Banana Peanut Butter M&M Cookies

Uh, Can you believe Easter is next weekend?  I am a little shocked and frankly unprepared.  I have barely done any Easter baking.   I feel like it has just crept up on me.  I guess it is a bit earlier than normal this year but I have no idea what I want to bake for my Easter dinners.  Maybe I should look at the massive list of baking "ideas" I just created.   The good thing about Easter is that usually means warm weather and it looks like the forecast is starting to change.

I do love my Easter candy though.  Mini Eggs/Eggies are my favorite but most Easter chocolates are just pretty and fun. I almost do more easter candy baking after Easter.  I stock up when it is on sale and then it is so easy to stuff chocolate eggs in something and you immediately have a great dessert.  Like these cookies for example, a banana cookie made that much better with some Easter M&M's

Brown Butter Banana Peanut Butter Cookies

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup unbleached all purpose
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1 egg
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup peanut butter M&M's
• 1/2 cup peanut butter chips

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Preheat oven to 350F. In a small pan, melt butter over medium heat, gently letting the butter start to brown.  It will get foamy and start to smell nutty.   Don't let it brown too much.   Place a coffee filter inside a metal strainer, place over a large mixing bowl and pour through the brown butter.  This will catch any bits that have separated.

2) In a small bowl combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. 

2) Add brown sugar to butter and mix together with a spatula.   Stir in egg and vanilla until combined. Stir in mashed banana.  

3) Fold in flour mixture until almost combined, then add M&M's and chips. 

4) Using a small scoop , place rounds on a baking sheet lined with parchment/silpat. 

5) Bake for 13-15 minutes until golden.  Let cool on sheet a few minutes, then move to wire rack to cool completely. 

These are almost more like mini banana cakes, that I wanted to eat for breakfast everyday.