Layered Chocolate Cookie Mix

My daughter, Christie, who just got finished with finals told me her brain was mush.  I told her she needed to engage in some Holiday Baking Therapy to recharge her brain.  Being she did not want to do anything "complicated," I made her a Layered Chocolate Cookie mix.   This year, I found this great mix idea in Family Circle  magazine.  I put together one last night especially for Christie. It is easy to put together. You layer  flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cocoa powder, brown sugar, granulated sugar, M&M candies (the recipe calls for red, but I used red and green), chocolate chips and white chocolate chips in a 2 quart container.  The  recipient has little to do - just add butter, eggs, milk ,and vanilla extract to the  mix.  Then just bake, cool, and eat.  What could be easier.
This would be a great gift from your kitchen for friends, colleagues, neighbors, etc.  It is nice because after eating a lot of goodies they can engage in some Baking Therapy during the holiday break with their families.

Layered Chocolate Cookie Mix
From Family Circle Magazine

Ingredients:

1  2-quart jar
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup red M&M Candies
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup white chocolate chips

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, combine 1 3/4 cups of the flour, the baking powder, baking soda and salt.  In a small bowl, blend cocoa and remaining 1 cup flour.
2. Begin layering:  Spoon half the flour-cocoa mixture into the jar.  Press down to flatten (a small spice jar works well).  Spoon half the plain flour mixture over cocoa layer; compact.  Repeat. Top with brown sugar layer and granulated sugar layer, compacting each.  Spoon M&M's over sugar.
3. Toss together both kinds of chips in a small bowl and add to jar.  Attach a note with baking instructions:  In a large bowl, combine 1 cup (2 sticks) cooled, melted unsalted butter with 3 eggs, 1/3 cup milk and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.  Stir in contents of jar just until mixed.  Drop dough by heaping tablespoons onto baking sheets.  Bake at 350 degrees F for 13 minutes or until firm.  Cool on sheet on wire rack for 1 minute.  Remove directly to wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 3 1/2 dozen cookies