These Peanut Butter M&M Cookies are soft, chewy, and packed with rich peanut butter flavor in every bite! This is our favorite classic peanut butter cookie recipe, made even better with the addition of crunchy, sweet Peanut Butter M&Ms. If you love peanut butter cookies, this recipe is about to become your new go-to.
RECIPE HIGHLIGHTS
- Soft and Chewy Texture: These cookies bake up perfectly soft with tender, chewy centers and lightly crisp edges. They stay soft for days, making them ideal for baking ahead of time or enjoying throughout the week. If you’re a fan of melt-in-your-mouth peanut butter cookies, this recipe will not disappoint.
- Rich Peanut Butter Flavor: Made with a full cup of creamy peanut butter, these cookies deliver big on bold, rich peanut butter taste. The combination of peanut butter in the dough and Peanut Butter M&Ms mixed throughout ensures every bite is packed with sweet, salty, nutty flavor.
- Fun with Peanut Butter M&Ms: These cookies are loaded with colorful, crunchy Peanut Butter M&Ms that not only add texture and flavor but also make the cookies visually fun and inviting. The candy coating gives a little crunch, while the peanut butter center melts into the soft cookie perfectly.
- Quick and Easy to Make: No complicated steps or chilling time required! You can go from craving cookies to pulling a warm batch out of the oven in about 20 minutes. This recipe is perfect for beginner bakers or anyone looking for a fast, reliable cookie recipe.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: These cookies are a hit at parties, bake sales, holiday gatherings, or simply as a sweet treat to brighten up your week. The colorful M&Ms make them festive and eye-catching, and the classic flavors appeal to just about everyone.
INGREDIENTS IN PEANUT BUTTER M&M COOKIES
Peanut butter: For best results, use a regular peanut butter. Every time I have made these cookies I have used a regular creamy peanut butter (like Jif or a store-brand alternative). Several readers have commented that the cookies do not turn out as well when using a natural-style peanut butter.
Butter: I use salted butter, but you can use unsalted if you prefer. No margarine! Make sure the butter is softened to room temperature, but not melted, before adding to the recipe.
Sugar: Can’t leave this one out – kind of an important ingredient in cookies!
Brown sugar: Also an important cookie ingredient. Make sure your brown sugar isn’t dried out or stale.
Egg: We only need 1 large egg, but it helps to bind the dough together so that the cookies cook properly and don’t crumble.
Milk: Just a little bit of milk, but it is needed to add a bit of moisture to the cookie dough. Any type of milk will work just fine!
Vanilla: I suggest using a good quality vanilla extract or a Vanilla Bean Paste.
Flour: I usually use all-purpose flour, but you can use bread flour or even pastry flour in this recipe.
Baking powder: A leavening agent in the cookies. Make sure your baking powder isn’t old or expired for best results.
Salt: Just a little bit, but don’t leave it out!
Peanut Butter M&Ms: You can use chocolate chips or regular M&Ms or something else, but don’t. Peanut Butter M&Ms are the best! I like to smash them up a little bit before adding the cookie dough…just place them in a Ziplock bag and smash with a meat mallet. Don’t smash too much – you want large pieces!
RECIPE TIPS
Full instructions on how to make these cookies can be found on the recipe card below, but here are a few helpful tips!
- Watch the Bake Time Closely: These cookies are at their best when they’re soft and just barely baked through. Keep a close eye on the oven during the last minute or two of baking. The edges should look set, but the centers might still look slightly soft — that’s exactly what you want. They’ll continue to firm up as they cool on the baking sheet, resulting in that perfect soft, chewy texture.
- Use Parchment Paper or Silicone Mats: Baking these cookies on parchment paper or a silicone baking mat helps prevent the bottoms from over-browning, especially if you’re using darker baking sheets. It also makes for easy cleanup and helps the cookies maintain their shape without spreading too much.
- Crush the Peanut Butter M&Ms for Best Results: Roughly chopping or crushing the M&Ms ensures you get bits of peanut butter candy in every bite, rather than large chunks. This not only distributes the flavor more evenly throughout the dough but also gives the cookies a more uniform texture.
- Scoop Evenly for Uniform Cookies: Using a small cookie scoop helps ensure your cookies are all the same size, which means they’ll bake evenly. Uniform cookies also look more polished and professional, which is especially nice if you’re baking for a gathering or gifting.
- Top with Extra M&Ms Before Baking: For bakery-style presentation, gently press a few extra Peanut Butter M&Ms onto the tops of each dough ball right before baking. This gives each cookie a colorful, fun appearance and ensures you get plenty of M&M goodness on the surface of every cookie.
STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS
Store cooled Peanut Butter M&M Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4-5 days. For longer storage, you can freeze them in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
If freezing the dough, shape it into balls first and freeze on a baking sheet until solid before transferring to a bag or container. This way, you can bake just a few cookies at a time straight from the freezer whenever a craving strikes.
FAQs
Can I use other types of M&Ms?
Absolutely! While Peanut Butter M&Ms add extra peanut butter flavor, these cookies work great with regular, peanut, or even pretzel M&Ms.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the dough and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. Just let it sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before scooping.
Do I have to press with a fork?
It’s optional, but it gives that classic peanut butter cookie look and helps the cookies bake evenly.
More delicious peanut butter cookie recipes to try:
- Classic favorites: Our Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies and Grandma’s Peanut Butter Cookies are all tried-and-true favorites packed with peanut butter goodness.
- Extra indulgent options: If you love your cookies rich and gooey, check out Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies, Peanut Butter Fudge Cookie Cups, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Pudding Cookies.
- Fast and no-bake: Short on time? Try No-Bake Peanut Butter Blossoms or Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies for easy, delicious results in just minutes.
These Peanut Butter M&M Cookies are soft, chewy, and packed with sweet, salty peanut butter goodness — the perfect treat for cookie lovers and peanut butter fans alike!
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