If you are looking for an amazing cookie recipe for the holidays you are in the right place! This is the best M&M cookies recipe! Easy and straightforward to make, pretty to look at and a joy to eat! These giant cookies take less than 30 minutes to make.
Holiday season means cookie exchanges and sweet treats and these cookies are so festive! This is such a great recipe, even if I do say so myself!
How to Make The Best M&M Cookies Recipe
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Heat oven to 350°F and adjust baking rack to middle position. Line 2-3 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
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In the bowl of an electric mixer, add granulated sugar and brown sugar. Turn mixer to low and mix just to combine.
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Add shortening and softened butter, turn mixer to medium and beat 3 minutes or until lighter in color and smooth.
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Add vanilla and beat on medium 30 seconds.
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Add eggs one-at-a-time, mixing just until incorporated after each addition. Turn off the mixer.
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In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and coarse salt and kosher salt.
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Add flour mixture to the sugar/butter mixture and turn mixer to low speed. Mix just until flour mixture is incorporated.
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Fold in 1¾ cup M&M candies.
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If time allows, cover, refrigerate and let the dough rest 1-24 hours. If time doesn’t allow, the cookies can be baked immediately and are still terrific without the rest time.
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Drop the dough, using a 2” scoop (about 1½ tablespoons), onto the baking sheets about 2-inches apart (12 cookies to a baking sheet).
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Press 3-4 additional candies into each cookie.
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Bake cookies at 350°F for 9 minutes or just until the edges of the cookies start to set and are a little firmer to the touch.
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Place baking sheets with cookies on a cooling rack for 2 minutes, then transfer cookies directly to the cooling rack.
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Enjoy the best M&M Cookies!
How do you know when the cookies are done baking?
These cookies don’t take long to bake, just 9 minutes, so keep your eye on them. Bake them just until the edges of the cookies start to set and are a little firmer to the touch. The edges should brown just ever so slightly. The cookies will continue to bake once they are removed from the oven and will harden as they cool.
Why this is the best M&M cookie recipe
- This recipe makes a batch of 30 cookies, so it’s a great recipe for a cookie exchange – lots to go around!
- Brown sugar is used in the cookies for a richer and deeper flavor.
- The dough doesn’t need to be rested if you are short on time.
- They are ready in less than 30 minutes.
The Best M&M cookies are perfect for all of your holiday needs!
If you are like me, during the festive period there are always cookies out for people! I like to have at least a couple of batches on the go at all times! Once these coolies have cooled to room temperature, store them in an airtight container and the will be good for about 3 days. You can also freeze the cookies and then thaw them at room temperature.
If you want a more chocolatey version of this, try these M&M Brownie Cookies.
Top Tips to Make The Best M&M Cookies Recipe
- If coarse sea salt isn’t available, use 1 teaspoon kosher salt.
- If time allows, cover, refrigerate and let the dough rest 1-24 hours. If time doesn’t allow, the cookies can be baked immediately and are still terrific without the rest time.
- Let the cookies cool slightly before moving them to the cooling rack.
Be sure to check out these other holiday cookie recipes!
- Christmas M&M Cookies
- Christmas Butter Cookies Recipe with Powdered Sugar Icing
- Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Movie Night Cookies (Popcorn, Reese’s, Junior Mints, & more)
- Best Snickerdoodle Cookies
- Chocolate Mint Cookies (Creme de Menthe Thumbprint Cookies Recipe)
- Saltine Cracker Toffee with Chocolate (Chocolate Saltine Toffee Cookies)
- Easy Christmas Cookies to Make this Year (Best Holiday Cookies)
Recipe Card
M&M Cookies Recipe
If you are looking for an amazing cookie recipe for the holidays you are in the right place! This is the best M&M cookies recipe! Easy and straightforward to make, pretty to look at and a joy to eat! These giant cookies take less than 30minutes to make.
Ingredients
- 1 cup granulated sugar 200 grams
- 1 cup dark brown sugar 213 grams
- ⅔ cup vegetable shortening 123 grams (⅔ stick)
- ⅔ cup unsalted butter 151 grams, room temperature (1⅓ stick)
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 8 grams
- 2 large eggs 100 grams, room temperature
- 2¾ cup all-purpose flour 330 grams
- 1 teaspoon baking soda 6 grams
- ½ teaspoon coarse sea salt (SEE NOTE)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2½ cups M&M's candies 425 grams, divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and adjust baking rack to middle position. Line 2-3 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the granulated sugar and brown sugar together on low until just combined.1 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup dark brown sugar
- Add the shortening and butter, turn mixer to medium speed, and beat until lighter in color and smooth, about 3 minutes.⅔ cup vegetable shortening, ⅔ cup unsalted butter
- Add the vanilla and beat on medium speed for 30 seconds.2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing just until incorporated after each addition. Turn off the mixer.2 large eggs
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, coarse salt, and kosher salt together.2¾ cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon coarse sea salt, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Add the flour mixture to the sugar/butter mixture and turn the mixer to low speed. Mix just until flour mixture is incorporated.
- Fold in 1¾ cup M&M candies.2½ cups M&M's candies
- If time allows, cover, refrigerate and let the dough rest 1-24 hours. If time doesn’t allow, the cookies can be baked immediately and are still terrific without the rest time.
- Drop the dough, using a 2-inch cookie scoop (about 1½ tablespoons), onto the baking sheets about 2 inches apart (12 cookies to a baking sheet).
- Press 3-4 additional candies into each cookie.
- Bake cookies at 350°F for 9 minutes, or just until the edges of the cookies start to set and are a little firmer to the touch.
- Place baking sheets with cookies on a cooling rack for 2 minutes, then transfer cookies directly to the cooling rack.
Video
Becky's Tips
- NOTE: If coarse sea salt isn’t available, use 1 teaspoon kosher salt.
- If time allows, cover, refrigerate and let the dough rest 1-24 hours. If time doesn’t allow, the cookies can be baked immediately and are still terrific without the rest time.
- Let the cookies cool slightly before moving them to the cooling rack.
Serving: 1cookieCalories: 264kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 2gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 134mgPotassium: 28mgFiber: 1gSugar: 25gVitamin A: 183IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 31mgIron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
I’m messed these up bc I didn’t have shortening. I looked up a substitute for shortening and read that butter could be substituted 1:1 for shortening. WRONG! it was runny, buttery river of M&Ms. I’m a novice baker – Most bakers would have known better. Saving the recipe for another time! I’ll do it right next time.
Let the dough chill in the fridge for a while before baking!
I only gave regular table salt. How much would I substitute for the other salts??
Half the amount!
How many cookies does the recipe make?
30 cookies!
These cookies were absolutely fantastic! My go-to recipe from now on!
Thanks for sharing!!
Love that these are loaded with m&m’s & big! One of the best cookies!
I’m happy to hear you loved these!
these cookies are so great
Thank you, Rachael!
Have you ever made this in bar pan form rather than individual cookies?
I haven’t yet, but that’s a great idea!
My kids love these cookies – and pretty much everything M&M!
My kids are going to LOVE these!! Perfect for the holidays!
These came out so good! My kids helped me make them so we didn’t refrigerate the dough first but still a hit!