Chewy Coconut M&M Sugar Cookies

To me, nothing is better than finding candy marked down to an outrageously low price. I'd take that over a buy-one-get-one-free shoe sale any day. But I guess that's just one of the many curses of having an abnormally large sweet tooth.

After holidays my husband and I scurry like mad men to the nearest Target, Walmart and Rite Aid in hopes of finding candy marked 30-50% off. One Halloween, while living in Newport, we found candy for 80% off. (Apparently the housewives in Newport don't feel the same way I do about candy- and I'm totally cool with that). 
You would be appalled at the obscene amount of candy we got that day. Luckily, we aren't over-eaters and that candy lasted for months and inspired many recipes.

I found these Coconut M&Ms in Target for only 29 cents per bag! My lucky find inspired these Chewy Coconut M&M Sugar Cookies. These Coconut M&M Cookies are super chewy (and stay that way for DAYS!) and have a subtle coconut-chocolate flavor from the M&Ms.
Side Note: Apparently Coconut M&M's don't actually have any coconut in them- just coconut flavoring. That was a surprise to me!


Chewy Coconut M&M Sugar Cookies
(12 extra large cookies, 24 small cookies)
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/3 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 cup coconut M&M's (about 3 small bags)


DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda and baking powder. Set aside
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and almond extract. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls (for extra-large cookies: dough should be the size of a golf bowl) and place onto un-greased cookie sheets. Press down gently to flatten cookie dough balls slightly. Place as many Coconut M&Ms in each cookie as you'd like. 
3. Bake for 8-10 minutes for small cookies, 10-12 for large cookies. Let stand on cookie sheet for two minutes before removing to cool on a wire rack. Enjoy with a big glass of milk or coffee!