There are many ways to make a soft cookie, but let me tell you why I like this one: It's unique and allows for a constant twist. Oh, and did I say easy? Benefits galore.

Now when I say magic I don't mean Abra Kadabra and fairy dust. That would be silly and I think you're cookies would only be so so. I mean magic as in "way easy" and "who would've thought?" Our magic ingredient today is found in every grocery store and can often be found for less than a dollar. It is simply a simple box of instant pudding. As for the flavor of that box of pudding? Your imagination is the limit. They all work wonders.

If you read up last week on the talent show article of the red velvet cheese ball (heaven!), then this recipe came from that very show as well. Sadly, I did not try the cookies there (there were probably 30 desserts AT LEAST), I had my fair share but couldn't fit 30 dessert on my plate...or my belly.

However, since they were kind enough to supply us each with a little recipe book, I decided to glance through and found these: "Multi-Flavor Pudding Cookies". Pudding and Cookies in the same name of a recipe?! Yup, it was decided. I had to try them.

With all of the flavors of puddings you see in a grocery store, I knew this would be fun. I love a recipe that is easily altered to try multiple flavors. That way, you really only need one recipe to spice things up for any occasion. Maybe you're craving butterscotch? Maybe it's Valentine's and you want a pink cookie? Muddy Buddies, Cake Balls, Cake Mix Cookies, and now Pudding Cookies are all on the list.

My experiment was in honor of a holiday: St. Patrick's. Flavor of pudding? Pistachio! I love pistachio and since I was making a St. Patrick's meal for my husband I thought it would be the perfect excuse to try. I shaped them into shamrocks and ate too much.

If I tried it again, I would bake it for less time in my oven (so they were even softer) and add almond extract instead, to help bring out that unique Pistachio flavor. But they were definitely good enough to try again and to try different combinations.

So you see the infinite possibilities? I feel like I say that a lot, but I seriously love when you can get creative with a recipe without worrying about messing it up. Because, let's be honest, baking is an art. It is chemistry. If one thing is off, it may make or break the entire outcome. This recipe is safe. It's a simple substitution of a box of pudding and a bag of chips. This recipe is soft. It'll satisfy a cookie craving and do it quite easily.