Okay, listen up! If you’re anything like me, sometimes you just need a little burst of color and pure, unadulterated joy in your life, right? And what better way to get that than with a batch of the absolute best M&M cookie recipes? Seriously, these aren’t just *any* cookies; they’re the kind that make you feel like a kid again, straight from the oven.
Growing up, these were my go-to. Forget fancy desserts; if there were M&M cookies on the table, I was a happy camper. The vibrant colors, the little crunch of the candy shell, and that perfect soft, chewy center… it’s just magic!
Over the years, I’ve tinkered and tweaked, trying all sorts of M&M cookie recipes, but I always come back to this version. It’s simple, it’s foolproof, and it delivers every single time. Trust me, even if you’re a total beginner in the kitchen, you can nail these. Let’s get baking!
Why You’ll Love These M&M Cookie Recipes
Okay, why are these M&M cookie recipes going to be your new favorite? Simple!
- They’re ridiculously easy – seriously, even my neighbor who burns toast can make these!
- They’re fast! From mixing bowl to warm cookie in under 30 minutes.
- They bring the fun! Those bright M&M’s just make you smile, right?
- And most importantly, they taste AMAZING. Perfectly soft, chewy, and packed with chocolatey goodness.
These M&M cookie recipes are pure happiness, baked into a cookie!
Simple M&M Cookie Recipes Ingredients You’ll Need
Alright, let’s talk ingredients! The beauty of these M&M cookie recipes is that you probably have most of this stuff in your pantry already. We’re keeping it simple and delicious. Here’s the lineup:
- 1 cup (that’s two sticks!) of unsalted butter, softened – pull it out of the fridge a little while before you start.
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar – make sure you really pack it into the measuring cup!
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract – use the good stuff if you have it!
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups M&M’s candies – I usually go for the classic milk chocolate ones, but hey, get creative!
See? Nothing fancy, just good, honest ingredients for amazing cookies!
Essential Equipment for These M&M Cookie Recipes
You don’t need a fancy kitchen setup for these M&M cookie recipes, just a few basic things you probably already own. You’ll want a couple of good-sized mixing bowls, one for your wet ingredients and one for the dry. An electric mixer (either hand-held or stand mixer) makes creaming the butter and sugar a breeze, but honestly, a sturdy whisk and some elbow grease work too! You’ll also need baking sheets, some parchment paper to keep things from sticking (game changer!), and a wire rack for cooling those beautiful cookies.
How to Prepare These Delicious M&M Cookie Recipes
Okay, this is where the magic happens! Making these M&M cookie recipes is super straightforward, but following these steps will get you that perfect, chewy-on-the-inside, slightly-crisp-on-the-outside cookie every single time. Let’s break it down.
Preparing the Dough for Your M&M Cookie Recipes
First things first, let’s get that oven ready! Go ahead and preheat your oven to 375°F (that’s 190°C). While it’s warming up, line your baking sheets with parchment paper. Trust me on the parchment paper – it saves so much heartache with sticking!
Now, grab your big mixing bowl. This is where the butter and sugar party starts! Add your softened butter, granulated sugar, and packed light brown sugar. Beat them together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This takes a few minutes with an electric mixer, maybe a bit longer by hand, but keep going until it looks pale and airy. This creaming step is key to getting a good texture!
Next, beat in those two large eggs, one at a time. Don’t just dump them both in! Adding them separately helps them incorporate better into the mix. Once the eggs are in, stir in that lovely vanilla extract. Give it a good mix until everything is just combined.
In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients: the flour, baking soda, and salt. Give it a good whisk to make sure the baking soda and salt are evenly distributed. You don’t want a pocket of just salt in one cookie!
Now, we’re going to bring the wet and dry together. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients gradually. I usually do it in about three additions. Mix on low speed (or fold gently with a spatula) until everything is *just* combined. You’ll still see a few streaks of flour, and that’s totally okay! Overmixing at this stage makes tough cookies, and we want chewy ones!
Finally, the best part – stir in your M&M’s! Fold them in gently until they’re distributed throughout the dough. Try not to crush too many of them as you go.
Baking Your Perfect M&M Cookie Recipes
Okay, dough is ready! Now it’s time to bake these beauties. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto your prepared baking sheets. Leave a couple of inches between each cookie because they will spread a little. Don’t crowd the pan!
Pop the baking sheets into your preheated oven. They’ll need about 9 to 11 minutes. Keep an eye on them, especially the first batch! You’re looking for the edges to be golden brown, but the centers should still look a little soft and slightly underbaked. This is the secret to that perfect chewy center!
