Homemade M&M Cookies

Colorful M&Ms added to cookies make a cookie tray more fun! These easy Homemade M&M Cookies are a family favorite at Christmas and all throughout the year.

Easy M&M Cookie Recipe

We love mixing M&Ms into Monster Cookies, Cheerio and M&M Cereal Bars and M&M Oatmeal Cookie Bars. While kids are always drawn to cookies and desserts with candy adults have more fun eating them too!

Our favorite time of the year to make these M&M Cookies is at Christmas. Grab the holiday colored M&Ms to be even more festive.

The colorful candies mixed into the cookies and sprinkled on top really brighten up a Christmas cookie tray. We love to serve these with Sour Cream Cookies, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Chip Cookies and Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies.

The secret to making the BEST M&M cookies is to reserve about 1/2 cup of the M&Ms and put about three on top of each ball of cookie dough before placing in the oven. Put the M&Ms toward the center of the dough ball so they will spread out evenly and beautifully as the cookie bakes.

If using mini M&Ms decrease the amount of candy to 1 1/3 cups instead of the 1 1/2 cups of regular sized M&Ms. Peanut butter M&Ms are another great substitution for these cookies.

In the summer we love spreading vanilla ice cream on the flat side of the cookie and making an M&M ice cream sandwich. Or better yet, just enjoy a warm cookie with some super soft Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream.

What’s Needed to Make M and M Cookies

• Butter flavored shortening
• Granulated sugar
• Brown sugar
• Vanilla
• Eggs
• All-purpose flour
• Baking soda
• Salt
• M&Ms

Tips for Making Cookies with M&Ms

• A baking sheet with a non-stick liner makes baking these cookies easier
• Reserve 1/2 cup of M&Ms to place on top of balls of dough before baking
• If using mini M&Ms reduce the amount to 1 1/3 or 1 1/4 cups of M&Ms since so many more fit in a measuring cup
• Half of the M&Ms can be substituted with chocolate chips if desired
• Be sure not to over bake these cookies. Practice makes perfect and it takes time to learn to pull the cookies out of the oven just before they turn brown on the edges. The cookies in this pic are slightly over baked.

How to Make M&M Cookies

In a mixing bowl beat together butter flavored shortening, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Shortening will help make the cookie more tender.

Since it’s shelf-stable and can be stored in the cupboard it’s always room temperature which makes mixing so much easier!

Add in eggs and vanilla. Beat well.

Turn the mixer off and use a silicone spatula to clean the sides of the mixing bowl. Mix well again.

Mix or sift together all of the dry ingredients except the M&Ms.

Add about 1/4 or 1/3 of the dry ingredients to the sugar mixture at a time.

Turn the mixer off to pour the flour in and then start at a low speed to avoid getting flour all over the counter.

Once most of the flour is incorporated turn the mixer up to medium speed until the batter is mixed well.

Use that silicone spatula to clean off the beater. Then mix in 1 cup of M&Ms by hand.

Admire the beauty of this M&M cookie, but not for too long because we need to get some cookies baked!

Use a cookie scoop or drop spoonfuls of dough onto a lined baking sheet.

Place 3 or 4 M&Ms on top of each drop of dough and bake in a 350°F oven for 8 to 10 minutes.

Remove from oven just before the edges begin to turn brown. Enjoy served warm with a cold glass of milk!

Other Delicious Cookie Recipes

• Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies A cocoa batter with chocolate chunks and macadamia nuts makes a memorable treat!
• No-Bake Cornflake Cookies are cornflakes with a sweet glaze peanut butter glaze and rolled into balls.
• Cowboy Cookie Bars are one of my husband’s favorite cookies. Be sure not to overbake them and you’ll love this recipe!
• Farmhouse Applesauce Raisin Cookies are an old-fashioned cookie with familiar flavors that are always popular!

Printable Homemade M&M Cookies Recipe