Dark Chocolate M and M Eyeball Cookies

Make your weekend just a little sweeter and more fun by baking Dark Chocolate M&M Eyeball Cookies.

The recipe does call for a little preplanning. Michaels has a plastic container of eyeballs, assorted sizes perfect for this recipe. I did at a later date find some in the baking aisle at the grocery store. 

You will need Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa Powder to achieve the dark color. A product that's readily available at the grocery store.   

And add to your grocery run your favorite Ghoul Mix. 

BUT WELL WORTH THE EFFORT for a delicious pre-Halloween treat totally kid-friendly! I ask you what kid or adult wouldn't have fun pressing eyeballs into warm cookies right out of the oven? 

The recipe makes 16 cookies and is adapted from lovetobeinthekitchen.com

INGREDIENTS;

• ½ cup butter, room temperature
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup dark brown sugar, packed
• 1 large egg, preferably room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup + 2 tablespoons Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 3/4 cups chocolate chips (I used semi-sweet)
• Dark Chocolate Ghoul Mix M&M’s 
• Assorted candy-coated eyeballs

DIRECTIONS: 

• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. In the bowl combine the butter and sugars. Beat together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Blend in the egg and vanilla, scrape down the bowl if needed.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in the mixer on low speed just until incorporated. Mix in the milk on the lowest speed and fold in the chocolate chips. 
• Roll about 2 tablespoons of dough into balls and place on the baking sheets. The cookies don’t spread much but keep hands floured. Top cookies with M&M’s. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 10-15 minutes. 
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake 11-12 minutes. Immediately top with more M&M’s if needed after placing eyeballs randomly in warm cookies pressing slightly. Let cookies cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Even the M&M guys are doing their happy dance.