BEST EVER M&M Cookies

These really are the best M&M
cookies I have ever tasted.

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened at room temperature
1 cup light or dark brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt (optional)
2 cups M&M candies
additional M&M's to decorate the tops of cookies

Method:
Preheat oven to 375*. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars, for 1 minute, with an electric mixer. 
Mix in the eggs and vanilla until blended. Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix just until blended. Stir in the 2 cups of M&M candies. Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes, or longer. 
Place scoops (about 2 - 3 tablespoons), of dough on the prepared cookie sheets, about 2 inches apart. Decorate the top of each dough portion with 3 additional M&M's.
Bake for 4 minutes. Turn the baking sheet around and bake for an additional 4 minutes, or until the tops are just lightly browned. Allow the cookies to sit on the baking sheet for a couple of minutes, before removing to a rack to finish cooling.
Store in an airtight container, in the refrigerator. Makes 24 large cookies or 4 dozen smaller cookies. 

Notes: For decades, the M&M cookie recipe that I used called for shortening. This version, that uses butter has a much better flavor and texture!