Elf Cookies

*This post has been sponsored by Country Crock^® but all opinions and recipe mix-in ideas are our own.

We have been tagged by Simply Real Moms to be a part of the Country Crock^® Make It Yours™ cookie recipe event and all we can say is bring. it. on. We have been asked to come up with a Make it Yours™ recipe that we think is better than any other… and this was our clear favorite: Elf Cookies!

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Everyone needs a good “base cookie” dough recipe. You know, one of those easy cookie recipes that you have memorized but make different each time depending on the mix-ins. We have tried out the Country Crock^® Make It Yours™ cookie recipe and it is a winner. In fact, we think it is the only base cookie recipe you will need! All you have to do is add 1-2 cups of your favorite mix-ins and you can make it yours! One easy cookie recipe– endless possibilities.

We have tried this cookie dough recipe with several different mix-in ideas but we think we found the best mix-in…. Christmas candy! And LOTS of it!

These Elf Cookies are much like the ever-popular “Monster Cookies” but we decided to kick ’em up a notch by making them “Christmas-style”. What elf (or kid… or adult) wouldn’t want a cookie filled with tons Christmas candy? These would be great with any kind of Christmas candy, but the mix-ins we chose, specifically, include: Candy-coated chocolate candies, chocolate dinner mints (creme de menthe mints), white chocolate peppermint bark, and Christmas SPRINKLES!

This would be such a fun recipe to use for a “family night” activity. Have all the kids make their own recipe creations by dividing up the dough and letting them choose which Christmas candies they want in their Elf Cookies. Have all the Christmas candy out in bowls and give them an allotted about of “scoops.” So many possibilities! Kids love being able to come up with their own creations in the kitchen– this is the perfect opportunity to let them do just that!

Not only would this be a fun “family night” activity, but a fun activity for a birthday party or holiday party for kids or teenagers.  Make sure to offer lots of choices so they can be creative – chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, toffee bits, crushed chocolate cookies, chopped up candy bars, marshmallow bits, chopped graham crackers, etc.  Everyone loves homemade cookies, especially when they are warm out of the oven.  Serve them up with a tall glass of cold milk, or a hot mug of cocoa.  Does a party get any better than that?

This recipe can be made a day or two ahead or frozen for later use, which makes it even more convenient for holiday gatherings or parties.

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Elf Cookies

Ingredients (with Amazon Links)

• 1 cup Country Crock®
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder optional, for chocolate cookies
• 1/2 cup white chocolate peppermint bark
• 1/2 cup chocolate candy coated candies
• 1/2 cup chocolate dinner mints creme de menthe mints, chopped
• 1/3 cup sprinkles

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Mix brown sugar, granulated sugar, Country Crock® Spread, egg, egg yolk and vanilla in large bowl until well mixed. Stir in flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda until blended. (Dough will be soft and creamy.) If making chocolate cookies, add cocoa powder (optional) and mix until smooth.
2. Add peppermint bark, chocolate candies, chocolate dinner mints, and sprinkles into the dough until well mixed.
3. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets 3-inches apart. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Cool 1 minute on wire rack; remove from baking sheets and cool completely.