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Home » Desserts

SOFT AND CHEWY M&M CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Updated: May 3, 2026 · Published: May 20, 2025 by Sana Umer · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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These soft and chewy M&M chocolate chip cookies are a treat everyone loves. Packed with chocolate chips and colourful M&Ms, they’re great for birthdays, bake sales, or anytime you want something sweet.

They come together quickly using simple pantry staples. No fancy ingredients or chill time is needed, so you can make them on a whim. The dough is easy to mix and scoop, making this a family-friendly recipe.

The key to their soft texture is using the right ratio of brown and white sugars. Brown sugar adds moisture and flavour, while white sugar keeps the structure. Perfectly soft cookies with a slight crunch on the edges and melty chocolate.

M&Ms give these cookies a colourful, festive look, making them perfect for holidays. You can even customise the colours—red and green for Christmas, pastels for Easter, or team colours for game day.

These cookies are also great for gifting. Pack them in cellophane or cookie boxes for a sweet surprise. They stay soft for days and are always a crowd-pleaser at potlucks or parties. You’ll want to double the batch because they disappear fast!

WHY YOU WILL LOVE THIS RECIPE

  • Perfectly Soft Texture: These cookies stay soft in the centre while having golden, slightly crisp edges that offer the perfect balance.

  • Chocolate in Every Bite: Loaded with chocolate chips and M&Ms, every bite delivers a sweet, melty burst of chocolatey goodness.

  • Customisable for Holidays: Switch out M&M colours to match holidays, seasons, or themed events for extra festive fun.

  • No Chill Time Required: No need to refrigerate the dough—just mix, scoop, and bake for quick, satisfying results.

  • Kid-Friendly Fun: Children love helping make these cookies, especially adding the colourful M&Ms on top before baking.

  • Great for Gifting: They stay soft for days and look bright and cheerful—ideal for wrapping up and sharing with friends or family.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 cup M&M candies

DIRECTIONS

  • Step No.1: Preheat the oven
    Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

  • Step No.2: Cream butter and sugars
    In a large mixing bowl, cream together softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.

  • Step No.3: Add eggs and vanilla
    Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract. Mix well until smooth.

  • Step No.4: Combine dry ingredients
    In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to the wet mixture and stir until combined.

  • Step No.5: Fold in chocolate
    Fold in the chocolate chips and about ¾ cup of M&Ms, reserving the rest for topping.

  • Step No.6: Scoop and bake
    Scoop tablespoon-sized dough balls onto prepared baking sheets. Press a few extra M&Ms on top. Bake for 9–11 minutes until edges are set.

  • Step No.7: Cool and enjoy
    Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

  • Room-temperature butter: Softened butter ensures even mixing and a light, fluffy cookie dough.

  • Measure flour carefully: Too much flour makes cookies cakey—spoon and level for accurate measuring.

  • Don’t overbake: Cookies should be slightly underdone in the center for the best chewy texture.

  • Add M&Ms on top: Press extra candies on top before baking for a bakery-style look.

  • Use parchment paper: Prevents sticking and helps cookies bake evenly without spreading too much.

  • Chill if needed: If dough is too soft, a quick 15-minute chill firms it up nicely.

  • Double the batch: These go fast—make extra and freeze half for cookie emergencies.

VARIATIONS

  • Mini M&M version: Use mini M&Ms for extra candy in every bite and an adorable bite-size look.

  • Holiday twist: Use red and green M&Ms for Christmas or pastels for Easter for festive cookies.

  • Peanut butter boost: Add ¼ cup peanut butter to the dough and use peanut M&Ms for a fun twist.

  • Oatmeal version: Mix in ½ cup rolled oats for a heartier texture and nutty flavour.

  • Nutty crunch: Stir in chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds for extra texture and richness.

  • white chocolate chips: Replace semi-sweet with white chocolate chips for a sweeter, creamier flavour profile.

  • gluten-free diet option: Use 1:1 gluten-free baking flour for a delicious alternative without wheat.

SERVING AND STORAGE

Serving

Serve warm with milk, coffee, or cocoa for a comforting treat. Perfect for parties, lunchboxes, or cookie platters.

