Soft & Chewy M&M Cookies made with butter, sugars, instant pudding mix, and colorful M&Ms. The dough bakes to lightly crisp edges, a soft, chewy center, and is studded with candy for a vibrant, bakery-style cookie.
Homemade M&M cookies are a fun, chocolate-packed treat with colorful candy pieces in every bite. After testing many variations, this version delivers the ideal balance: crisp edges, a tender, chewy center, and just enough chocolate and candy so no bite is plain.
Recipe Highlights
- Perfect texture: Cookies bake with lightly crisp edges and soft, chewy centers, thanks to the addition of instant pudding mix.
- Chocolate in every bite: Mini chocolate chips plus mini M&Ms ensure consistent chocolate and candy in each mouthful.
- Bakery-style finish at home: Pressing extra M&Ms on top before baking creates a colorful, professional-looking cookie surface.
Ingredients for M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies
Butter (½ cup) & Shortening (½ cup): These fats combine for a rich base that yields crisp edges and a tender center.
Granulated Sugar (1 cup) & Light Brown Sugar (1 cup, packed): The pair balances structure and chewiness—granulated sugar for lift, brown sugar for moisture and depth.
Eggs (2 large): Bind the dough and contribute to a soft, cohesive texture.
Milk (¼ cup): Loosens the dough slightly for easy scooping and a softer finished cookie.
Vanilla Extract (1 tsp): Adds warm, classic flavor to enhance the chocolate and cookie notes.
All-Purpose Flour (3 cups), Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix (3.4 oz), Baking Soda (1 tsp), Salt (1 tsp): Flour provides structure; baking soda helps the cookies spread and rise correctly; salt boosts flavor; instant pudding mix keeps cookies soft and tender.
Mini Chocolate Chips (1 ½ cups) & Mini M&Ms (10 oz bag, divided): Mini chips and M&Ms distribute evenly so every bite has chocolate, with extra candies pressed on top for appearance.
Tips & Tricks for making M&M Cookies
- Use instant pudding mix: It’s key for an extra-soft, bakery-style texture that stays tender for days. Do not use cook-and-serve pudding.
- Choose mini chocolate and mini M&Ms: Smaller pieces spread through the dough more evenly so each bite has candy without weighing down the cookie.
- Press M&Ms onto dough balls: Coating the tops right before baking creates the bright, appealing look associated with professional bakery cookies.
How to store Chocolate Chip Candy Cookies
Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies remain soft and tasty for about 4–5 days.
Freezing works well and can be done two ways:
- Baked cookies: Freeze cooled cookies in a sealed container or freezer bag for 2–3 months. Thaw at room temperature or warm briefly to revive a fresh-baked texture.
- Cookie dough: Scoop dough balls and freeze them on a tray, then transfer to a bag or container for up to 3 months. Bake from frozen, adding 1–2 minutes to the bake time.
Freezing dough is especially convenient for having freshly baked cookies on demand.
Soft & Chewy M&M Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter softened
- ½ cup shortening
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3.4 oz instant vanilla pudding mix
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 ½ cup mini chocolate chips
- 10 oz mini M&M’s divided
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350°F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
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Using an electric mixer, cream butter and shortening for about 2 minutes until pale. Add both sugars and mix until combined.
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Add eggs, vanilla, and milk; mix until incorporated.
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In a separate bowl, whisk flour, instant pudding mix, baking soda, and salt. Add to the butter mixture and mix until no dry flour remains.
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Stir in mini chocolate chips and half the bag of mini M&M’s. Place remaining M&M’s in a small bowl to press onto cookie tops later.
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Scoop level dough using a medium cookie scoop. Press each dough ball into the bowl of reserved mini M&M’s so candies stick to the top. Place dough balls about 1.5–2 inches apart on the baking sheet.
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Bake 11–12 minutes until edges are just starting to brown and centers look slightly underdone. Let cool on the baking sheet 10 minutes, then transfer to a rack to finish cooling. Enjoy!
Notes
Freeze baked cookies or dough in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Thaw before serving or bake dough from frozen with a slight time adjustment.
Nutrition
Can I use regular sized M&Ms?
You can, but mini M&Ms distribute more evenly, giving a consistent chocolate-to-cookie ratio and keeping dough easier to scoop.
Do I really need the pudding mix?
Yes. Instant pudding mix keeps the cookies extra soft and chewy and helps them stay tender longer. Without it, the texture will be more ordinary.
How do I know when my M&M cookies are finished baking?
They’re done when the edges are lightly golden and the centers still look slightly soft. Let them rest on the baking sheet for 10 minutes so they finish cooking gently and set before moving to a cooling rack.
Can I skip the shortening and use all butter?
Yes, but expect a slightly different result: cookies will be more buttery with a thinner spread and a bit less center chew.
Why press M&Ms on top instead of just mixing them in?
Pressing candies on top creates the bright, bakery-style appearance and prevents the M&Ms from cracking or sinking too far into the dough while baking.
More chocolate cookie ideas
- Cake Mix Rolo Cookies — soft, chewy cookies with a melty caramel-chocolate center.
- Nestlé Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies — a classic recipe with a few tweaks for improved texture and flavor.
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Pizza — a crowd-pleasing dessert that starts with a warm, chewy cookie crust topped with frosting and fresh fruit.
- Copycat Chewy Chips Ahoy Cookies — a simple, pantry-friendly recipe that recreates a nostalgic favorite.
- Heath Bar Cookies — packed with crunchy toffee bits and buttery flavor.
- Eggless Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies — tender and satisfying, made without eggs.
Soft & Chewy M&M Cookies with buttery dough, warm vanilla flavor, and bursts of candy in every bite. The instant pudding mix is the secret to ultra-soft cookies that keep well and look irresistible with colorful M&Ms on top.