Triple Chocolate Mint Pudding Cookies
When I heard about the tragedy last Friday, it took me the day to collect my initial thoughts into a blog post. You can read that here.
And now a week has passed and I am at a loss for words. We have been inundated with information and images from the media. The unbearable succession of funerals have begun. Various threats and lock downs have occurred, some even at schools minutes away from me. A week has passed and my heart is still broken.
I spent the weekend staring at our Christmas tree in the living room; the twinkling lights that Sophia loves to stare at, the purposefully placed ornaments that Isabella couldn’t wait to decorate with, but my eyes always fell to the presents below. And I would suddenly become overwhelmed with sadness, and grief, and even guilt, thinking about the presents under the trees in Connecticut that won’t be unwrapped next Tuesday. My heart would leap to my throat thinking about the siblings of the children lost. How can we possibly continue with Christmas in the midst of this tragedy?
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
And then at church on Sunday, as we prayed for the families in CT, I realized that I have it backwards. I should be celebrating this season more than ever; it is because of Christmas I have hope for those families, and the lives lost. I have hope for my own family, and for my babies to know the true precious gift of Christmas.
“In the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.” Titus 1:2
If you find yourself searching for understanding, I urge you to think twice about the debates over gun control, the demands for school safety, and the discussions over mental health care because you will not find the peace you are seeking. That kind of peace, the peace you need to be able to send your kids to school, that peace was born on Christmas day.
“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people.” Luke 2:10
It is in that spirit that I baked these Christmas cookies as a tribute for Sandy Hook. (I mean it doesn’t get any more Christmas-y than chocolate and mint does it?) I originally wanted to add chocolate chips in too, but I thought quadruple chocolate sounded a bit ridiculous? Ha-ha. Feel free to toss some in if you like ridiculous chocolate.
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup butter
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups flour
- 1 package chocolate pudding mix
- 3/4 cup cocoa
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 26 Andes mints chopped
Instructions
- Cream softened butter and sugar; blend in eggs and vanilla.
- Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl and then add to the wet mixture.
- Mix in the mints.
- Drop by spoonful onto ungreased or silicone lined baking sheet.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 9 minutes. Do not overbake, the cookies will look soft, allow to continue cooking on the baking sheet for 1-2 minutes.
- Remove to cooling rack.
Notes
Nutrition
I’ve made these twice now and thought I did something wrong the first time. They are tasty by the mix is really thick and the cookies keep the same shape as the dough when you first put them on the pan and don’t cook like normal cookies.
I made these but I did the Devils food cake ones and they were soooooooooooooo amazing
LOVE these cookies and the reason behind the baking … I joined in, too 🙂 Featuring these in just a bit and pinned! Merry, merry Christmas!
Such great cookies!! I really like the recipe
I also think it’s a beautiful tribute
What a beautiful tribute and sentiment. I am definitely going to be celebrating my family. And the cookies sound phenomenal!