Easter M&M Cookies (Soft and Chewy)
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
These Easter M&M Cookies are soft, chewy, and filled with pastel chocolate candies for an easy spring treat everyone loves. Made with a simple vanilla cookie dough, they're festive, colorful, and perfect for Easter baskets, dessert platters, or weekend baking.
For more quick and easy Easter treats, see these Easter Brownie Bites or these Easter Basket Tarts. For a sweet & salty snack, try this 5 minute Easter Snack Mix!
Whether you tuck them into Easter baskets or serve them alongside your favorite Easter desserts, these cookies are a cheerful addition to the holiday table. They also make a sweet homemade gift for family, friends, and neighbors.
What I Love About These Easter M&M Cookies
- Easy to make with simple pantry staples plus a bag of pastel Easter M&M's.
- Soft and chewy with a buttery vanilla cookie base.
- No complicated steps and no long chilling time required.
- Perfect for Easter baskets, spring parties, and dessert platters.
- Bright pastel candies make them especially festive for the season.
Key Ingredients
Here are the simple ingredients you'll need to make these festive Easter cookies:
- Butter: Unsalted butter gives the cookies a rich flavor and lets you control the salt.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar keeps the cookies sweet and helps create crisp edges with soft centers.
- Flour: All-purpose flour gives the cookies structure while keeping the texture tender.
- Baking soda and salt: These pantry staples help the cookies rise properly and balance the sweetness.
- Eggs: Large eggs add richness and help create a soft, chewy texture.
- Vanilla extract: Adds warm, classic flavor to the cookie dough.
- Easter M&M's: Pastel-colored candies make these cookies bright, cheerful, and perfect for spring.
How to Make Easter M&M Cookies
These cookies come together quickly with just a few simple steps.
Step 1: Cream the butter and sugar
Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until fully incorporated.
Step 2: Mix in the dry ingredients and candies
Add the flour, baking soda, and salt, and mix just until combined. Fold in half of the Easter M&M's. If time allows, chill the dough for 15 minutes while the oven preheats for slightly thicker cookies, but this step is optional.
Preheat the oven to 375°F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 3: Scoop the cookies
Scoop the cookie dough with a large cookie scoop or two spoons and place the dough balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Press a few of the remaining M&M's on top for a more colorful finish.
Step 4: Bake
Bake for 7 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2 to 3 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 3: Bake the cookies
Scoop the cookie dough using a large cookie scoop or two spoons and place 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet. Place more M&M's on top if desired.
Bake for 7-10 minutes or until the edges begin to turn golden. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
How to Get More M&M's on Top
For cookies with more visible candy pieces, press a few extra M&M's onto each dough ball before baking. You can also gently press additional candies onto the tops of the cookies right after they come out of the oven for even more Easter color.
Serving Ideas
Serve these cookies as part of an Easter dessert board, tuck them into Easter baskets, or pair them with other spring treats for a festive spread. They're especially fun alongside Easter brownies, carrot cake cupcakes, or simple lemon cookies or these lemon cutout cookies for a colorful holiday table.
Recipe FAQ's
Yes. The baked cookies keep well for several days in an airtight container, making them great for Easter weekend.
No. You can bake the cookies right away, but a short 15-minute chill can help them bake a bit thicker.
Yes. Any plain M&M's will work, but pastel Easter candies give them their festive spring look.
How to Store and Make Ahead
These Easter M&M Cookies are perfect for baking ahead during the busy holiday weekend.
- To store: Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
- To freeze baked cookies: Let cool completely, then freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
- To freeze cookie dough: Scoop the dough into balls and freeze on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer-safe container and bake directly from frozen, adding 1-2 minutes to the baking time.
This makes them ideal for prepping ahead for Easter baskets, gatherings, or dessert trays.
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email, and we'll send it to your inbox. Plus, you'll get delicious new recipes from us every Friday!
Easter M&M Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup Easter Colored M&M's plus more for the tops
Instructions
- Cream together the butter and sugar in a stand mixer until fully incorporated. Add the eggs and vanilla, continue beating until the mixture is light and fluffy, at least a couple of minutes. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl as necessary.
- Add the flour, salt, and baking soda; mix at low speed until there are no dry streaks of flour and the dough is fully incorporated. Fold in half of the M&M's. Chill the dough for 15 minutes to 1 hour (up to 24 hours) if time allows. I like to chill the dough while waiting for the oven to preheat.
- Preheat the oven to 375℉ and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Scoop the cookie dough using a large cookie scoop or two spoons and place 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet. Place more M&M's on top if desired.
- Bake for 7-10 minutes or until the edges begin to turn golden. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Notes
- No chill needed: These cookies can be baked right away, but chilling the dough for 15 minutes will create slightly thicker cookies.
- For bakery-style cookies: Press a few extra M&M's on top of each dough ball before baking, and again just after baking for a more colorful finish.
- Don't overbake: The cookies should look slightly underdone in the center when removed from the oven-they'll continue to set as they cool.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: The cookie dough can be scooped and frozen. Bake from frozen, adding 1-2 minutes to the baking time.
- Make it your own: Swap in white chocolate chips or pastel sprinkles for a fun variation.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
More Easter Treats and Recipe Ideas
- Simple and Festive Easter Dinner Recipes
- 25 Easy Easter Brunch Recipes and Ideas
- Easy Easter Cake Recipes
- 26 Simple and Easy Easter Breakfast Recipes
If you try this recipe, I'd love to hear your comments and consider giving it a 5-star rating. Explore the recipe index for more easy, delicious ideas, and stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter and following us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!
I just made this recipe for my son’s Easter Class party. Very easy and came out great.
Hi Danielle! I'm so glad you guys enjoyed them! Thank you for trying the recipe and letting me know.