If you have a soft spot for cookies that are tender, colorful, and loaded with playful bursts of chocolatey M&M goodness, then this Soft M&M Cookies Recipe will quickly become your new favorite treat to bake and devour. These cookies strike the perfect balance between chewy and soft, with a buttery dough that melts in your mouth and festive candy pieces that add just the right pop of sweetness and crunch. Whether you’re baking for a crowd, a family snack, or just self-indulgence, this recipe delivers warm comfort with every bite.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Soft M&M Cookies Recipe uses simple, pantry-friendly ingredients that come together effortlessly to create a cookie that’s soft, flavorful, and visually inviting. Every ingredient plays a special role, from the butter that brings richness to the cornstarch, which helps keep the dough tender.
- Unsalted butter: 1 cup softened, for creamy texture and rich flavor without added salt.
- White sugar: 3/4 cup, balances sweetness and helps with cookie structure.
- Brown sugar: 3/4 cup, adds moisture and a hint of molasses flavor for chewiness.
- Large eggs: 2, bind ingredients and add moisture.
- Vanilla extract: 2 teaspoons, enhances all the sweet flavors.
- White flour: 3 cups, provides the cookie’s body and helps shape its soft crumb.
- Cornstarch: 1 tablespoon, a secret weapon for soft, tender cookies.
- Baking soda: 1 teaspoon, ensures a nice rise and lightness.
- Salt: 1/2 teaspoon, balances sweetness and highlights other flavors.
- M&Ms: 1 1/2 cups, the fun, colorful candy that’s a signature to this beloved cookie.
How to Make Soft M&M Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Make the Cookie Dough
Start by creaming together the softened butter and both sugars on high speed until the mixture is light and creamy. This creates a luscious base that helps give your cookies their soft texture. Then, add the eggs and vanilla, beating just until combined—overmixing here can toughen the dough, so be gentle. Next, sprinkle the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt evenly over your wet ingredients and mix on low speed until everything just comes together into a dough. Be sure to fold in the M&Ms at the end to prevent them from breaking and to spread those colorful candies throughout each cookie.
Step 2: Chill the Dough
Pop the cookie dough into the fridge for at least one hour, or you can let it chill overnight if you’re planning ahead. This step relaxes the dough, making it easier to handle and enhancing the flavors. Plus, chilling helps keep the cookies from spreading too much in the oven, so you get thick, soft beauties.
Step 3: Bake to Perfection
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line your baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats. Using a cookie scoop, portion out the dough and place the scoops two inches apart to give the cookies room to expand. Bake each batch for 10 to 12 minutes—you’re looking for cookies that look set in the middle and are just lightly browned around the edges. Remember, these cookies are meant to be soft, so don’t overbake or you’ll lose that signature tenderness.
Step 4: Cool and Enjoy
Allow the freshly baked cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 to 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This short cooling period helps them firm up just enough to handle without losing any softness. Once cooled, get ready to enjoy the melty, colorful joy of these Soft M&M Cookies.
How to Serve Soft M&M Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
While these cookies are perfectly stunning on their own, you can add a sprinkle of flaky sea salt just before baking for a sophisticated salty-sweet twist. Another charming idea is to press a few extra M&Ms on top of each cookie dough ball before baking for an extra pop of color and candy goodness that’s impossible to resist.
Side Dishes
Pair these soft treats with a tall glass of cold milk for the classic combo, or serve them alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream to turn your snack into a decadent dessert. They also make a delightful companion to hot chocolate or coffee, brightening up any cozy afternoon or party spread.
Creative Ways to Present
If you’re thinking ahead for a party or special occasion, arrange your M&M cookies on a colorful platter garnished with fresh berries and mint leaves for a festive look. You can also sandwich them with frosting or peanut butter for a fun twist, creating little cookie sandwiches that kids and adults alike will adore. Wrapping a few in parchment and tying with a ribbon makes for charming homemade gifts that everyone will love.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
To keep your Soft M&M Cookies fresh and soft, store them in an airtight container at room temperature, separated by layers of parchment paper to prevent sticking. They’ll stay moist and delicious for up to 4 days, making them an excellent make-ahead treat for busy weeks.
