed M&M’s or almonds until nicely mixed.
Shape the dough into one inch balls (a cookie scoop works great for this) and arrange one inch apart on the parchment lined baking sheet.
Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, until the teacakes are set, but not browned.
Cool one minute, and then roll in the remaining one cup of confectioners’ sugar.
The recipe suggested rolling the teacakes in the sugar again once cooled, but I thought that an unnecessary step, so I didn’t.
The teacakes were still fine.
The recipe also said that you would get four dozen teacakes.
I, using my one inch cookie scoop, ended up with exactly 40 cookies, but wasn’t really all that bothered about it.
Good teacakes, quick to come together, and offering a lot of possibilities with stir ins and extracts. Go forth and have tea(cakes)!