Valentine’s Day M&M Cookies

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These quick and easy Valentine’s Day M&M cookies are soft, thick, chewy, and loaded with red, pink, and white M&Ms! They are so fun and festive and will surely win over the hearts and taste buds of anyone who bites into them!

Why You’ll Love These Valentine’s Day Cookies

Trying to figure out what you should make your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day? Or perhaps need a festive treat for a party? Allow me to fill you in on why these cookies are a must.

• Fun and festive. Kids and adults will love these festive, red, pink, and white dappled cookies. They just scream Valentine’s Day!
• Texture. Based on my recipe for Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies (just with M&M’s instead of chocolate chips), these cookies are wonderfully thick and chewy. They are so satisfying to bite into. Plus, the shells of the M&Ms add a fun little crunch.
• Quick and easy. This recipe only requires 30 minutes of prep and the instructions are so simple, you’ll have cookies in the oven in no time. You don’t even need to chill the dough!

What You’ll Need

You won’t need anything fancy to make these Valentine’s Day Cookies. You actually might even have everything you need in your kitchen already. Here’s a list. Be sure to scroll to the recipe card below for precise measurements.

• All-purpose flour – Be sure to measure accurately. The biggest culprit to a dry cookie is too much flour.
• Cornstarch – The cornstarch helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much as they bake without having to add more flour and get a dry cookie.
• Baking soda and baking powder – I like using a combination for the best texture and rise.
• Salt – A little bit of salt compliments the sweetness of the cookies beautifully and also helps to ensure soft, moist cookies.
• Unsalted butter – Start with room temperature butter. Cold or melted butter will not cream properly with the sugars.
• Light brown sugar and granulated white sugar – I like using both. The brown sugar brings extra moisture and adds depth to the flavor profile.
• Eggs – Be sure to use large eggs, not medium or extra large.
• Vanilla extract
• Pink, white, and red M&Ms – Chocolate chips would also work here. You could even use a combination of M&M’s and chocolate chips. Not Valentine’s Day? Use whatever color M&M’s you’d like.

How to Make Valentine’s Day M&M Cookies

Here’s a quick look at how to make these festive, soft and chewy cookies. Don’t forget to scroll to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.

• Prep. Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Combine the dry ingredients. Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
• Combine the dry ingredients. Cream the butter and sugars together on medium speed for 2-3 minutes and then mix in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla.

• Put it all together. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and then fold in the M&M’s

• Form cookies. Form the dough into balls (4 tablespoons each) and arrange then on the baking sheet 2-3 inches apart. Shape the cookies and make them round.
• Bake. Bake for 9-11 minutes.

• Cool. Allow the cookies to cool on baking sheets for 4-5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tips for Success

Get these Valentine’s Day M&M cookies right by following some simple tips and tricks from my kitchen to yours.

• Measure the flour carefully. Over measuring your flour is a surefire way to end up with dry cookies. To do it right, fluff up the flour, and spoon it into the measuring cup before leveling it off at the top with a butter knife. DO NOT pack it into the cup. Better yet, use a food scale.
• Room temperature butter. Allow your butter to soften to room temperature before using. If it is too cold (or too melted), it will not cream properly with the sugars.
• Don’t skimp on creaming time. When creaming together the butter and sugars, do so until the mixture has become fluffy and has significantly lightened in color. This process introduces air into the dough, which helps keep the cookies from becoming overly dense.
• Don’t over-mix. When mixing the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and when folding in the M&M’s, be sure not to over-mix. Over-mixing can cause the glutens in the flour to overdevelop, give you tough, overly dense cookies.
• Don’t overbake these. The centers of these cookies should look just a touch underdone when they come out of the oven. If they look fully done, they’ll likely not be quite as soft and chewy when they cool.

Proper Storage

Once the cookies have cooled completely, seal them in an airtight container. They will keep on the countertop for up to 4-5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. I do not suggest refrigerating these cookies. The cold temperatures of the fridge will dry them out.

More Easy Valentine’s Day Desserts

Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Get ready to show your love with some awesome festive desserts. Here are some of my other favorites.

• Valentine’s Day Heart Cutout Cookies
• Red Wine Chocolate Cake
• Strawberry Cheesecake Chocolate Cookie Cups
• Valentine’s Day Fudge
• How to Make Chocolate Covered Strawberries
• Conversation Heart Cupcakes
• Pretzel M&M Hugs
• Mini Rose Cheesecakes
• Strawberries and Cream Puppy Chow

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