Irresistible M&M Cookies: The Ultimate Easy Recipe for Soft, Chewy, & Colorful Treats
Are you searching for a dessert that’s not only incredibly delicious but also incredibly easy to whip up? Look no further than these fantastic M&M Cookies! They are a true family favorite, guaranteed to bring smiles to both children and adults alike. What makes them so special? Their preparation is wonderfully straightforward, they bake in a flash, and perhaps best of all, they boast an impressive shelf life. That is, of course, if your family and friends don’t devour every last crumb the moment they emerge from the oven!
The only real challenge with this recipe? Mustering the patience to wait for these delightful M&M Cookies to cool down before indulging!
As a busy mom navigating a full-time schedule, I cherish baking, but often find myself craving recipes that are quick and uncomplicated. This particular M&M cookie recipe perfectly fits the bill, allowing me to savor the joy of homemade cookies even on my most hectic days. Its simplicity also makes it an ideal project for little “sous chefs” in the kitchen – they’ll love helping out with mixing and, especially, adding the colorful M&Ms!
These cookies aren’t just easy; they deliver on taste. Each bite offers a perfect balance of soft, chewy cookie dough studded with the satisfying crunch and rich chocolate of M&Ms. They’re perfect for school lunchboxes, after-school snacks, bake sales, or simply as a sweet treat to enjoy with a cup of coffee or milk. Prepare to be asked for this recipe again and again!
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🥘 Essential Ingredients for M&M Cookies
Creating these delightful M&M cookies requires only a handful of common pantry staples. Each ingredient plays a crucial role in achieving that perfect chewy texture and rich flavor that everyone loves. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Butter: Provides richness and helps achieve that signature chewy texture. Make sure it’s softened to room temperature for easier mixing.
- Brown Sugar: Contributes to the cookies’ moistness and adds a deep, caramel-like flavor, enhancing the chewiness.
- Granulated Sugar: Balances the sweetness and helps with the spread and crispness of the cookie edges.
- Vanilla Sugar: A secret weapon for enhancing all the other flavors. You can use homemade vanilla sugar for an extra special touch, or easily find it pre-packaged. If you don’t have vanilla sugar, a good quality vanilla extract (1-2 teaspoons) can be substituted.
- Egg: Acts as a binder, giving the cookies structure and contributing to their tenderness.
- Cake Flour: The key to incredibly soft and tender cookies. Cake flour has a lower protein content than all-purpose flour, which prevents gluten development and results in a more delicate crumb.
- M&Ms: The star of the show! These colorful chocolate candies provide a fun pop of color and a delicious chocolatey crunch in every bite.
For precise quantities and measurements, please refer to the detailed recipe card below.
🔪 Step-by-Step Instructions for Perfect M&M Cookies
Follow these simple steps to bake a batch of heavenly M&M cookies that will disappear in no time:
- Prepare Your Baking Station: Start by lining your baking sheets with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and ensures easy cleanup. Then, preheat your oven to 180 °C (356 °F) using the top/bottom heat setting. Getting your oven to the correct temperature beforehand is crucial for even baking.
- Cream the Wet Ingredients: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla sugar. Using a kitchen machine or a hand mixer, beat these ingredients together at medium speed until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and wonderfully creamy. This creaming process incorporates air, which contributes to the cookies’ soft texture.
- Incorporate Egg and Flour: Once your butter and sugar mixture is creamy, beat in the egg until fully combined. Next, sift the cake flour directly over the mixture. The sifting helps to aerate the flour and prevent lumps. Gently fold in the flour using a wooden spoon or continue with your kitchen machine on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can develop the gluten in the flour and lead to tough cookies.
- Add the First Batch of M&Ms: After the egg and cake flour are fully incorporated into your cookie dough, it’s time for the fun part! Add about half of your M&Ms to the dough. Stir them in thoroughly to ensure they are evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
- Form Cookie Dough Balls: Using a small ice cream scoop (approximately 1.5 to 2 tablespoons), scoop out even balls of cookie dough. The scoop ensures uniform size, leading to consistent baking.
