Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (2024)

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by Kathleen Pope Updated: Mar 29, 2022

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Chewy center; crispy, caramelized edges, not too fat, not too thin; thick & chewy m & m Chocolate Chip Cookies!These bakery-style chocolate chip m&m cookies will make anyone smile, tried and true recipe. Change the m&m’s and change the look. High altitude chocolate chip cookie adjustments included.

Who doesn’t love a chewy, soft, chocolate chip cookie, then toss in regular or mini m & m’s and you have a party!

If you love chocolate chip cookies; you will love these reader favorites: Best Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies, Cake Batter Chocolate Chip Cookies, Triple Chocolate Cookies and Chocolate Chip Pudding Cookies.

Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (2)

I’ve spent years perfecting my chocolate chip cookie. Especially at high altitude, it has to have just the right chewy to softness factor, loads of rich chocolate and sprinkled with a tiny hint of sea-salt. Adding regular or mini M&M’s just dresses it up and adds even more chocolate!

The recipe is so simple really, follow my Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe, omitting the ⅔ cup chocolate chunks and replacing them with 1 cup M&M’s of your favorite color.You can swap out any holiday M&M’s! Think Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s day and more!

Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (3)

The handy printable recipe is below, but for step-by-step visuals, refer back to the Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe post.

Ingredients for Mini M & M Cookies

Here are the basics, but remember, quantities and instructions are in the printable recipe card at the end of the post.

  • BUTTER | the real deal, no substitutes (if it’s soft coming out of the fridge, it’s a butter blend, not real butter)
  • GRANULATED SUGAR | I use all-natural cane sugar in my baking, if using cream 1-2 minutes longer
  • LIGHT BROWN SUGAR | Be sure to pack it in!
  • EGGS | I typically use large eggs in my baking
  • VANILLA EXTRACT | If you have never made your own vanilla extract, now is the time!
  • ALL PURPOSE FLOUR | I use organic unbleached all-purpose flour, you can use regular AP Flour
  • CHOCOLATE CHIPS, MINI CHOCOLATE CHIPS (or SWAP out one of the two for Chocolate chunks
  • M&M’s | use regular or mini, combine leftover packages. Use seasonal colors for holiday cookies.

How to Make m & m Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have detailed each step in the recipe card below.

Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (4)

Once the batter is made, scoop onto parchment lined baking sheets, I usually scoop with a medium cookie scoop and can fit 12 on a half sheet.

Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (5)

These cookies are FABULOUS packaged up in the dough ball form and given to family, friends, co-workers and neighbors as gifts over the holidays.

To flash freeze the m & m Chocolate Chip cookies, scoop them next to each other on a parchment lined half sheet baking pan, freeze for 1 hour until firm, then separate into half dozen or dozen dough balls and wrap into parchment paper.

Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (6)

Check out my post on how to package cookie dough for gifting, fun, yummy, creative gifts!!

Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (7)
Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (8)

Best Cookies for Gift Giving or Christmas Cookie Exchanges

I love a super versatile cookie like this one, change the m & m’s and use seasonal chocolate chip colors and you have a fun and festive cookie great for cookie exchanges and gifting.

Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (9)

Variations

  • Swap out regular m & m’s for Christmas, Valentine’s day, any seasonal or specialty m & m.
  • Use mini m & m’s for a fun twist
  • Try different chip flavors; butterscotch, peanut butter, milk chocolate, white chocolate, just stick to the same total amount.

What people are saying about High Altitude Chewy m & m Chocolate Chip Cookies

I can not thank you enough! I live in Silverton, Colorado (9,318ft) and I have yet to make super chewy cookies at this elevation. The soft & chewy m&m cookies have perfect consistency!!! I am a cookie fanatic, and a few local places sell homemade cookies. I know these ladies will keep their secrets, but I now have one of my own! You rock! Thanks so much!!!

Want MORE, chewy, soft, amazing cookies? Click here!

Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (10)

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Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (11)

Epic Chewy m & m Chocolate Chip Cookies

An American cookie tradition, the ultimate chewy chocolate chip chewy cookie, crisp on the edges, soft, and chewy centers with oodles of chocolate and any season m & m you want to use!

4.82 from 11 votes

Click stars to rate now!

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Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 36 cookies

Calories: 159kcal

Author: Kathleen | The Fresh Cooky 2021

Ingredients

  • 1 cup 2 sticks, softened butter (the real deal, no substitutes)
  • cup white sugar I use, organic all-natural cane sugar [¾ cup if not high altitude]
  • cup brown sugar packed [¾ cup if not high altitude]
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 ½ cups flour [2 cups if not high altitude]
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoon water [omit if not high altitude]
  • 1 cup chocolate chips use a good quality chocolate chip
  • ½ cup mini chocolate chips
  • 1 cup seasonal M&M’s
  • Flaky Sea Salt for sprinkling on top of baked cookies optional I love Maldon Flaky Sea Salt

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375° F. Cream softened butter in mixer, 1-2 minutes, until light and fluffy, scrape down edges of bowl.

