Snack: Browned Butter M&M Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup (2 Sticks) Salted Butter
1 cup Brown Sugar, Packed
1/2 cup Sugar
2 whole Large Eggs
1 Tablespoon Vanilla
2 cups All-purpose Flour
2 Tablespoons (additional) All-purpose Flour (rounded Tablespoons)
2 teaspoons (heaping) Instant Coffee Granules
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Salt
2 cups M&M's, Plus Extra For Tops
Chopped Pecans (optional)
Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips (optional)

Instructions

Add one stick of butter to a medium skillet over medium heat. Allow it to melt and bubble up for 3 to 4 minutes, swirling the pan to keep the butter moving around. When the butter is a medium golden brown, remove the pan from the heat (it will continue browning in the pan over the next 30 seconds or so!) Pour butter (and any solids in the bottom of the pan) into a heatproof bowl and allow it to cool completely, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, allow the other stick of butter to soften.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees*.
Cream the softened butter together with the brown sugar and regular sugar until it's nice and combined. Add the eggs and vanilla, and beat until smooth, scraping the bowl if necessary to make sure everything is incorporated.
With the mixer on medium-low, slowly drizzle in the cooled melted butter, making sure to add all the darker brown solids. Scrape the bowl the mix again for 20-30 seconds, until everything is combined.
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, coffee granules, baking soda and salt. Stir together, then add it in 1/3 increments, mixing on low, until it's totally incorporated. Scrape the bowl and beat for a few more seconds. Stir in the M&M's and the chocolate chips, if using. (I think using half chocolate chips, half M&M's would be perfect.)
In batches, scoop by heaping teaspoon onto a baking sheet lined with a baking mat, Press 2 to 3 additional M&M's on top if desired. If you have time, refrigerate scooped dough for 10 minutes (if not, it's fine.) Bake for 7 to 8 minutes, or until deep golden brown. Wait a minute or two, then transfer cookies to a cooling rack. Repeat with the rest of the dough. Serve cookies with a big glass of cold milk!
*You can bake at 350 for a little longer if you don't want the cookies to be quite so brown. (I like brown cookies!)