- Arrange on Baking Sheet: Place the cookie dough balls onto your prepared baking sheet, ensuring there is enough space between each one to prevent them from merging as they spread during baking. A good rule of thumb is about 2 inches apart.
- Top with Remaining M&Ms: Once all the dough balls are neatly arranged, generously spread the remaining M&Ms over the tops of the cookie balls. For best results and to prevent them from falling off, gently press the M&Ms down into the dough a bit. This creates those beautiful, colorful tops when baked.
- Bake to Perfection: Place your baking sheet on the middle shelf of your preheated oven. Bake for approximately 10-12 minutes. Keep a close eye on them; the edges should be lightly golden, but the centers should still look slightly soft. This ensures a chewy interior.
- Cool and Store: Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for about 8-10 minutes. This allows them to firm up slightly before transferring. Then, carefully move them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Once fully cooled, store your delicious M&M cookies in an airtight container or a cookie tin to maintain their freshness. And now, the best part – enjoy your homemade masterpiece!
- Gluten-Free M&M Cookies: If you’re looking to make this recipe gluten-free, simply substitute the cake flour with an equal amount of almond flour. To ensure your cookies still have the right structure and texture, you’ll also need to add 2 tablespoons of cornstarch or arrowroot powder. These starches help to mimic the binding properties of gluten, resulting in a perfectly tender, gluten-free cookie.
- Vegan M&M Cookies: For a delicious vegan version, there are several excellent egg substitutes you can use. When baking cookies, I highly recommend replacing the egg with either half of a mashed ripe banana or ¼ cup of unsweetened applesauce. Both options add moisture and act as effective binders. Remember to use a dairy-free butter alternative and check that your M&Ms are also vegan-friendly (some brands offer dairy-free chocolate candies).
- Alternative Chocolate Candies: Everyone loves the iconic M&M’s, but if you’re keen on exploring alternatives that use natural food dyes, you’re in luck! While they might not have the same household name recognition, UNREAL Milk Chocolate Gems are a fantastic, healthier option. This brand prides itself on using fair-trade chocolate and organic, soy-free ingredients, deriving its vibrant colors from natural sources like beets, carrots, and other vegetables. You’ll find no artificial ingredients here, but absolutely no compromise on flavor!
- Different M&M Types: If you’re sticking with classic M&M’s, why not try a fun twist? You can easily use peanut M&M’s for an added nutty crunch, or mini M&M’s for a more delicate texture and even distribution of chocolate in every bite. Holiday-themed M&Ms (like red and green for Christmas or pastel colors for Easter) are also a wonderful way to make these cookies seasonal and festive.
- Add-Ins Galore: Beyond M&Ms, consider mixing in other delicious ingredients. Chocolate chips (milk, dark, or white), chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, or almonds), sprinkles, or even a mix of all three can transform your cookies. Just be mindful not to overcrowd the dough.
- Flavor Boosters: A pinch of cinnamon or a tiny bit of almond extract can add another layer of flavor complexity to your cookie dough.
- Food Processor or Hand Mixer: Essential for creaming the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. A stand mixer also works wonderfully here.
- Mixing Bowl: A medium to large bowl is needed to combine all your ingredients.
- Wooden Spoon: Perfect for gently folding in the flour and M&Ms without overmixing.
- Baking Tray (or Baking Sheet): You’ll need at least one, possibly two, to bake your cookies in batches.
- Baking Paper (Parchment Paper): Crucial for preventing sticking and making cleanup a breeze.
- Ice Cream Scoop (Small Size): Helps create uniform cookie dough balls, ensuring even baking and consistent results.
- Cake Rack (Cooling Rack): Allows air to circulate around the cookies, ensuring they cool evenly and prevent them from becoming soggy on the bottom.
- Chocolate Dipped Butter Cookies: Elegant and buttery, perfect for special occasions.
