(The magazine’s version…)
Since I didn’t want to buy any premade chocolate frosting or make my own, I just scrambled through the kitchen to find a substitute for the M&M eyes. My personal favorite, after experimenting with halved Whoppers and peanut butter chips, was slicing up a piece of black Panda licorice. And then, of course, placed a raw cashew between each eye for the nose! So simple! So, below is the original recipe, but feel free to do like I did and make it your own. That’s the best anyway… Enjoy!
Night Owl Cookies
1 roll (18 oz.) refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1/4 cup flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
20 whole cashews
¼ cup chocolate frosting
½ cup M&M’S® Brand Peanut Chocolate Candies
2 cookie sheet pans
Plastic wrap paper
Resealable plastic bag

1. Divide the sugar cookie dough in three pieces. Knead the flour into one piece of cookie dough until smooth, set aside. Combine the remaining two pieces of cookie dough and knead in the cocoa powder until smooth, set aside.
2. Roll the lighter colored cookie dough into a 1-inch round log about 10 inches long, and move it off to the side. Roll out the chocolate cookie dough on a lightly floured surface to a 10 x 4-inch rectangle. Place the light colored log of cookie dough on top of the chocolate rectangle. Wrap the chocolate cookie dough completely around the lighter colored log. Pinch edges to seal and roll the log smooth. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
3. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cut the cookie log into 1/4-inch slices. Place 2 slices, side by side, on sheet pans. Press a cashew into cookie at the point the slices touch. Repeat with remaining cookie slices. Bake for approximately 8-11 minutes, or until cookies are just beginning to golden. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool.
4. Spoon the chocolate frosting into a resealable bag and snip a small corner from bag. Using the photograph as guide, pipe eyelashes and a dot to secure candies. Add the M&M’S® Brand Chocolate Candies for eyes.