Who doesn’t love a good chocolate chip cookie? And who doesn’t love M&Ms? Combine the two, and you’ve got a cookie that’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser, no matter the occasion. An M&M chocolate chip cookie recipe is easy to customize, making it a great choice for holidays, parties, or just a fun baking project with the kids.
These cookies are so fun to make because they are easy to make and use ingredients you likely already have in your pantry. Plus, the combination of a soft, chewy cookie, melty chocolate chips, and the satisfying crunch of M&Ms is hard to resist.
In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to bake the perfect M&M chocolate chip cookies. We’ll cover the ingredients, step-by-step instructions, helpful tips, and some fun variations to try. We’ll even share some tips for storing and freezing your cookies so you can enjoy them later.
Gathering your ingredients: the key to cookie success
You can’t make great cookies without gathering the right ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need for this M&M chocolate chip cookie recipe:
Essential dry ingredients
- All-purpose flour: It’s important to measure your flour carefully. For best results, use a kitchen scale. Too much flour will give you dry, crumbly cookies.
- Sugars: You’ll need both brown sugar and granulated sugar. Brown sugar makes the cookies chewy and moist, while granulated sugar adds sweetness and crispness.
- Baking soda and baking powder: Baking soda helps the cookies spread and brown, and baking powder gives them lift.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor.
Essential wet ingredients
- Unsalted butter: Make sure your butter is softened, but not melted. Softened butter creams best with the sugars to create a smooth, even dough.
- Eggs: Use large eggs at room temperature. If your eggs are cold, you can bring them to room temperature quickly by soaking them in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Vanilla extract: Adds depth of flavor.
Chocolate and M&M’s
- Mini chocolate chips: Adds extra chocolatey flavor.
- M&M’s: Use both regular and mini M&M’s for varied texture and visual appeal. For festive occasions, you could use holiday-themed M&M’s.
STEP-BY-STEP: Baking the Perfect M&M Cookies
Ready to get baking? Here’s how to make these colorful, delicious cookies:
Preparing the Dough
- Cream the butter and sugars: It’s important to cream the butter and sugars together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step incorporates air into the dough, which helps create a tender cookie.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then, stir in the vanilla extract.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can result in tough cookies.
- Incorporate chocolate chips and M&M’s: Gently fold in the chocolate chips and M&M’s. Add the M&M’s last to preserve their colorful candy coating.
Baking the Cookies
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). For best results, use an oven thermometer to ensure your oven is at the correct temperature.
- Scoop and place dough: Use a cookie scoop to create uniform cookies. Place the dough balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat, leaving some space between each cookie for spreading.
- Optional: Add extra M&M’s: Press a few extra M&M’s on top of each dough ball before baking for a more visually appealing cookie.
- Bake: Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are still slightly soft.
Cooling and Enjoying
- Cool on baking sheet: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
- Cool on wire rack: Cool the cookies completely on a wire rack. Then, if you’re feeling particularly decadent, add even more M&Ms on top of the baked cookies.
Expert Baking Tips for M&M Cookie Perfection
Want to take your M&M cookies from good to amazing? Here are a few pro tips to keep in mind:
- Don’t Overmix: Trust me on this one. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, which makes for tough, chewy cookies – and not in a good way. Mix until just combined.
- Chill Out: Chilling the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes (or even up to 2 hours!) before baking can seriously improve the texture and flavor. It helps prevent the cookies from spreading too thin.
- Room Service: Use room-temperature butter and eggs. They blend together much better, creating a smooth, even batter.
- Measure Up: A kitchen scale is your best friend for baking. Accurate measurements, especially for flour, are key for consistent results.
- Don’t Overbake: Nobody wants dry, crumbly cookies. Keep a close eye on them and pull them out of the oven just as the edges start to turn golden brown.
- Rotate for Success: Rotate the baking sheet halfway through baking to ensure even browning.
- Sheet Smart: Light-colored baking sheets are best for even browning. Dark-colored sheets can cause the bottoms of your cookies to burn.
Customizing Your M&M Cookies: Variations and Add-Ins
The beauty of a chocolate chip cookie recipe is that it’s so easy to customize. Here are some ideas for making these M&M cookies your own:
Holiday M&M Cookies
- Christmas M&M Cookies: Red and green M&Ms are perfect for a festive touch. Add a drop or two of peppermint extract to the dough for extra Christmas flavor.
- Other Holiday Variations: Orange and black M&Ms for Halloween? Pastel colors for Easter? Go for it!
Mini M&M Cookies
Want a bite-sized treat? Use only mini M&Ms and mini chocolate chips. Because they’re smaller, you may want to reduce the baking time by a minute or two.
Add-Ins
Here are some other things you might want to mix into your dough:
- Nuts: Chopped walnuts, pecans, or macadamia nuts would all be delicious.
- Sprinkles: Add sprinkles for extra color and fun.
- Other Candies: Chopped peanut butter cups or toffee bits would be a great addition.
Storing and Freezing Your M&M Cookies
Okay, so you’ve made a ton of M&M cookies. What now? Here’s how to keep them as fresh as possible:
Storing Baked Cookies
- Keep cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Pro Tip: Toss a slice of bread in the container to keep them soft and chewy!
Freezing Baked Cookies
- Freeze baked cookies in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.
- Just let them thaw at room temperature before you want to eat them.
Freezing Cookie Dough
- Freeze individual cookie dough balls on a baking sheet until solid, then toss them into a freezer bag.
- You can bake them straight from frozen! Just add an extra minute or two to the baking time.
Key Takeaways
So, there you have it: a simple, straightforward recipe for M&M chocolate chip cookies that are sure to be a hit. Remember, using good quality ingredients and following the steps carefully will give you the best results.
Don’t be afraid to play around with the recipe and make it your own! Baking is all about experimenting and learning, so embrace any “happy accidents” along the way.
Now, go ahead and bake up a batch of these colorful, delicious cookies and share them with the people you love. Enjoy!