- Egg Yolk Cookies: A fantastic way to use up leftover egg yolks, resulting in rich and tender cookies.
- Sour Cream Cookies: Surprisingly light and moist, with a delicate tang.
- Cinnamon Cookies {Zimtsterne}: A classic German Christmas cookie, fragrant and flavorful.
- Chocolate Chip Cookies with Chestnut Flour: A unique twist on a favorite, offering a subtle nutty flavor and tender crumb.
- Chocolate Espresso Crinkle Cookies: Rich, fudgy, and with a delightful coffee kick – perfect for chocolate and coffee lovers.
- Walnut Meringue Cookies: Light, crispy, and nutty, a delicate treat.
- Linzer Cookies with Egg Liqueur Ganache: A sophisticated take on the classic Linzer, filled with a boozy ganache.
- Walnut Cookies: Another excellent recipe for using up egg yolks, creating dense and flavorful walnut cookies.
- Coconut Cookies: Chewy, tropical, and wonderfully fragrant.
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Food processor or hand mixer
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Mixing bowl
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Wooden spoon
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Baking tray
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Baking Paper
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Ice cream scoop small size
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Cake rack
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Food processor or hand mixer
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Mixing bowl
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Wooden spoon
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Baking tray
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Baking Paper
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Ice cream scoop small size
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Cake rack
- ½ cup Butter
- ¼ cup Brown Sugar
- ¼ cup Sugar
- 2 teaspoon Vanilla Sugar
- 1 Egg
- 2 cups Cake Flour
- 4.59 oz M and Ms
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Line your baking sheets with parchment paper and preheat your oven to 180 °C // 356 °F top/bottom heat.
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Start mixing the butter, brown sugar, and vanilla sugar with a kitchen machine (or hand mixer) at medium speed in a medium bowl until it’s nice and creamy.½ cup Butter, ¼ cup Brown Sugar, ¼ cup Sugar, 2 teaspoon Vanilla Sugar
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Beat in the egg and sift the flour over the mixture. Be sure to fold it in.1 Egg, 2 cups Cake Flour
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Add half of the M and Ms to the dough. Be sure to stir well.4.59 oz M and Ms
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Next, scoop out the dough into balls using a small ice cream scoop.
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Place the cookie dough balls on your prepared baking sheet with enough distance from one another that it won’t crowd the tray.
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Spread the remaining M and Ms over the cookie balls. You’ll need to press down a bit, so they don’t fall off while they’re baking in the oven.
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Bake on the middle shelf for 10-12 minutes.
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After baking, let the finished baked cookies cool on a cooling rack for about 8-10 minutes and store them in an airtight container or cookie tin.
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- Minimum Cooking Temperature: Always cook foods to their minimum safe internal temperature to destroy harmful bacteria. While cookies are generally baked to a visual cue, ensure any raw ingredients like eggs are handled properly.
- Prevent Cross-Contamination: Never use the same utensils or cutting boards on cooked food that previously touched raw meat or unbaked dough containing raw eggs. Always wash thoroughly between uses.
- Handwashing: Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw ingredients, especially eggs.
- Refrigeration Rules: Do not leave perishable foods, especially those containing raw eggs or dairy, sitting out at room temperature for extended periods. Promptly refrigerate any cookie dough if you plan to bake it later.
- Unattended Cooking: Never leave cooking food unattended on the stovetop or in the oven. Always be present to prevent burning or accidents.
- High Smoking Point Oils: If you use oils in other recipes, opt for those with high smoking points to avoid producing harmful compounds when cooking at high temperatures. (Less relevant for this cookie recipe, but good general advice).
- Ventilation: Always ensure good ventilation in your kitchen, especially when using a gas stove, to prevent the buildup of fumes.
🥜 Smart Substitutions for Dietary Needs
This M&M cookie recipe is incredibly versatile and can be adapted to suit various dietary preferences without sacrificing flavor. Here are a couple of popular substitutions:
🍬 Creative Variations to Elevate Your M&M Cookies
While classic M&M cookies are always a hit, don’t be afraid to get creative and experiment with different variations to suit your taste or occasion. The possibilities are endless!
