Chocolate M&M Cookies
These Chocolate M&M Cookies are the perfect homemade chocolate cookie studded with M&M's and chocolate chips. They're rich, chewy, and make a nice addition to any cookie platter.
I could eat chocolate cookies every day. I bet a lot of you could too! Chocolate cookies are completely irresistible and adding M&M’s to rich chocolate cookies makes them even more incredible.
If you prefer a really soft and tender cookie, you have to try my chocolate chocolate chip pudding cookies and of course my sour cream sugar cookies.
Ingredients
See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for all ingredients and quantities.
- Butter- Butter makes the cookies taste rich and extra delicious. I think butter gives cookies the best taste and texture when compared to shortening or oil. Butter is best if you ask me!
- Sugar- Granulated sugar makes the cookies sweet. The gritty sugar also helps fluff the butter, adding necessary air to the cookie batter.
- Egg- Egg is needed to bind the cookie dough together as they bake
- Vanilla- Vanilla adds warmth and depth of flavor to the cookies. It also enhances the chocolate taste of the cocoa powder
- Flour- Flour is needed to make any cookie dough! Flour makes cookies bake into actual, round desserts.
- Cocoa Powder- Unsweetened cocoa powder is rich and decadent. Choose dark chocolate cocoa powder for the best flavor.
- Baking Soda- Baking soda will help the cookie dough rise as it bakes
- Chocolate Chips- Melted chocolate chips add even more chocolate to these already chocolatey cookies!
- M&M’s- M&M’s are a beautiful and tasty addition to the chocolate cookies. Use the regular size M&M’s or mini M&Ms. I like the mini candies as they are perfectly sized, giving you M&M’s in each bite.
- Flaked Sea Salt- A sprinkle of flakey sea salt will really enhance the flavor of the cookies. Salt actually makes foods taste sweeter which is just what you want with a cookie recipe!
Keep in mind that one container of unsweetened cocoa powder and one container of sea salt will last you quite a white. Pay a little extra for higher quality since you will be using it for many recipes to come!
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Substitutions and Variations
- Add ½ cup chopped walnuts or almonds for a tasty, nutty cookie
- Use peanut butter chips in place of chocolate chips
- Use holiday colored M&M’s to make the cookies perfect for any occasion!
- Use all M&M’s instead of half chocolate chips for a super candy filled cookie
- Drizzle the cooled cookies with chocolate ganache to add even more chocolate.
- Add crushed candy canes and use Christmas colored M&M’s in December
- Use almond extract in place of vanilla
NOTE: This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations
How to Make Chocolate M&M Cookies
Any cookie baker will look at this recipe and know exactly what to do. It is a pretty straightforward cookie! However, if you are new to baking cookies, you will easily be able to master this recipe as well. Here is how to easily make chocolate M&M cookies.
- Beat the butter and sugar together until very creamy and fluffy. Don’t forget to scrape down the sides of the bowl as you mix! Add the egg and vanilla and stir into a smooth batter.
- Add the flour, cocoa powder and baking soda and mix into a thick cookie dough.
- Stir the chocolate chip and M&M’s into the cookie batter by hand. Let the cookie dough chill.
- Scoop the cookies into tablespoon sized balls and place them on a parchment lined sheet tray, spacing them about 2 inches apart. The cookies will spread as they bake!
- Bake the cookies until they no longer look shiny in the center of the cookie. Remove the tray from the oven, tap it a few times on the counter to flatten the cookies and then sprinkle them with the sea salt.
- Let the cookies cool and then enjoy!
If you try to move the cookies off the baking tray too early, they can break. The cookies are very soft when they come out of the oven. Letting them cool on the baking tray will help them get more firm without over baking.
TIP: If you try to move the cookies off the baking tray too early, they can break. The cookies are very soft when they come out of the oven. Letting them cool on the baking tray will help them get more firm without over baking.
How To Store/Freeze
Once the cookies are cooled, store the chocolate M&M Cookies in an airtight container or storage bag at room temperature for up to 5 days. They may last longer but will become hard so be prepared to dip them in a hot cup of coffee if you're eating them on day 6 or 7.
Freeze The Dough- Make the cookie dough completely, stirring in the chocolate chips and M&M’s at the end. Then, scoop the dough onto a cookie tray, loosely cover the tray with plastic wrap and place the cookie tray in the freezer. Once the cookie dough balls are frozen, move them into a freezer bag. Freeze the cookie dough for up to 3 months.
Anytime you’d like a freshly baked chocolate M&M cookie, place the frozen cookie dough ball on a sheet tray and bake! The cookies will bake for about a minute longer than when the dough is fresh. This is a great way to easily make cookies anytime you want!
Freezing Baked Cookies- Let the cookies cool completely and then place in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag. Place in the freezer for up to 2 months. Let them thaw on the counter at room temperature an hour or two before serving.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! I actually love using mini M&M’s in this recipe because then you get M&M’s in every single bite.
I chill the cookie dough for about 30 minutes before baking. This will make the cookie dough just a little more firm but still soft enough to scoop. Chilled cookie dough bakes nicer, making tender, tall cookies that you won’t be able to resist!
You definitely can freeze chocolate M&M cookies! Place the baked, cooled cookies in a freezer bag and seal the bag well. Freeze the baked cookies for up to two months. When you are ready to enjoy them, simply place them at room temperature for about an hour and they will be as good as the day they were baked!
You can also pop a baked, frozen cookie in the oven for about 2-3 minutes to thaw it and also melt the chocolate inside. Such a yummy treat!
Check out the section above about how to store chocolate M&M cookies for tips about freezing cookie dough to bake for later.
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Chocolate M&M Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- ½ cup M&M's
- flaked sea salt for garnish
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add the butter and granulated sugar. With a hand mixer on medium speed, beat until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract. Beat until combined.
- Add the flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder to the wet ingredients. Beat on low until the flour and cocoa powder is mostly worked in and turn the mixer to medium and beat until completely incorporated.
- Stir in the chocolate chips and M&Ms until they’re evenly distributed into the cookie dough.
- Cover the cookie dough with plastic wrap and place in the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes.
- While the dough chills, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Once the dough has chilled, use a 1 tablespoon cookie scoop and scoop the dough out onto a parchment lined baking sheet 2 inches apart.
- Add 2 additional M&M’s and 1 to 2 chocolate chips on the top of the balls of cookie dough and slightly press in.
- Place the cookies in the preheated oven for 12 to 14 minutes until the edges are set.
- When you remove the cookies from the oven, tap the cookie sheet on the counter a few times to help the cookies sink while they rest. Allow the cookies to cool 5 to 10 minutes on the cookie sheet before transferring them to the wire rack or paper towel to cool completely.
- Sprinkle with sea salt flakes, if desired.
- Once the cookies are completely cool, place them in an airtight container and store at room temperature.
Notes
Nutrition
(Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.)
Made ten dozen today. Lovely tasty colourful polka dot cookies