Get ready to fall in love with classic comfort reimagined—M&M Cookies! These cookies are seriously irresistible, boasting a chewy center, slightly crisp edges, and a vibrant pop of color in every bite. Each morsel is loaded with melty chocolate chips and those iconic candy-coated M&Ms, creating a playful treat that never fails to bring smiles. Whether you’re baking for birthdays, holidays, or much-needed “just because” moments, these M&M Cookies are perfect for any occasion and guarantee instant joy at first bite.

Ingredients You’ll Need

The ingredient lineup for these M&M Cookies couldn’t be simpler, but each component plays a crucial role in achieving that signature soft texture, buttery flavor, and eye-catching look. Here’s what you’ll need, along with a quick tip for every single ingredient to bring out the very best in your cookies:

Unsalted butter, softened: Creaming softened butter creates that wonderfully tender, chewy crumb and helps all the flavors meld together effortlessly.
Granulated sugar: The key to those lightly crisped edges and a bit of sweetness in every bite.
Packed brown sugar: Brown sugar brings moisture and rich, caramel notes, making your cookies extra soft and chewy.
Large eggs: These bind the dough, lend crucial structure, and help everything stay moist.
Vanilla extract: Don’t skip this—vanilla deepens the overall flavor and ties the sweetness together beautifully.
All-purpose flour: The backbone of any great cookie, providing just the right sturdiness for those M&Ms to nestle in.
Baking soda: This gives the cookies a lovely lift and helps achieve that slightly puffed look.
Salt: A must for balancing out the sweetness and making all the other flavors pop.
M&M candies: The superstars of the show! Use the classic colors or swap in holiday themes for festive fun.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional): For an extra gooey, chocolatey touch, add these in, or go wild with dark or milk chocolate chips.

How to Make M&M Cookies

Step 1: Preheat and Prep

Start by heating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grab a baking sheet and line it with parchment paper or a trusty silicone baking mat. This step is your secret weapon for easy release and perfectly golden bottoms. No sticking, no crumbling—just cookie bliss from the get-go.

Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars

In your biggest mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Beat these together until the mixture is light, fluffy, and the color has lightened—this usually takes about 2-3 minutes. Proper creaming traps tiny air bubbles and helps give your M&M Cookies that lovely soft lift.

Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla

Now, drop in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Follow up with the vanilla extract and mix again. This step helps ensure a smooth, uniform dough that’ll bake up evenly every single time.

Step 4: Mix Up the Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. This guarantees everything is distributed evenly, so you don’t end up with any salty or bitter bites—just perfection throughout. Gradually add the dry mixture to your wet ingredients, mixing on low just until you can’t see any more flour streaks.

Step 5: Fold in the M&M Candies and Chocolate Chips

Here’s where the fun really kicks in: gently fold in your M&M candies and chocolate chips (if you’re feeling extra). Try to mix just enough to spread everything out without crushing those candies—we want real M&M Cookies magic!

Step 6: Shape and Space the Dough

Using a spoon or cookie scoop, take about a tablespoon of dough for each cookie and roll it gently into balls. Arrange them on your prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each one. This ensures everyone has room to bake up beautifully without merging into a cookie blob.

Step 7: Bake to Perfection

Slide your tray into the oven and bake for 10–12 minutes. Watch for those golden edges and slightly soft, puffy centers—that’s the sweet spot! Don’t worry if the centers seem a bit underdone; they’ll set into chewy magic while cooling.

Step 8: Cool Down and Enjoy

Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for a few minutes to finish setting up, then transfer them to a wire rack so they cool evenly and stay gloriously chewy. Try not to eat them all while they’re still warm (but if you do, I won’t tell!).

How to Serve M&M Cookies

Garnishes

Nothing beats the simple beauty of M&M Cookies topped with a few extra candies pressed into each one right as they come out of the oven—they’ll melt slightly and give that bakery-worthy look. For an extra festive touch, try a gentle sprinkle of flaky sea salt before baking or a drizzle of melted white chocolate once they’re cool.

Side Dishes

Serve your M&M Cookies with a tall glass of cold milk for that ultra-classic pairing. They’re also phenomenal with hot cocoa, a latte, or even tucked alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a dreamy cookie sundae.

Creative Ways to Present

Get creative with your cookie spread! Stack them high on a tiered dessert stand, arrange in colorful treat bags as party favors, or sandwich a scoop of ice cream between two M&M Cookies for quick and playful ice cream sandwiches. These cookies also make a standout addition to holiday dessert boards or bake sales.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

To keep your M&M Cookies soft and fresh, pop them into an airtight container at room temperature. They stay delicious for up to 4 days—adding a slice of bread to the container is a handy trick for maintaining moisture (and the bread will go stale, not your cookies!).

Freezing

If you’d like to keep some dough on standby (or save baked cookies for a rainy day), both freeze like a dream. For dough, roll into balls and freeze on a tray before transferring to a zip-top bag. For baked cookies, let them cool completely, then freeze in layers separated by parchment. They’ll keep for 2–3 months either way.

Reheating

Nothing beats a warm cookie! For best results, reheat M&M Cookies in the microwave for 10–15 seconds or pop them in a 300°F oven for about 3 minutes. They’ll taste like they just came out of the oven, with melty chocolate and that signature softness.

FAQs

Can I use different types of M&M candies in these cookies?

Absolutely! Feel free to swap in mini M&Ms, peanut M&Ms, or any seasonal varieties to match your mood or the occasion. The basic M&M Cookies recipe works with almost any M&M style.

How do I keep my cookies from spreading too much?

If your dough is especially soft (or your kitchen is warm), chill the shaped dough balls for 20–30 minutes before baking. This simple step helps maintain those perfectly thick and chewy M&M Cookies every time.

Can I make these M&M Cookies gluten free?

Yes! Substitute your favorite measure-for-measure gluten free flour blend for the all-purpose flour. Just watch the texture—some blends may make cookies a little softer or crumblier, but the taste will still be fantastic.

What’s the trick to chewier cookies?

For M&M Cookies with an even chewier bite, bake them until just barely golden, and let them set on the hot baking sheet for a few minutes before moving them to a wire rack. Slightly underbaking is the magic trick for that irresistibly soft center.

Why do you use both brown and white sugar?

The mix is key: brown sugar adds lovely moisture and caramel depth, while white sugar contributes crispiness and structure. Both together give M&M Cookies their classic, crave-worthy balance in every bite.

Final Thoughts

There’s something truly special about pulling a batch of fresh, colorful M&M Cookies out of your oven and sharing them with people you love. Whether you’re looking for a joyful dessert or a nostalgic baking project, these cookies promise to turn any day into a celebration. Don’t wait—grab those mixing bowls and make some sweet memories (and even sweeter cookies) today!

M&M Cookies Recipe

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4.8 from 26 reviews

Author: Lila
Total Time: 25-27 minutes
Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

These colorful and delicious M&M cookies are a classic treat that everyone will love. Packed with chocolatey goodness and a crunch of candy-coated M&M’s, these cookies are perfect for any occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Additions:

2 cups M&M candies
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)

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Instructions

Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat in Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract.
Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined.
Add Mix-ins: Fold in the M&M candies and chocolate chips (if using).
Shape and Bake: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough, roll into balls, and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.
Cool and Enjoy: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

For chewier cookies, slightly underbake them and let them set on the baking sheet for a few minutes post-baking.
Experiment with mini M&M candies or different chocolate chips for variation.
Try adding chopped nuts for extra texture.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American