  • Add both granulated and brown sugar and cream well, beat on medium-high for 2-4 minutes, scraping down sides about half way between. (About 4 minutes if using natural cane sugar). Scrape down sides of bowl.

  • Add eggs, one at a time, cream on medium-high 1 minute for each egg addition, scrape down sides in between. Add vanilla and mix well.

  • While creaming butter and sugar mixture; in a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking soda and salt gently with a whisk. With mixer on low/stir, slowly pour in ½ cup of flour mixture at a time and gently mix, add water in between flour additions, don’t over mix.

  • Once mixed well, scrape sides of bowl and pour in chocolate chips, minis and seasonal M&M’s, stir (with low on mixer or by hand) on low, until combined. Scoop into dough balls using a 2-tablespoon scoop onto a parchment lined cookie sheet, 2 inches apart.

  • Place in fridge 10 minutes prior to baking, bake 8-10 minutes until just set and slightly golden. Cool on pan 2-3 minutes and then remove to cooling rack to cool completely. Enjoy warm or room temp.

FREEZING COOKIE DOUGH

  • If not enjoying all the cookies at once, freeze dough balls until firm, then place in freezer ziplock bag until ready to use.

  • Once ready to bake, take out of freezer and place 2 inches apart on parchment lined baking sheet. Allow cookies to soften while the oven preheats to 375 degrees.. Bake as directed above.

  • Always fresh cookies!

Last step! Leave a RatingRate this recipe here. This helps other readers and helps support this website.

Video

Notes

TIPS for the Chewiest Cookies

  • Always use real butter, not butter blends or substitutes.
  • Always, always refrigerate your dough for at least 10 minutes prior to baking, up to 36 hours (covered); 2-3 months if frozen.
  • Remove from oven when edges are golden and appear baked, but centers still appear slightly under-baked.
  • Cool on pan 2-3 minutes before transferring to wire rack.

SMALLER OR LARGER COOKIES | If smaller cookies desired, use a small cookie scoop and bake for 6-8 minutes. If larger cookies are desired, use a large cookie scoop and bake 10-12 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 11 serving | Calories: 159kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 198mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g

Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (12)

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Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (13)

Meet Kathleen

Recipe Innovator | Food Photographer | Food Writer

Hi, I’m Kathleen Pope. Here at The Fresh Cooky you will find easy, mostly from-scratch, trusted recipes for all occasions. From speedy dinners to tasty desserts, with easy step-by-step instructions. I am here to help teach you how to make mouthwatering recipes without spending hours in the kitchen.

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  1. Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (15)Kathy

    Do you use salted butter and add extra salt as the recipe calls for?
    Thank you!

    Reply

    • Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (16)Kathleen Pope

      Yes, Kathy, I always (unless I specify) use salted butter in my cookies, so the salt is in addition. If you are used to baking with unsalted butter, you might try a little less the first time, but in my experience, the salt brings out the flavors tremendously! Hope that helps!

      Reply

  2. Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (17)Donna Ryan

    Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (18)
    Great cookie recipe!

    Reply

    • Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (19)Kathleen Pope

      Thank you so much, Donna!

      Reply

  3. Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (20)Donna Ryan

    I just moved to a high altitude town and am scared when it comes to doing my favorite of all favorites….baking. This recipe was my first go at cookies and I have to say….WOW! I hope you have many more recipes so I can bake away this fall without trying to do all the crazy conversions.

    Reply

    • Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (21)Kathleen Pope

      Welcome to high altitude! So glad you love these, I have been perfecting my HA recipes for 30+ years, so yes, all of the baked goods on my site are adjusted for high altitude or I provide the adjustments for HA if changes are needed!

      Reply

  4. Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (22)Hope

    These are the best cookies I have ever made! Thank you for sharing this recipe!

    Reply

    • Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (23)Kathleen Pope

      Awe, thank you so much Hope, you made my month!

      Reply

  5. Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (24)Chris

    Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (25)
    8200′ Altitude and cookies came out perfect! When living at high altitudes finding recipes for baked goods is critical. These cookies were perfect for taste and came out amazing!

    Reply

  6. Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (26)Rachel Cowo

    The absolute best cookies, I have yet to find for high altitude cooking! I live in a small town, 9,318 above sea level and it was rough finding a recipe that would take to the altitude. This is the only one I will proudly stand by or recommend!!
    Thanks Kathleen!!

