These are the BEST M&M Cookies! Super soft, chewy, crispy edges and full of chocolate. These M&M cookies are a family favorite and taste like they came straight from a bakery!
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Table of Contents
Soft & Chewy M&M Cookies
These chocolate chip M&M cookies are one of the best classic cookies out there!
- Easy. This recipe comes together in 30 minutes in one bowl.
- Full of chocolate. These cookies are filled with chocolate chips & M&M’s adding the perfect balance to this chewy cookie.
- Variations. This dough also makes great mini m&m cookies and a M&M cookie cake! Use holiday colors for M&M Christmas cookies.
Ingredients
Below are the ingredients need to make this easy M&M cookie recipe. Many of these ingredients are pantry staples that you already have on hand.
Scroll down for the printable M&M cookie recipe and video tutorial.
- Unsalted butter: I prefer to use unsalted to control the amount of salt.
- Baking staples: Butter, sugar, flour, baking soda, salt and eggs.
- Light brown sugar: I love mixing brown sugar into my cookies for the perfect flavor.
- Vanilla: I like to use a pure vanilla extract to bring out the flavor.
- Chocolate chips: Semi-sweet are my personal favorite for this recipe.
- M&M’s: I prefer to use the regular m&m candies, unless there is a holiday coming up.
How To Make M&M Cookies
- Using a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugars for 1 minute in a large bowl using the paddle attachment. Add in eggs and vanilla and mix.
- Next add flour, baking soda and salt and whisk until combined. Fold in both chocolate chips and M&M’s to the flour mixture. Refrigerate dough for 15-30 minutes. By chilling the dough it helps them to not fall flat.
- Scoop cookie dough with large cookie scoop onto two baking sheets lined with baking mats or parchment paper, about 2 inches apart. Place extra M&M’s on top.
- Bake M&M cookies at 375°F for 8-10 minutes, until tops are barely golden. Let set on pan for 2 minutes, then move to cooling wire racks.
Quick Tips
Before you get started baking, check out my tips below. Follow these simple tricks and you’ll have the BEST M&M cookies in no time!
- Refrigerate the dough, to help them stay thick and chewy.
- Use a large cookie scoop to scoop dough onto baking sheet. This ensures the M&M cookies are all equal size.
- Add extra M&M’s on top once the dough balls have been formed.
- Bake at 375°F to get them crispy around the edges, yet keeping them soft inside.
- Allow the M&M cookies to set on the pan for 2-3 minutes before moving them to a cooling rack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes you can use regular or mini baking m&m’s. They both work great!
The outside shell prevents them from melting into the cookie.
You may have not added enough flour. If your dough is too sticky, add a couple Tablespoons more flour. To make them not flat you can also refrigerate the dough for 1 hour. The oven could also be too hot. If your oven runs hot, bump it down 15 degrees.
Immediately when the cookies come out of the oven use a round cookie cutter or round glass placed directly over the cookie and use a circular motion to bump the edges of the cookie into a round shape. Just a reminder that your cookies must be warm!
Make Ahead and Freezing
Yes, these M&M cookies freeze very well. You can either freeze the baked M&M cookies or freeze the cookie dough. If freezing baked cookies, simply let cool completely then add to ziptop bag or freezer container. Store in freezer for about 2-3 months.
If you’d rather freeze the M&M cookie dough, simply scoop out dough and add to your prepared baking sheet. Freeze for about 30 minutes, or until cookie dough balls have hardened. Then add to a ziptop bag and store in the freezer for about 2-3 months.
When ready to eat, add cookie dough balls to baking sheet while oven warms. The M&M cookies will most likely need to bake a few minutes longer than usual since the dough was frozen.
More M&M Desserts:
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M&M Cookie Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter , just barely softened
- 1 cup light brown sugar , packed
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup M&M’s , plus more for tops if desired
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line two baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper. In a large bowl, using a mixer, cream together the butter and sugars for 1 minute. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until combined.
