Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Ann Romney’s M&M Cookies (From Family Circle Magazine)

Ann Romney's M&M Cookies with PB and Oats

Ann Romney’s M&M Cookies with Peanut Butter & Oats

After seeing on The Today Show yesterday the two cookies chosen by the presidential candidate’s wives, Ann Romney and Michelle Obama, which is a tradition Family Circle magazine started a number of candidates back, I decided that Ann Romney’s M&M Cookies needed to be made here and tested.  I just finished baking them and wanted to hurry and write about them before we head out for a day trip.  They are that good.  You should make them soon.

I love that they only have oats, so if you wanted to make sure and get the gluten free oats, these would be gluten free.  With no added flour, I was worried they would flatten out too much, but these turned out perfectly.  They are baked at a lower temperature (325 degrees) and I think that helps with not-too-much spreading. 

I did not change anything about the recipe except that Ann’s suggested time for baking is 18 minutes and we like more of a chewy/soft cookie here, so I only baked them for 14 minutes.  Perfection! 

Since I didn’t change the recipe, which Ann was quoted as saying “no one in her family can resist them”, here’s the link to the recipe.  Ann Romney's M&M Cookies

Ann Romney's M&M Cookies 6-27-12

On a side note, with wholesome oats and the Skippy Natural chunky peanut butter I used, these cookies are a great treat.  I was quite surprised to see Michelle Obama’s cookies (isn’t she on a big kick to get the nation’s kids healthy???), are FULL of butter and shortening—shortening, you know, the butter-flavored kind full of trans fats.  I was just a little shocked to see that as the cookie she picked to go up against Ann Romney’s cookies.  I think Family Circle has reported that 4 out of the last 5 times the potential first ladies have gone up against each other with their cookie recipes, the winning cookie has also been the presidential candidate who won the election.  Hmmm?  Can’t wait to see!  (And I’ll bet you can’t tell who I’d like to see as our next president and first lady!)  Let’s not get all political here, this is strictly about cookies….;)

M&M Cookies from Ann Romney

21 comments:

Sue @ Cakeballs, cookies and more said...

well they sure look good, and I have never had a flour free cookie before that I know of.

Anonymous said...

monster cookies!! i LOVE these! I make a very similar recipe (w/o) the m&ms -- they're naturally GF! yay!

Prudy said...

I'm super excited to try these cookies. I'd like to make some that are like Michelle Obama's, but I definitely won't use 1 and 1/2 cups fat for less than 3 cups of flour, no sir. I like that the Obama cookie had mint chips and nuts. Interesting!

Katrina said...

Erin, I know, the fat/flour ratio in Michelle's cookies is just a little redic-u. ;) You'll have to let me know if you try a similar version, but with quite a bit less butter/shortening. (I'm all for no shortening.)

Anna said...

I agree about the ratio of fat to flour in that other one recipe. A regular chocolate chip cookie recipe has 1 cup fat (butter) and 2 1/4 cups flour. This one has a 1 1/2 cups of fat and the same amount of flour. Maybe there's a typo in the recipe. Maybe it's really supposed to be 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup shortening? Anyway, my vote was for the Monsters! They look great. Katrina, my version used flour, but I'm going to try your version tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

so interesting - I think if I had to show the world my cookie I'd go for a healthy version! anyway whatever your politics - these cookies look wonderful - I don't think I could resist them either!
Mary x

The Lassen Family said...

Love that they can be gluten free!!!!

Kalee said...

I saw Kathy lee and Hoda eating these yesterday and wondered about which one was better!! I'm tickled Romney's are the healthier choice....for only cookie sake I mean ;) ;) I'm going to make a batch this week too! :)

Nancy @ gottagetbaked said...

Katrina, your cookies turned out beautifully! I've got cookies on the brain - I'll add this recipe to my (already long) list of must-tries. I like that these are health(ier) cookies. Then I won't feel so guilty eating them all!

Cindy said...

These look like a cookie we would love. Can't wait to try them.

Anonymous said...

TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU... I was looking for healthy cookies recipes to make for pre-school summer camp kids, when I read Michelle's Recipe I chuckled, who would use SHORTENING now-a-day? And then with Paula-Deen "proudly" announced losing 30 lbs., oh my goodness - You would lose 100 pounds if you STOP eating your concoctions!!!

Unknown said...

I've never seen a cookie without flour. This looks really cool.

Jennifer said...

The cookies look good!

But, I think you misspoke about shortening and trans-fats. I think those were removed several years ago, and now the shortening sold is trans-fat free.
Also, I think you have to count the peanut butter in the Romney cookies as a fat.

Anonymous said...

Looks great! I just tried these myself to compare with Michelle Obama's Dark & White Chocolate Chip cookies and I have to agree, I love the PB & oat ones more. I used a "just peanuts" peanut butter to reduce sugar and salt, and I even cut back on the white sugar in my second batch without anyone noticing, haha. Happy baking!

Anonymous said...

Do you have any idea about the welsh cookies she passed out to reporters yesterday. How to find that recipe. I am inspired to make cookies.

Katrina said...

Anonymous--
I missed Ann's night at the RNC and still need to see it, so I missed the Welsh cookies, but now I'm curious.

Katrina said...

I googled about the Welsh cakes, here's a link I found. Also read a little that some are saying the cookies/cakes were not just like true Welsh cakes. ??
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/reliable-source/post/ann-romney-hands-out-homemade-welsh-cakes/2012/08/28/2fea2402-f145-11e1-adc6-87dfa8eff430_blog.html

Anonymous said...

Yep. M&Ms are unprocessed and healthy. Thanks for infusing your political leanings into a cookie. Cool...and typical.

Anonymous said...

The Family Circle contest is political in a lighthearted way. I doubt that any Obama supporters voted for Mrs. Romney's recipe. Maybe the Anonymous who posted on September 23 should consider that.

Kirstin

Katrina said...

Good point, Kristin. ;)

Karen said...

I have made a lot of cookies in my lifetime and Ann Romney's cookie recipe has now become one of our family recipes. It is a keeper! Everyone loves them. Thank you, Ann Romney, for sharing this.