Name: M&M Cookie Recipe
Prep time: 12 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 24 min
Yield: 24
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 cup salted butter, softened; 1 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1 large egg; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 cup M&Ms; 1/2 cup mini M&Ms; 1 1/2 teaspoons salt; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Sweet m&m cookies bring childhood memories flooding back with their colorful bursts of chocolate.

Memories dance across my kitchen as vibrant candies scatter through soft dough.

Mixing these treats feels like creating edible art with playful ingredients.

Soft centers and crispy edges promise delightful texture in every single bite.

Baking becomes a celebration of simple joy and pure deliciousness.

Chocolate chips mingle with rainbow m&m pieces, creating a perfect harmony of flavors.

Bakers of all skill levels can master this delightful recipe with ease.

Let’s transform your kitchen into a cookie wonderland that sparks smiles and excitement!

M&M Cookies Filled With Colorful Crunch

Colorful Crowd-Pleaser: These M&M cookies burst with vibrant candy colors that make every bite a visual and taste celebration.
Quick Kitchen Magic: The entire recipe takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish, perfect for spontaneous baking sessions or sudden sweet cravings.
Kid-Friendly Baking Adventure: Children can easily help mix M&Ms into the dough, making this a fantastic family bonding activity that creates delicious memories.
Versatile Party Treat: These cookies work wonderfully for birthday parties, school events, or casual gatherings, appealing to both kids and adults with their playful appearance and classic chocolate chip cookie base.

Baking Fats and Sugars:

Butter: Soft and creamy base for rich cookie texture, choose high-quality unsalted butter for best flavor.
Brown Sugar, Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps create chewy, golden-brown cookies.

Binding and Flavor Enhancers:

Egg: Helps bind ingredients and adds structure to cookies, use fresh large eggs.
Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, deep flavor to enhance overall cookie taste.

Dry Ingredients and Mix-ins:

All-Purpose Flour: Foundational ingredient for cookie structure, sift for smoother texture.
Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor profile.
Baking Soda: Helps cookies rise and spread evenly during baking.
M&Ms, Mini M&Ms: Colorful chocolate candies that add bursts of sweetness and fun texture throughout cookies.

Step 1: Prepare Baking Station

Grab your baking sheet and line it with parchment paper.

Preheat the oven to a cozy 350°F, getting ready for some cookie magic.

Step 2: Create Creamy Base

In a big mixing bowl, gather your wet ingredients:

Softened butter
Brown sugar
Granulated sugar
Egg
Vanilla extract

Grab your electric mixer and blend these ingredients until they become a smooth, fluffy dream.

Step 3: Build Cookie Foundation

Add your dry ingredients to the creamy mixture:

All-purpose flour
Salt
Baking soda

Mix everything together until a delightful sticky dough forms.

Step 4: Sprinkle in Colorful Fun

Toss in those vibrant M&Ms and mini M&Ms, stirring until they’re perfectly distributed throughout the dough.

Step 5: Shape Delicious Rounds

Roll the dough into adorable balls, each about the size of a golf ball.

Place them on the baking sheet, giving each cookie plenty of personal space.

Step 6: Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the baking sheet into the oven and let the cookies bake for 10-12 minutes.

Look for golden brown edges that whisper “I’m ready!”

Step 7: Cool and Celebrate

Once out of the oven, let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for a few minutes.

Then transfer them to parchment paper to cool completely.

Get ready to enjoy your colorful, homemade treats!

Ensure butter, egg, and other ingredients are at room temperature for smoother mixing and better cookie texture.
Refrigerate cookie dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent spreading and create thicker, chewier cookies.
Select M&M colors for seasonal themes or special occasions like birthdays and holidays.
Watch cookies closely during the last few minutes of baking to avoid over-browning and maintain a soft, chewy center.
Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain freshness and soft texture.

M&M Cookies Stay Soft in an Airtight Jar

Store cooled M&M cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Wrap individual cookies or the entire batch in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
Remove frozen cookies from the freezer and let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before enjoying.
Warm cookies in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or in a preheated oven at 300°F for 3-5 minutes to restore their soft, fresh-baked texture.

What Goes With M&M Cookies

Pair with Chocolate Milk: Creamy chocolate milk enhances the sweetness of M&M cookies, creating a rich and indulgent flavor combination that kids and adults will love.
Complement with Vanilla Ice Cream: Serve warm M&M cookies alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a classic dessert experience that balances the cookie's texture and temperature.
Match with Caramel Latte: The smooth caramel notes in a latte perfectly complement the colorful M&Ms and buttery cookie base, offering a sophisticated adult treat with delightful contrasting flavors.
Enjoy with Cold Glass of Milk: Traditional cold milk provides a classic, refreshing counterpoint to the sweet and chewy M&M cookies, making for a timeless comfort food combination.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Swap: Replace all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend and use gluten-free chocolate chips for those with wheat sensitivities.
Vegan Friendly Transformation: Substitute butter with coconut oil, use egg replacer or mashed banana, and select vegan chocolate candies to create a plant-based version.
Low-Sugar Option: Use monk fruit sweetener instead of granulated sugar, reduce total sugar quantity, and select sugar-free M&Ms for a diabetic-friendly alternative.
Nutty Protein Boost: Incorporate almond flour alongside regular flour, add chopped walnuts or pecans for extra crunch and nutritional value, ensuring a protein-rich cookie experience.

FAQs

Can I use cold butter instead of softened butter?

No, softened butter is crucial for creating a smooth, creamy cookie texture. Cold butter won’t blend properly and can result in dense, tough cookies.

How do I know if I've mixed the dough correctly?

The dough should look smooth and slightly sticky, with no dry flour patches. When you mix, it should come together into a cohesive mass that holds its shape when rolled.

Why should I leave space between cookie dough balls?

Leaving 2 inches between cookies allows them to spread evenly without touching, ensuring each cookie bakes uniformly and develops crispy, golden edges.

Can kids help make these M&M cookies?

Absolutely! Kids can help roll dough balls, sprinkle M&Ms, and mix ingredients under adult supervision. It’s a fun, simple recipe that encourages family baking time.

Daniel Bruns

Founder & Culinary Innovator

Expertise

Recipe development for home cooks, Nutritional analysis and meal planning, Culinary education and food writing

Education

Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts
Diploma in Culinary Arts and Operations
Focus: Classical and contemporary cooking techniques, Culinary entrepreneurship and kitchen management, Menu development and food cost analysis

Daniel’s story started with flour on his face and a pie in the oven at his grandma’s house. He later sharpened his skills at the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts.
His goal? Recipes so simple you’ll want to cook every night. When he’s not whipping up one-pan wonders, Daniel’s outside picking herbs, hosting neighborhood cook-offs, or baking chocolate cakes with his kids, messy, sweet, and unforgettable.

The Most Colorful M&M Cookie Recipe for Sweet Smiles