Holiday Recipe: Peppermint Puffs

To make peppermint puffs:

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

3/4 stick or 3/4 cup butter flavored shortening

2 Tbsp milk
1 Tbsp vanilla
1 egg
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
2/3 cup crushed peppermint candies

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place sheets of foil on countertop for cooling cookies.
Combine brown sugar, shortening, milk and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at medium speed of mixer until well blended. Beat egg into creamed mixture.
Combine flour, salt and baking soda. Mix into creamed mixture at low speed just until blended. Stir in crushed candy.
Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on greased baking sheet.
Bake one baking sheet at a time at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes for chewy cookies or 11 to 13 minutes for crisp cookies. Do not overbake. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet. Remove cookies to foil to cool completely.  Makes about 3 dozen cookies.