Freezing
You can freeze both the dough and the baked cookies! For the dough, scoop portions onto a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag—bake directly from frozen, adding a couple extra minutes to bake time. For baked cookies, place them in a sealed container or freezer bag, and thaw at room temperature or warm briefly in the oven to refresh that soft texture.
Reheating
When you’re ready to enjoy the cookies again, gently reheat them in a 300-degree Fahrenheit oven for about 5 minutes or microwave for 10-second bursts until warm. This brings back that just-baked softness and the melty M&M chocolate experience you crave.
FAQs
Can I substitute the M&Ms with other types of chocolate chips?
Absolutely! While M&Ms give this recipe its signature colorful pop, you can swap them for semi-sweet chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, or even white chocolate chips to mix things up. Just keep the quantity the same for best results.
Why is cornstarch used in this Soft M&M Cookies Recipe?
Cornstarch is a little trick used by many bakers to keep cookies super soft and tender. It helps weaken the gluten formation in flour, which means your cookies won’t turn out tough or crispy, but delightfully soft all around.
Can I make the dough without chilling it? What happens?
Skipping the chilling step is possible, but your cookies might spread more during baking and lose some of that prized softness and thickness. Chilling also deepens the flavor, so it’s worth the wait if you want the perfect texture and taste.
How can I make these cookies vegan or dairy-free?
You can use a dairy-free butter substitute and flax or chia eggs in place of regular eggs. Keep in mind that texture and flavor might differ slightly, but this Soft M&M Cookies Recipe is very adaptable with the right swaps.
Can these cookies be made gluten-free?
Yes, you can try substituting the white flour with a gluten-free all-purpose blend that includes xanthan gum for structure. The texture may vary a bit, but many have had great success making soft, chewy M&M cookies gluten-free!
Final Thoughts
There’s something truly magical about biting into a Soft M&M Cookies Recipe that yields melt-in-your-mouth softness combined with those vibrant candy bursts. This recipe is one you’ll want to keep coming back to, whether it’s for a quick weekend treat or a crowd-pleasing celebration cookie. Don’t hesitate—grab your ingredients and start baking yourself a batch of happiness today!
Print
Soft M&M Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Deliciously soft and chewy M&M cookies made with a perfectly balanced blend of butter, sugars, and vanilla, complemented by colorful M&Ms for a fun twist. These cookies are chilled for enhanced texture and baked until just lightly browned, ensuring a tender gooey center every time.
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups white flour
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Add-ins
- 1 1/2 cups M&Ms
Instructions
- Make cookie dough: In a large bowl, add softened butter and both white and brown sugars. Beat on high speed using a hand mixer with a hook attachment until the mixture is creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, then beat on medium speed until just combined. Gradually sprinkle the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt evenly over the wet ingredients and beat on low speed just until a cookie dough forms. Avoid overmixing. Fold in the M&Ms gently to distribute evenly.
- Chill: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a lid and place the cookie dough in the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight. This step helps the dough firm up, which improves cookie texture and flavor.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. Using a cookie scoop, portion the dough into balls and place them on the lined baking sheets spaced about 2 inches apart. Bake the cookies in batches for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned and the centers look set but still soft. Avoid overbaking to maintain softness.
- Cool: Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool on them for 5 to 10 minutes. Then transfer the cookies to a wire cooling rack to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- Chilling the dough is crucial for soft texture and prevents excessive spreading during baking.
- Use room temperature butter for easy creaming with sugar to achieve the best dough consistency.
- Do not overmix after adding flour to avoid tough cookies.
- For even softer cookies, reduce baking time slightly and monitor closely near the end.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.
