M&M's always add some colorful fun to a dessert! The recipe for these M&M cookies is based on my recipe for Candy Bar Cookies. The candy bar cookies are the recipe I used to finally crack the code of baking an incredibly soft cookie. If you're interested in why these cookies are so soft, I explain the baking science in my post for the candy bar cookies. Since then, I've used the same base recipe for most of my chocolate chip cookies, including my Classic Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies, White & Dark Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies, and more. You can see all of my cookie recipes here.
M&M Cookie Recipe Notes
These cookies use the classic milk chocolate M&M's, but you could definitely substitute peanut M&M's or other varieties for a twist on the classic M&M cookie. This recipe also calls for chocolate chips, but it's totally fine to substitute some more M&M's if you don't have chocolate chips.
I also like to reserve some of the M&M's to press a few on top of each cookie before baking. This will make sure the M&M's are visible in every cookie when they come out of the oven. This is a completely optional step for presentation.
I use a cookie scoop to get cookies to a uniform shape and consistent size. Making the cookies a uniform size is important because the cookies will make evenly. If you have a mix of large and small cookies, some might get over-baked and others might come out under-baked.
More Desserts With M&M's
If you really love M&M's, check out these Peanut Butter M&M Cookies (recipe by Fifteen Spatulas). Sarah's Bake Studio also has this amazing Great Big List of M&M's Desserts!
M&M Cookies
Equipment
- Cookie scoop (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 stick butter
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt omit if using salted butter
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1¼ cups all purpose flour
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¾ cup M&M's candy
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Microwave butter for 45 seconds (it will be partially melted). Note: If your butter is not straight from the fridge and has already softened to room temperature, skip microwaving.1 stick butter
- Cream together butter and brown sugar on medium speed until mixture gets light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.¾ cup brown sugar
- Reduce mixer speed to low. Add egg and mix until fully incorporated, about 1 minute.1 egg
- Mix in vanilla, salt, and baking soda.½ tsp vanilla, ¼ tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp baking soda
- Add flour a half cup at a time and mix until all flour is incorporated.1¼ cups all purpose flour
- Mix in chocolate chips and M&Ms. (Optional: Reserve some of the M&M's to press a few on top of each cookie before baking. This will make sure the M&M's are visible in every cookie.)½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, ¾ cup M&M's candy
- Using a cookie scoop or spoon, form dough into balls and place onto a greased cookie sheet.
- Bake for about 10 minutes or until cookies are golden brown.
- Let cookies cool on the cookie sheet for about 5 minutes before removing from the cookie sheet.