Once they’re done, take the sheets out of the oven. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for just a few minutes. This helps them set up without falling apart when you move them. Then, carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Or, if you’re impatient like me, sneak one while it’s still warm! Just be careful, those M&M’s inside can be molten lava!
Tips for Success with M&M Cookie Recipes
Making these M&M cookie recipes is pretty simple, but a few little tricks can take them from good to absolutely amazing! First off, resist the urge to overmix the dough once you add the dry ingredients. Just mix until you don’t see streaks of flour anymore. Overmixing develops too much gluten, and that means tough cookies, not the tender ones we want!
If you have time, chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes (or even overnight!) before baking makes a HUGE difference. It helps the flavors meld and prevents the cookies from spreading too much, giving you a thicker, chewier cookie. Trust me, it’s worth the wait!
And lastly, make sure you store your cooled M&M cookie recipes in an airtight container. They’ll stay nice and fresh and chewy for days that way. Though honestly, they usually disappear way before then!
M&M Cookie Recipes Variations and Serving Suggestions
Okay, the classic M&M’s are fantastic, but these M&M cookie recipes are also super fun to play with! You could swap in peanut M&M’s for a little extra crunch and nutty flavor, or use seasonal colors for holidays (think red and green for Christmas!). Feeling wild? Add some chocolate chips alongside the M&M’s for double the chocolatey goodness. A sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top right after they come out of the oven is also a winner!
As for serving, honestly, these are perfect all on their own. But a tall glass of cold milk is their absolute best friend. They’re also amazing crumbled over ice cream or served warm with a scoop on top for a simple dessert!
Storing and Reheating Your M&M Cookie Recipes
So, you’ve somehow managed *not* to eat the entire batch in one sitting? Amazing! To keep your M&M cookie recipes tasting their best, make sure they’re completely cooled, then pop them into an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay nice and chewy for several days. If you want that warm-from-the-oven feel again, just microwave one for about 10-15 seconds – pure bliss!
M&M Cookie Recipes Frequently Asked Questions
Okay, I get asked a few things pretty often about these easy cookie recipes, so let’s tackle them!
Q: Can I substitute ingredients? Like margarine for butter?
A: While you *can* make substitutions, I really recommend sticking to the recipe for the best results, especially with the butter. Real butter makes a big difference in the texture and flavor of these M&M cookie recipes. Margarine just doesn’t give you the same richness or spread.
Q: My dough seems too sticky/dry. What did I do wrong?
A: This usually comes down to measuring the flour! Make sure you spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife – don’t scoop it straight from the bag, as that packs it in and you’ll end up with too much flour, making the dough dry. If it’s still too sticky, add just a tiny bit more flour, a tablespoon at a time, until it’s manageable.
Q: Can I freeze the dough or baked cookies?
A: Absolutely! You can scoop the dough balls onto a baking sheet and freeze them until solid, then transfer them to a freezer bag. Bake them from frozen, just add a minute or two to the baking time. You can also freeze baked and cooled cookies in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to a couple of months.
Q: Why are my cookies spreading too much?
A: Make sure your butter wasn’t too soft – it should be soft enough to dent, but not melted or greasy. Also, chilling the dough helps a lot! Make sure your oven is preheated properly too.
Estimated Nutritional Information for M&M Cookie Recipes
Okay, I’m a home cook, not a nutritionist, but I know some of you like to have an idea of what’s in these delicious M&M cookie recipes! Keep in mind, this is just an estimate based on the ingredients listed, and things like the exact brand of M&M’s or butter you use can change it a little. Think of it as a ballpark figure, not a strict calculation!
Based on the recipe making about 24 cookies, each cookie is roughly around:
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 10g (including saturated and unsaturated)
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Protein: 2g
Again, this is just a general idea! The most important thing is that they taste amazing and bring you some joy!
Share Your M&M Cookie Recipes Experience
Okay, now it’s YOUR turn! I’d absolutely LOVE to hear how these M&M cookie recipes worked out for you. Did you make any fun variations? Did they disappear as fast as they do in my house? Leave a comment below, rate the recipe, or snap a pic and share it on social media! Let’s spread the M&M cookie joy!
Print
M\&M Cookie Recipes: 2 Tips for Amazing Taste
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Soft and chewy cookies loaded with colorful M&M candies.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups M&M’s candies
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Stir in the M&M’s candies.
- Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are still slightly soft.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For extra chewy cookies, chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking.
- You can use different types of M&M’s candies for variety.
- Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: M&M cookies, chocolate chip cookies, candy cookies, easy cookie recipe