Chocolate Peanut Butter Marshmallow Cookies

INGREDIENTS

• Cookies:
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 TBS milk
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 3/4 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup sugar for rolling cookies in
• About 2 dozen marshmallows, cut in half
• Frosting:
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 1/4 cup plus 1 TBS cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Garnish:
• About a cup of mini M&Ms

INSTRUCTIONS

1.  Preheat oven to 375.

2.  In the bowl of a mixer, cream together shortening, peanut butter, brown sugar, and 1/2 cup white sugar.  Add egg, milk and vanilla and beat well.

3.  In a medium sized bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, and salt.  Add to creamed shortening mixture.  Beat on low until dough forms.

4.  Shape dough into 1 inch balls, roll in sugar, and place on ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake for 8 minutes, then remove from oven and press a marshmallow half, cut side down, in the center of each cookie.  Place back in the oven for 2 minutes.  Remove baking sheet from oven and let cool slightly before removing cookies to wire rack to finish cooling.

5.  Let cookies cool completely, then make frosting:  In a medium sized bowl, heat  butter and cocoa powder in the microwave, stirring every 10 seconds until melted and smooth.  Add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla and whisk until smooth.  If frosting is too thick, add a bit more milk.  Frost cookies, completely covering the marshmallow, then top with mini M&M’s and let frosting set.