    Reply

    • Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (27)Kathleen

      Thank you so much Rachel, you made my day! So glad you love it and that it works at 9,318 feet! I’m at 5280, so good to know it works for another few thousand feet! Thanks again! Be well! Kathleen

      Reply

Soft & Chewy M & M Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to making cookies soft and chewy? ›

Cornstarch gives the cookies that ultra soft consistency we all love. Plus, it helps keep the cookies beautifully thick. We use the same trick when making shortbread cookies. Egg yolk: Another way to promise a super chewy chocolate chip cookie is to use an extra egg yolk.

Can you use regular M&Ms for baking? ›

Absolutely. You will find that you like the outcome as well. You can put peanut butter chips in as well. putting M&M's and peanut butter chips in the batter, then coat the top (after it's baked) in melted chocolate, let that cool and then coat with a peanut butter, or peanut butter frosting.. would be delicious.

How do you keep chocolate chip cookies soft and chewy? ›

Bread. You might be familiar with this tip, as the method is as old as the recipe itself. Place the cookies inside an airtight container with a slice of bread, seal them, and leave for a few hours, preferably overnight.

How do you make cookies soft and chewy vs hard and crisp? ›

Different types of sugars affect the texture because they absorb different amounts of water. Remember moisture is the key! White sugar creates crispier cookies and brown sugar creates chewier cookies.

What is the trick to keep baked goods like cookies soft? ›

This simplest kitchen hack you'll ever love!

If you bake too many cookies (as if there is such a thing!) and are concerned about them going stale, just add a slice of white bread to the storage container to keep them from hardening.

Should I use baking soda or baking powder in cookies? ›

Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

Why do M&Ms not melt in cookies? ›

M&Ms are made with a hard candy shell that protects the chocolate in the center from melting. However, during baking the candy shell might slightly crack from the heat or become more incorporated into the dough. Don't worry, they still taste just as delicious!

Why are my M and M cookies flat? ›

Butter temperature is KEY!

If your butter gets too warm at any stage before baking your cookies, you'll likely end up with flat sad cookies. Start with butter at a cool room temperature, about 67°F. Then keep the dough around that temperature until it hits the oven.

What is the best temperature to bake cookies? ›

Cookie temperatures fluctuate, with some recipes as low as 300 degrees Fahrenheit, and a few as high as 425 degrees Fahrenheit, but most recipes land on 375 or 350 to evenly bake the entirety of the cookie.

Why do my chocolate chip cookies get hard so fast? ›

Overbaking: If you bake your cookies for too long, they can become dry and hard. Make sure to check your cookies frequently as they bake and remove them from the oven when they are just starting to turn golden brown around the edges.

Why are my chocolate chip cookies crunchy instead of soft? ›

Using lower-moisture sugar (granulated) and fat (vegetable shortening), plus a longer, slower bake than normal, produces light, crunchy cookies. That said, using a combination of butter and vegetable shortening (as in the original recipe), or even using all butter, will make an acceptably crunchy chocolate chip cookie.

What makes cookies soft and fluffy? ›

When added to dough, baking soda releases a carbon dioxide gas which helps leaven the dough, creating a soft, fluffy cookie.

Does baking soda or baking powder make cookies chewy? ›

Traditionally, baking soda is the leavening agent in cookies. What is this? While baking soda can make a cookie chewy, if you're baking your cookies long enough to get a crisp bottom and edges, it's easy to lose that bit of softness you need for a cookie to be chewy rather than biscotti-like.

How do you make cookies softer instead of crunchy? ›

Use more egg yolks and less egg whites. Egg yolks add moisture to the dough, while egg whites can make cookies drier and crunchier. Add a bit of cornstarch to the dough. Cornstarch helps to absorb moisture and keep cookies soft and tender.

What does brown sugar do in cookies? ›

Brown sugar, meanwhile, is dense and compacts easily, creating fewer air pockets during creaming—that means that there's less opportunity to entrap gas, creating cookies that rise less and spread more. With less moisture escaping via steam, they also stay moist and chewy.

Why are my cookies hard instead of chewy? ›

Hard cookies: you are over mixing, baking too long, baking at too high a temperature, or some combination of these. Cakey cookies: not enough brown sugar, too much or too little egg, too much flour, maybe you used baking powder instead of baking soda?

What determines the moistness of a cookie? ›

Butter contributes milk solids and water to a cookie, both of which soften it. Brown sugar contributes molasses – again, a softener. Using lower-moisture sugar (granulated) and fat (vegetable shortening), plus a longer, slower bake than normal, produces light, crunchy cookies.

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