Easter M&M Cookies

Easter M&M Cookies are thick and chewy with those irresistible peanut butter M&M moments throughout. They bake in 10 minutes and have that soft, rich texture I always want in a cookie.

I took a casual stroll down the candy aisle the other day and saw the most adorable Easter Egg Peanut Butter M&Ms. Into my cart they went.

The only reason I allow myself to buy peanut butter M&Ms is if I bake with them, because they are not safe around me. Or I am not safe around them. Probably both. Sort of like these cookies aren’t safe around me. These sit somewhere between classic, thick chocolate chip cookies and my peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, and I can’t put them down!

Ingredients & Substitutions

• All-purpose flour: Provides structure so the cookies hold their shape.
• Cake flour: Softens the texture and keeps the cookies tender. This combination is what gives that bakery-style chew.
• Unsalted butter: Slightly softened butter creams better and creates a smooth dough.
• Dark brown sugar: Adds moisture and deep flavor, which keeps the cookies soft.
• Granulated sugar: Balances sweetness and helps with spread.
• Peanut butter M&Ms: The star. Use Easter versions for color or standard ones year-round.
• Mini chocolate chips: Distribute evenly so every bite has chocolate.

You can find full nutrition information in the recipe card below.

Variations for Easter M&M Cookies

• Switch the candy. Use regular peanut butter M&Ms or even plain chocolate M&Ms if that’s what you have on hand. You can play with the add-ins here, swapping in milk chocolate or dark chocolate depending on your mood.
• Add texture. Fold in chopped peanuts or pretzels for a salty crunch that balances the sweetness. That rich, nutty depth you get in brown butter chocolate chip cookies would work beautifully here too.
• Make them smaller. Use smaller dough balls and reduce bake time slightly for more classic-sized cookies.

Professional Tips

• Chill for thickness. Refrigerating the dough (2 hours to overnight) helps control spread and gives you a thicker, chewier cookie.
• Do not overbake. The centers should look slightly underdone when you pull them. They will continue to set as they cool. For an even softer texture, try my cream cheese chocolate chip cookies next!
• Use large dough balls. About half a tennis ball size keeps the centers soft and prevents the M&Ms from overwhelming the dough.

How to Make Easter M&M Cookies

Use these instructions to make the perfect Easter M&M Cookies every time! Further details and measurements can be found in the recipe card below.

Step 1: Preheat the oven. Preheat the oven to 375°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. This takes about 5–10 minutes.

Step 2: Mix dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined (about 1–2 minutes). Set aside.

Step 3: Cream butter and sugars. In a stand mixer, cream butter and both sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes. The mixture should look pale and slightly aerated.

Step 4: Add eggs and vanilla. Beat in eggs and vanilla until fully incorporated, about 1 minute. Make sure your wet ingredients are fully incorporated before adding the flour for the smoothest dough.

Step 5: Add flour gradually. Add the dry ingredients in about 5 additions, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.

Step 6: Fold in mix-ins. Stir in peanut butter M&Ms and mini chocolate chips until evenly distributed.

Step 7: Chill dough. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight for thicker cookies. If skipping, expect more spread.

The dough keeps well in the fridge for a day or can be portioned and stored in the freezer.

Step 8: Shape dough balls. Roll dough into balls about half the size of a tennis ball. Place 1 inch apart on baking sheets.

Step 9: Bake cookies. Bake for 8–10 minutes until edges are set but centers still look slightly underbaked.

Step 10: Cool and set. Let cookies cool on the pan for several minutes before transferring. They will firm up as they cool.

Recipe FAQs

Before You Go

I hope you enjoyed these soft and chewy bakery-style cookies. Check out our other delicious cookie recipes for more inspiration!