SOFT M&M COOKIES

Soft & Chewy M&M Cookies made with butter, sugars, pudding mix, and colorful M&Ms! The dough bakes up with lightly crisp edges, a soft center, and plenty of candy throughout for a fun, bakery-style treat!

Homemade M&M cookies are a sweet, chocolate-packed treat loaded with colorful candy pieces in every bite. After testing countless versions over the years—some great, some not so great, and one that completely melted into chaos—this is the one that finally got it right. A few simple tweaks created the perfect balance: lightly crisp edges, a soft and chewy center, and just the right amount of chocolatey sweetness.

Recipe Highlights

• Perfect Texture Combo– These cookies bake up with lightly crisp edges and soft, chewy centers that stay tender for days thanks to the pudding mix in the dough.
• Chocolate in Every Bite– Mini chocolate chips plus mini M&Ms ensure there’s no “plain bite”—every cookie is packed with a balanced mix of melty chocolate and candy crunch.
• Fun, Bakery-Style Finish at Home– Pressing extra M&Ms onto the dough before baking gives that picture-perfect, colorful top that looks straight out of a bakery case (but tastes even better).

Ingredients for M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies

Butter (½ cup) & Shortening (½ cup): These fats work together to create a rich, flavorful base while giving the cookies structure with crisp edges and a soft, tender center.

Granulated Sugar (¾ cup) & Brown Sugar (¾ cup): This sweet duo balances crispness and chew—granulated sugar helps with structure while brown sugar adds moisture and a deeper, caramel-like flavor.

Eggs (2 large): Eggs bind the dough together and help create a soft, cohesive texture that holds its shape while baking.

Milk (2 TBSP): Milk slightly loosens the dough for the perfect scoopable consistency and helps create a softer cookie texture.

Vanilla Extract (2 tsp): Vanilla adds warm, classic cookie flavor that enhances the sweetness and chocolate notes throughout the dough.

All-Purpose Flour (2 ½ cups), Baking Soda (1 tsp), Salt (½ tsp), & Vanilla Pudding Mix (3.4 oz box): The flour builds structure, baking soda helps the cookies rise and spread just right, salt enhances flavor, and pudding mix keeps the cookies extra soft, chewy, and tender.

Mini Chocolate Chips (1 cup) & Mini M&M’s (1 cup + extra for topping): These add bursts of chocolate and candy crunch throughout the dough, with extra M&M’s pressed on top for a colorful, bakery-style finish.

Tips & Tricks for making M&M Cookies

• Don’t skip the pudding mix (and use instant, not cook & serve): This is the ingredient that locks in that soft, bakery-style texture and keeps the cookies chewy for days instead of dry or crumbly.
• Use mini chips + mini M&Ms, not full size: Smaller pieces distribute more evenly through the dough so every bite has chocolate and candy without weighing the cookies down or making them hard to scoop.
• Press M&Ms onto the outside of each dough ball: Mixing some in isn’t enough for that bakery look—coating the tops right before baking gives the cookies their signature colorful finish.

What is the best way to store Chocolate Chip Candy Cookies?

These cookies stay soft and delicious at room temperature for about 4–5 days when stored in an airtight container.

Freezing is also a great option. You can freeze them in two ways:

• Baked cookies: Freeze fully cooled cookies in a sealed container or freezer bag for up to 2–3 months. Let them thaw at room temperature or warm them briefly for that fresh-baked texture.
• Cookie dough: Scoop the dough into balls, freeze on a tray, then transfer to a bag or container for up to 3 months. Bake straight from frozen—just add 1–2 extra minutes to the bake time.

Either method works well, but freezing the dough is especially nice for fresh cookies on demand.

Can I use regular sized M&Ms?

You can, but mini M&Ms distribute more evenly and give you that classic “chocolate in every bite” texture without overpowering the cookie or making the dough harder to scoop.

Do I really need the pudding mix?

Yes—this is what keeps the cookies extra soft and chewy while helping them stay fresh longer. Without it, the texture will be more basic and less bakery-style.

How do I  know when my M&M cookies are finished baking?

If they are lightly browned around the edges and still look a little doughy at the top, they’re finished. Letting them rest on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes will allow them to complete their cooking process without overdoing it and allow them to solidify before transferring to the cooling racks.

Can I skip the shortening and use all butter?

You can, but the texture will be slightly different—more buttery and a bit less soft in the center with a thinner spread.

Why press M&Ms on top instead of just mixing them in?

Pressing them on top right before baking gives that colorful, bakery-style look and keeps the candy from cracking or melting into the dough too much.

Try more of our favorite chocolate cookie recipes here:

• Cake Mix Rolo Cookies are the ultimate shortcut dessert—soft, chewy cookies with a melty caramel-chocolate surprise hiding inside every bite!
• The classic Nestlé Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies you know and love—just upgraded with a few simple tweaks for even better flavor and texture.
• This Chocolate Chip Cookie Pizza is the easiest crowd-pleasing dessert that starts with a warm, chewy cookie crust and gets loaded with creamy frosting and juicy fresh berries.
• Copycat Chewy Chips Ahoy Cookies you can whip up at home with simple pantry ingredients and zero fuss. Everything you love about the classic—just even better fresh from your own oven!
• Our recipe for Heath Bar Cookies is packed with crunchy toffee bits in every bite. They’re simple to make and hit that perfect sweet-but-buttery balance that keeps you reaching for “just one more.”
• Eggless Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies that are perfectly textured—no one would guess they’re made without eggs. A go-to recipe when you want comfort cookies with simple ingredients.

Soft & Chewy M&M Cookies loaded with buttery dough, rich vanilla flavor, and pops of colorful candy in every bite. The secret pudding mix keeps them ultra soft while the M&Ms give that fun, bakery-style finish you can’t stop reaching for.