And if you’re always on the lookout for another quick and satisfying cookie recipe, these lovely brownie mix cookies are definitely worth a try!
🍽 Essential Equipment for Baking Success
Having the right tools can make your baking experience much smoother and more enjoyable. Here’s a list of the equipment you’ll need for these M&M cookies:
🌡 Storage Tips to Keep Your Cookies Fresh
One of the many great things about these M&M Cookies is their excellent shelf life, making them perfect for preparing ahead or for enjoying over several weeks. To keep them at their best, simply store them in an airtight container or a cookie tin at room temperature. When stored properly, these delicious cookies can stay fresh for 3-4 weeks. You can also freeze them for longer storage, up to 3 months, by placing them in a freezer-safe bag or container.
💭 Pro Tip for the Best M&M Cookies
The key to achieving perfectly soft and chewy M&M cookies lies in the baking time. Do not overbake these cookies! If you leave them in the oven for too long, they will lose their signature chewy texture and turn out dry and crumbly. The cookies should look slightly underdone and pale in the center when you take them out. The residual heat from the baking sheet will continue to cook them slightly as they cool, leading to that ideal soft-chewy perfection. Trust the process!
🙋🏻 Frequently Asked Questions About M&M Cookies
Here are answers to some common questions about baking with M&M’s and making these cookies:
Absolutely! Regular M&M’s are perfectly suitable for baking recipes like these cookies. You won’t have to worry about them melting completely and losing their shape, either. The unique candy coating on the outside of each M&M is designed to help keep the chocolate, small bite-sized treat intact even under oven heat, giving you those delightful colorful specks in your baked goods.
The magic of M&M’s in baking lies in their iconic candy shell. This hard outer coating acts as a protective barrier, preventing the inner chocolate from melting too quickly or entirely in the heat of the oven. While the chocolate inside will soften, the shell helps maintain the shape and color of the M&M, giving your cookies that distinctive look and texture.
Due to the high temperatures required to bake these delicious cookies, it’s unfortunately quite difficult to entirely prevent the M&M’s shells from cracking. The sudden heat expansion often causes tiny fissures in the candy coating. However, don’t fret! Just because they’re cracked doesn’t mean they aren’t incredibly delicious and visually appealing with their vibrant, exposed chocolate centers!
If you’ve followed other M&M cookie recipes and consistently end up with flat cookies, there are a few common culprits. The most frequent reasons are that your oven temperature might be set too high (causing them to spread too quickly before setting) or you’re keeping your cookies in the oven for too long. Over-creaming butter and sugar, using melted butter instead of softened, or not chilling the dough can also contribute to flatter cookies. Ensure your ingredients are at the right temperature and follow the baking time closely for best results.
While this particular recipe doesn’t explicitly call for chilling the dough, doing so for at least 30 minutes (or up to 24 hours) can lead to a richer flavor and slightly thicker cookies that spread less. Chilling allows the flour to fully hydrate and the butter to firm up, resulting in a chewier texture. It’s an optional step but can enhance the final product.
Yes, you can use all-purpose flour as a substitute for cake flour in this recipe. However, to mimic the tender qualities of cake flour, you might want to remove 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour for every cup and replace it with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch. This slight modification can help maintain the desired soft and chewy texture.
More Gorgeous Cookie Recipes for You to Try:
If you’ve fallen in love with baking these M&M cookies, you’re in for a treat! Our collection features a wide array of cookie recipes, each with its unique charm and flavor. Expand your baking repertoire with these delightful options:
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📖 Recipe Card
M and M Cookie Recipe
Nora
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⛑️ Important Food Safety Guidelines
Ensuring food safety is paramount when preparing any meal, including delicious baked goods. Please keep the following essential guidelines in mind to protect yourself and your loved ones:
For further comprehensive information and detailed guidelines on safe food handling, please consult reputable sources like the Safe Food Handling – FDA website.