- Add the flour, baking soda and salt and stir mix just until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips and M&M’s. Refrigerate dough for 15 to 60 minutes (up to 24 hours) if time allows.
- Using a large cookie scoop (about 3 Tablespoons), scoop the cookie dough onto the baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Place extra M&M’s on the top of the cookies if desired.
- Bake for 7-10 minutes, or until the edges are barely golden brown. Allow cookies to set on pan for 2 minutes, and then remove to a cooling rack. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
M&M cookies variations
We love to make different variations of these M&M cookies for all of the holidays. For some reason, the holiday M&M’s just taste better. IS IT JUST ME?! I feel like I’ve had a conversation about this with a few friends and we all agree.
We made these 4th of July cookies with red white and blue M&M’s and everyone loved them! You can also make holiday variations for Valentine’s Day, Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween and Christmas M&M cookies. Sometimes I like to turn them into festive M&M cookie bars or even make a layered M&M cookie mix in a jar to give as a holiday gift!
Best cookie recipe! I made these for the Christmas holiday party and they were the best tasting ones there! Thanks so much for sharing.
Yay! So happy to her DeeKay!
These are the perfect texture! I used chocolate chunks with the m&ms and they were perfection.
Sounds perfect!!
Excellent flavour. Love the crunch of the M&Ms. I used up all the red/green/brown ones and then topped off with chocolate chips to make 2 cups worth of chocolate. Yummy!
So glad they were a hit! Thanks for your review :)
Seriously the best ever! Made them for Christmas and ended up having to make more because the didn’t make it to the party🙈🤣
Sounds like a great baking day! Glad everyone enjoyed the m&m cookies :)
I have made these so many times now and they are truly the best. I have never had better cookies!!!
Ah that is so great to hear! We love them too! Thanks so much for your review Michelle!
Here it is! The only M&M cookie recipe I’ll ever use. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
So glad to hear, it’s our favorite too!
Taste great and easy to make! I even added pecans to mine. Will be making these again in the future.
Sounds yummy! Thanks for your review :)
Tastes like a mall cookie! Yum!
So glad to hear you enjoyed the m&m cookies!
I love this recipe, thanks for sharing it. A few questions. Can the dough be made ahead of time and refrigerated for a few days? Also, do you know the size of the baked cookie using the 3 T amount of dough? I want to get self sealing cellophane bags and want to order the correct size. Thank you!
Yes you can refrigerate the dough, I would leave it at room temperature about 30 minutes before you roll the balls. They should bake to about 2 1/2 inches.
I’ve made these several times and everyone looooves them. I follow recipe exactly. Perfect recipe!
Thanks for the feedback, Beth. Who can resist an M & M?
My family loves these. I make them quite often.
Thanks for sharing, Jacky. No one can resist the M&Ms!
Have you ever added cocoa powder to make these chocolate? If so, how much and are any other changes needed? Thanks!
Hi Amy – Check out this recipe for our chocolate M&M cookies with cocoa powder: https://www.iheartnaptime.net/chocolate-mm-cookies/. Enjoy!
Delicious!! Do you set your butter to room temp?
It should be just barely softened :)
I’m allergic to wheat and decided to try this recipe using cup4cup gf flour. Took longer in the oven but came out delicious. I added dark chocolate chunks with the m&ms.
So glad to hear it came out with the cup4cup flour! Thanks for your review Wanda :)
Loved these m&m cookies! Is the light brown sugar packed for measuring?
Yes, it is packed :)
Soooo yummy! Will def keep in the rotation
So glad to hear you enjoyed them! Thanks for your review Michelle :)
My grandson’s all-time favorite cookie!!! 😙
I’m making these tomorrow but my daughter has asked me not to use chocolate chips. Will excluding them make any huge difference?
They will be a little less chocolaty but should still taste delicious! You could always add in a bit more M&M’s to balance it out :)
They came out amazing! Made 2 dozen and they are almost gone :)
Yay! So happy to hear that!