Storage

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 2 months.

FAQ

Can I use only M&Ms without chocolate chips?

Yes, you can use just M&Ms if you prefer. Adjust the quantity to about 1½ cups total mix-ins.

Why are my cookies flat?

Too-soft butter or overmixing can cause flat cookies. Make sure butter is softened, not melted, and don’t overbeat.

Can I freeze the dough?

Yes! Freeze pre-scooped dough balls and bake from frozen, adding 1–2 minutes to the bake time.

How do I make them extra chewy?

Use more brown sugar than white and don’t overbake. Slight underbaking keeps centres soft and chewy.

Can I use other candies?

Sure! Try Reese’s Pieces, chopped mini peanut butter cups, or chocolate chunks.

Soft and chewy M&M chocolate chip cookies are the kind of treat everyone gravitates toward.

Their colourful, candy-studded tops make them stand out on any cookie tray, while the buttery, gooey texture keeps people reaching for seconds.

They’re classic comfort cookies with a fun twist, perfect for any age or occasion.

Baking them is simple and satisfying.

You’ll appreciate how quickly the dough comes together without requiring any chill time.

They’re a dependable go-to for bake sales, after-school snacks, or weekend treats.

The ability to customise the colours makes them an easy win for themed celebrations or holiday parties.

SOFT AND CHEWY M&M CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Sana Umer
These Soft and Chewy M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies are thick, gooey, and bursting with colourful candy crunch. A perfect treat for holidays, parties, or anytime cookie cravings strike.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 12 minutes mins
Chill time: 30 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24 cookies
Calories 250 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the Cookies:

  • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
  • ¾ cup brown sugar packed
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup M&M candies plus extra for topping

Instructions
 

Preheat the Oven:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

Mix Dry Ingredients:

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

Cream Butter and Sugars:

  • In a large bowl, beat butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg, egg yolk, and vanilla; mix well.

Combine Wet and Dry:

  • Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until combined. Fold in chocolate chips and M&Ms.

Scoop and Bake:

  • Scoop dough into 1½-inch balls and place on baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart. Press a few extra M&Ms on top. Bake for 10–12 minutes, until edges are golden.

Cool:

  • Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

  • Thicker Cookies: Chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking.
  • Add-Ins: Try using peanut butter M&Ms or festive seasonal colours.
  • Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
  • Freezing: Cookie dough balls can be frozen for up to 2 months.
  • Serving Tip: Warm slightly before serving for an extra gooey bite!
Keyword chewy chocolate chip cookies, easy cookie recipe, easy holiday cookies, M&M cookies, soft cookies

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About Sana Umer

I'm Sana Umer — the home cook behind every recipe on For Foodie Friends. I'm a Pakistani-American mom of two based in the US, and I've been cooking seriously for about a decade now, mostly because feeding a family every day is the fastest way to learn how to actually cook.

I'm completely self-taught. I learned by watching my mother in Pakistan, by burning a lot of food in my early years, and by paying attention to which recipes worked and which ones needed fixing. I don't specialize in just one cuisine — I cook the Pakistani dishes I grew up with, the American desserts my kids request, weeknight dinners, holiday roasts, and everything in between.

Every recipe is personally tested in my own kitchen, every word is written by me, and every photo is taken of food I actually made.

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Hi, I'm Sana Umer — the home cook, recipe tester, and writer behind For Foodie Friends.

I'm a Pakistani-American mom based in the US. I learned to cook in two kitchens — my mother's in Pakistan, where I grew up watching whole spices bloom in oil, and my own kitchen now, where I cook for my husband and kids.

Every recipe on this site has been tested in my own kitchen, often more times than I'd like to admit, before it ever made it here. I cook a little bit of everything: the Pakistani comfort food I grew up with, the American desserts my kids beg for, weeknight dinners that need to come together fast, and the holiday spreads that take all day.

If a recipe is on this site, it earned its place. No ghostwriters, no AI shortcuts, no copy-paste from somewhere else — just real recipes from a real kitchen, written to actually work the first time you make them.

Welcome to my corner of the internet.

— Sana

More about me →

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