Ultimate Chewy M&M Sugar Cookies: The Melt-in-Your-Mouth Recipe You Need

I wholeheartedly admit it: I am completely captivated by Pinterest. It’s a digital treasure trove, an endless wellspring of inspiration for everything from clever DIY crafts and innovative hairstyle ideas to hilarious quotes and, most importantly for a food enthusiast like me, an incredible array of recipes. For anyone who loves to cook and bake, Pinterest truly feels like foodie heaven. I often wonder where my culinary adventures would be without it, though my family might playfully suggest I’d spend less time in front of the computer!

My “DESSERT” board on Pinterest currently boasts an impressive 225 pins, a testament to my unwavering love for all things sweet. I’m an absolute sucker for a mouth-watering picture combined with a promising recipe, and that’s precisely how I discovered these incredible chewy M&M sugar cookies. The recipe, originating from the fantastic blog Tracey’s Culinary Adventures, immediately caught my eye, and I knew I had to give it a try. My children adore M&M’s, and soft sugar cookies are always a hit in our household, so this combination felt like a match made in baking heaven. The inclusion of cream cheese and melted butter hinted at something truly special, promising a texture and flavor far beyond the ordinary.

And special it was! These aren’t your typical hard, crunchy store-bought cookies. Instead, they emerged from the oven as gloriously soft, delightfully fluffy, and wonderfully chewy M&M sugar cookies. The kind that practically melt in your mouth and leave you craving another. There’s just something incredibly satisfying about a perfectly soft cookie, and this recipe absolutely delivers on that front. The cream cheese adds an unexpected tang and an incredible tenderness, while the melted butter ensures a rich, deep flavor that’s simply irresistible. This winning combination elevates a classic M&M cookie into an unforgettable treat, making it a staple in our family’s recipe collection.

Beyond being a fantastic treat for my own family, these cookies proved to be the perfect gift. With my mom’s birthday just around the corner, I wanted to send her something thoughtful and homemade before she left for a vacation in Utah. I found her a lovely gift, but I knew a batch of these freshly baked cookies would make the package even more special. I carefully packed some into a box and shipped them off to my hometown of Mesa, Arizona. The best part? Thanks to their carefully crafted ingredients, these chewy M&M sugar cookies remain wonderfully soft and fresh, ensuring they’ll be just as delicious when they arrive at her doorstep as they were when they left my kitchen. This recipe truly excels in creating cookies that not only taste amazing but also maintain their delightful texture for days, making them ideal for sharing or gifting.

Chewy M&M Sugar Cookies: The Recipe
This recipe, adapted from Tracey’s Culinary Adventures, will quickly become a favorite for its irresistible texture and classic taste. The secret to their incredible chewiness lies in the combination of cream cheese and melted butter, which contribute to a wonderfully tender crumb and rich flavor profile.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (ensure it’s measured correctly for best results)
• 1 tsp baking powder (helps with lift and tenderness)
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda (contributes to spreading and browning)
• 1/2 tsp. salt (enhances all the flavors)
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar (for the dough) + 1/3 cup granulated sugar (for rolling)
• 2 oz. cream cheese, cut into 8 pieces (full-fat or light cream cheese works well; I’ve used light with great success, contributing to a softer texture)
• 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and still warm (the melted butter is key for chewiness)
• 1/3 cup vegetable or canola oil (adds moisture and helps keep cookies soft)
• 1 large egg, at room temperature (room temperature eggs incorporate better into the batter)
• 1 Tbsp. milk (adds extra moisture)
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract (for rich, aromatic flavor)
• 1-1 1/4 cups M&M Candies (the star of these colorful, chewy M&M cookies)

Directions for Baking the Best Chewy M&M Sugar Cookies:
Before you begin, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and ensures even baking and easy cleanup. Having everything ready beforehand makes the baking process smooth and enjoyable.

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients: the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Make sure they are thoroughly combined; this ensures leavening agents and salt are evenly distributed throughout the dough. In a separate, larger bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar and the cream cheese pieces. There’s no need to stir them together just yet. Pour the warm, melted butter over the sugar and cream cheese mixture and whisk gently to combine. At this stage, the mixture might not be perfectly smooth due to the cream cheese, and that’s absolutely fine. Next, whisk in the oil, followed by the room-temperature egg, milk, and vanilla extract. Continue mixing until the wet ingredients are smoothly incorporated, creating a luxurious base for your chewy M&M sugar cookie dough.

Now, it’s time to bring the wet and dry ingredients together. Using a sturdy rubber spatula, begin to fold the whisked dry ingredients into the wet mixture. As soon as the dry ingredients are partially incorporated – meaning you still see some streaks of flour – add 3/4 cup of the M&M’s to the dough. This is an important step: continue mixing until a soft, cohesive dough forms. Avoid the temptation to wait until the dry ingredients are fully incorporated before adding the M&M’s; this can lead to overmixing, which often results in tough, dry cookies. Gently folding ensures the M&M’s are evenly distributed without developing the gluten too much.

