Okay, listen up! If you’re looking for that perfect, feel-good, straight-out-of-the-oven treat, you absolutely *have* to try these M&M cookie recipes. They’re just the definition of pure joy in cookie form, right? Those bright, happy colors peeking out from a perfectly chewy cookie… honestly, what’s not to love?
I’ve been making these for years – through countless bake sales, birthday parties (they’re a kid magnet!), and honestly, just because it was Tuesday and I needed a little sprinkle of happy. My kitchen always smells amazing when these are baking, and the best part is, they’re surprisingly simple to whip up. Trust me, if I can do it while juggling a million other things, you totally can too!
This recipe is one I’ve tweaked and perfected over time, learning from little kitchen mishaps and figuring out exactly what makes them just right. I’m so excited to share it with you!
Why You’ll Love These M&M Cookie Recipes
So, why *this* recipe? Let me tell you, it’s a winner for a few big reasons. You’re going to absolutely adore them because:
- They are seriously easy to make. No fancy techniques here!
- That texture is just spot on – perfectly chewy in the middle with slightly crisp edges.
- They look SO fun! The M&Ms add such a happy pop of color.
They’re basically guaranteed smiles, every single time.
Gathering Your Ingredients for M&M Cookie Recipes
Alright, let’s get our ingredients ready! You don’t need anything too wild for these M&M cookie recipes, just the good stuff. Make sure your butter is nice and soft – I usually leave mine out on the counter for an hour or so before starting. You’ll need both granulated sugar and light brown sugar for that perfect chewiness, two large eggs, and some vanilla extract. Then for the dry bits, it’s just your regular all-purpose flour, baking soda, and a pinch of salt. And of course, the stars of the show: two cups of those colorful M&M candies! Easy peasy.
Essential Equipment for Perfect M&M Cookie Recipes
Okay, before we dive into mixing, let’s make sure you have your trusty tools ready! You won’t need anything super fancy for these M&M cookie recipes, promise. Grab a couple of good-sized mixing bowls – one for wet ingredients, one for dry. You’ll definitely need a sturdy whisk for those dry bits and a hand mixer (or even a good old wooden spoon and some elbow grease!) for creaming the butter and sugar. Don’t forget your measuring cups and spoons, a couple of baking sheets, and some parchment paper to line them. Easy!
Step-by-Step How to Prepare M&M Cookie Recipes
Okay, deep breath! You’ve got your ingredients and your gear, now let’s make some magic happen. Following these steps is key to getting that perfect chewy M&M cookie!
- Get the oven ready! First things first, preheat your oven to 375°F (that’s 190°C). While it’s heating up, grab your baking sheets and line them with parchment paper. This makes cleanup a breeze and keeps your cookies from sticking. Trust me on this one!
- Cream it good! In your big mixing bowl, toss in that softened butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar. Now, beat them together until they’re light and fluffy. You’ll see the color get paler, and it will look like whipped cloud – that’s what you want!
- Eggs and vanilla time! Add your eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then, stir in that lovely vanilla extract. It adds such a nice warmth.
- Whisk the dry bits! In your other bowl, whisk together your flour, baking soda, and salt. Just a quick whisk to make sure everything’s evenly distributed.
- Combine ’em! Now, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix until everything is *just* combined. And this is important: **DO NOT overmix!** As soon as you don’t see streaks of flour, stop that mixer (or stop stirring!). Overmixing makes tough cookies, and we want chewy ones!
- Add the stars! Time for the M&Ms! Stir those colorful candies into the dough. Get them mixed in evenly so every cookie gets a good amount of candy goodness.
- Scoop and space! Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto your prepared baking sheets. Make sure to leave about 2 inches of space between them – they’ll spread a little.
- Bake ’em up! Pop those sheets in the preheated oven. Bake for about 9 to 11 minutes. You’ll know they’re ready when the edges look golden brown, but the centers still look a little soft. That slight underbaking is the secret to the chewiness!
- Cool down! Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for just a few minutes after they come out of the oven. They’re still a bit fragile when hot. Then, carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. And try not to eat them all as they cool… I know, it’s hard!
Tips for Success with Your M&M Cookie Recipes
Okay, you’ve got the steps down, but here are a few little secrets I use to make sure my M&M cookies turn out absolutely perfect every time. First, make sure your butter and eggs really *are* at room temperature – it makes a huge difference in how they cream together. Also, don’t be afraid to slightly underbake them if you love a super chewy cookie; that soft center sets up as they cool! And speaking of cooling, let them sit on the hot baking sheet for those few minutes before moving them. It helps them firm up just enough without drying out. Happy baking!
Variations on Classic M&M Cookie Recipes
One of the best things about these M&M cookie recipes is how easy they are to play with! While the classic is amazing, you can totally switch things up. Try swapping out some (or all!) of the M&Ms for chocolate chips – milk, dark, or even white chocolate are delicious. Or, get really wild and throw in some chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts for a little crunch. You could even add a dash of almond extract along with the vanilla for a different flavor twist! Have fun with it and make them your own.
Common Questions About M&M Cookie Recipes
Okay, so you might have a few questions pop up while you’re baking these M&M cookie recipes, and that’s totally fine! Here are some things people often ask me:
Can I use margarine instead of butter? Honestly, I really recommend sticking with real butter for these. It makes a big difference in the flavor and that perfect chewy texture we’re going for. Margarine just doesn’t give the same results.
How long do these M&M cookies last? If you store them in an airtight container at room temperature, they’ll stay fresh and delicious for about 3 days. If they last that long, that is! 😉
My cookies spread too much! What happened? This can happen for a few reasons. Your butter might have been too soft (almost melted!), or you might have measured too much flour. Chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking can also help prevent excessive spreading.
Hope that helps you troubleshoot any little bumps along the road to perfect M&M cookies!
Estimated Nutritional Information for M&M Cookie Recipes
Okay, so while we’re mostly focused on the deliciousness here, I know some of you like to have an idea of the nutritional side of things. Just a heads-up, these numbers are estimates, alright? They can vary depending on the exact brands you use and how big you make your cookies! But to give you a general idea, based on about 24 cookies from the batch, one cookie is roughly around 200 calories, with about 10g of fat, 25g of carbs, and 2g of protein. Enjoy them in moderation!
Share Your M&M Cookie Recipe Creations
Alright, you’ve baked them, you’ve (hopefully!) resisted eating them all straight from the cooling rack, now it’s time to share! I would absolutely LOVE to see how your M&M cookies turned out. Leave a comment below and tell me about your baking adventure! Did you add any fun variations? Did your kids love them? You can also snap a pic and share it on social media – tag me so I can see your beautiful, colorful creations!
Print
M&M Cookie Recipes: 2 Cups for Pure Joy
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Chewy and colorful cookies packed with delicious M&M candies.
Ingredients
- 1 cup 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
- 2 cups M&M 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 candies.
- Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are still slightly soft.
- Let cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
Notes
- For extra chewy cookies, underbake them slightly.
- You can substitute other types of candies or chocolate chips for the M&Ms.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- 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, cookie recipe, dessert, baking, easy cookies