Working efficiently is key for the perfect texture. Use a cookie scoop, approximately 2 tablespoons in size, to portion out the dough onto your prepared baking sheets. Quick handling of the dough is crucial here; excessive handling can warm the dough and lead to flatter cookies. Roll each portion of dough into a smooth ball with your hands, then immediately roll it in the remaining 1/3 cup of sugar that you set aside in a pie plate earlier. This sugar coating adds a delightful sparkle and a slight crispness to the exterior of your soft M&M cookies. Repeat this process until all the dough is used, placing about 12 cookies on each baking sheet, ensuring they are spaced adequately to allow for spreading.

Next, use the bottom of a glass or a flat-bottomed measuring cup to gently flatten each dough ball into discs, roughly 2 inches in diameter. This step promotes even baking and helps create that signature chewy texture. Finally, gently press 2 or 3 more M&M’s into the top of each flattened cookie. *A valuable tip I learned: I prefer to press the extra candies in *after* the cookies have cooked for a few minutes. If you press them in beforehand, the M&M’s can sometimes melt a bit too much and crack during baking, which isn’t as visually appealing. Adding them later ensures they retain their vibrant colors and smooth shell.*

Bake the cookies, one tray at a time, for approximately 11-13 minutes, or until the edges are lightly set and golden. The centers will still appear slightly puffy and may have small, charming cracks on top, indicating they are perfectly baked. Transfer the hot baking sheet to a wire rack. At this point, if you didn’t add the extra M&M’s earlier, gently press 2-3 additional M&M’s into the top of each warm cookie; they will adhere beautifully as the cookies cool. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes; this allows them to firm up slightly before you transfer them directly to the wire rack to cool completely. This cooling process is essential for achieving the ideal chewy M&M sugar cookie texture.

Tips for Perfect Chewy M&M Sugar Cookies Every Time:

• Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your egg and cream cheese are at room temperature. This helps them emulsify better with the other ingredients, leading to a smoother, more uniform dough and ultimately, a better-textured cookie.
• Don’t Overmix: Once you add the flour, mix just until combined. Overmixing develops gluten, which can result in tough, less chewy cookies.
• Melted Butter is Key: The use of melted butter, rather than softened butter, contributes significantly to the chewy texture. It also helps to spread the cookies just right without making them too flat.
• Chilling the Dough (Optional but Recommended): While not strictly required by the original recipe, if you have time, chilling the dough for 30 minutes to an hour can prevent excessive spreading, making for slightly thicker cookies. Just be sure to work quickly when rolling!
• Correct Oven Temperature: An accurate oven temperature is vital. Too hot, and the edges burn before the center cooks; too cool, and the cookies spread too much. Consider using an oven thermometer.
• Don’t Overbake: These M&M sugar cookies are meant to be soft and chewy. They may still look slightly underdone in the center when you pull them out of the oven, but they will continue to set as they cool on the hot baking sheet. This is the secret to their incredible softness.

Variations to Explore:

While the classic M&M sugar cookie is perfect as is, you can always experiment with different flavors and additions:

• Seasonal M&M’s: Use holiday-themed M&M’s for festive occasions (e.g., red and green for Christmas, pastel for Easter).
• Add Other Candies: Mix in chopped chocolate bars, white chocolate chips, or even other small candies alongside or instead of M&M’s.
• Nutty Twist: For those who love nuts, a handful of finely chopped pecans or walnuts can add a delightful crunch and depth of flavor.
• Citrus Zest: A touch of lemon or orange zest in the dough can brighten the flavor profile, creating a wonderfully aromatic cookie.

Making homemade cookies is such a rewarding experience, and these chewy M&M sugar cookies truly stand out. From the moment the sweet aroma fills your kitchen to that first, satisfying bite, you’ll understand why this recipe has become such a favorite. They’re more than just a treat; they’re a little bit of joy, perfect for sharing with loved ones, celebrating special moments, or simply brightening an ordinary day. So gather your ingredients, follow these simple steps, and prepare to bake a batch of M&M cookies that will undoubtedly earn rave reviews!

Linking This Delicious Chewy M&M Sugar Cookie Recipe to These Fun Parties:

I love sharing my baking adventures and connecting with fellow food bloggers! That’s why I’m excited to link this amazing chewy M&M sugar cookie recipe to a variety of fantastic blog parties and link-ups. These communities are wonderful for discovering new recipes, crafts, and creative ideas from talented creators across the web. Join the fun and find more inspiration by visiting these incredible hosts: