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These Valentine’s Day M&M Sugar Cookies are the perfect pairing of sweet, soft cookies with the chocolatey goodness of M&M’s. They’re like a Valentine’s day version of chocolate chip cookies.
We have a soft spot for cookies in general, but this is one of my favorite cookie recipes. I love how you can elevate a simple sugar cookie to such a colorful, chocolatey treat so easily.
If you’re looking for an easy cookie to make for Cupid’s holiday, this should definitely be your go-to.
Why You’ll Love Valentine’s Day M&M Sugar Cookies
These adorable cookies with their colorful M&Ms will brighten up anyone’s Valentine’s Day.
- With just a handful of ingredients — most of which you probably already have in the pantry — you can quickly make this easy recipe.
- Sporting pretty pink and red M&M candies, the cookies couldn’t be any cuter. Plus there’s more than plenty of delicious chocolate dotting the sweet cookies.
- These versatile Valentine cookies are as perfect for giving to your partner as they are a treat for a little one’s class party or a gift for teachers.
Ingredients You’ll Need
For the best results when making this sugar cookie recipe, be sure to use room temperature ingredients. Allow the butter and eggs to sit out before beginning.
- Unsalted butter – It’s easier to control the salt level in a recipe when you use unsalted butter and then add salt in. You can always add more but you can never take it away once it’s mixed in.
- Granulated sugar – The granules of white sugar are the perfect size to quickly dissolve when mixing and baking.
- Large eggs – Large eggs are the standard size for most baking recipes.
- Pure vanilla extract – Pure vanilla extract, instead of imitation, gives these cookies just the right vanilla flavor.
- All-purpose flour – All-purpose flour helps the cookies to rise just right.
- Baking soda – A leavening agent, this gives these soft sugar cookies the perfect texture.
- Cornstarch – Cornstarch helps to prevent cookies from spreading too much. It also keeps them soft.
- Salt – Salt helps to bring out the sweetness of the other ingredients.
- Valentine’s day M&M candies – These pink and red candies are a festive decoration for the holiday.
Flavor Variations
These cute cookies are a fun Valentine’s Day treat as they are but you can put your own twist on them for Valentine’s Day itself or other holidays.
- Flavored extracts
- Different colored M&Ms
- Mini milk, dark, or white chocolate chips
- Decorator’s sugar (on top)
- Brown Sugar
- Cocoa powder
- Chocolate chip cookies (instead of sugar)
How to Make Valentine’s Day M&M Cookies
These sweet treats come together so quickly with just a few simple steps.
- Pour the butter and sugar in a large bowl of a stand mixer (or use a hand mixer).
- Cream the butter and sugar on medium speed.
- While continuing to beat on medium, and the eggs one at a time.
- Use a rubber spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl in order to completely incorporate the eggs.
- Next, add the vanilla extract and continue to beat the mixture until it becomes light and fluffy.
- Using a sifter, sift the dry ingredients into a separate bowl, ensuring that they are well combined.
- Pour the flour mixture into the wet ingredients.
- Mix them together on medium-low speed until the dry ingredients are just moistened.
- Using a rubber spatula or a wooden spoon, gently fold most of the M&Ms into the cookie dough.
- Using a large cookie scoop or melon baller, portion the dough onto prepared baking sheets (with
parchment paper or cooking spray). Place dough balls on the sheet with even amounts of space between each. - Press the reserved M&Ms into the top of each cookie dough ball.
- If there is time, place the baking sheet into the refrigerator or freezer.
- When ready to bake, place the cookies in the oven and bake for the recommended amount of time or until the cookies are a light golden brown.
- After removing the baked cookies from the oven, allow them to cool briefly on the baking sheet.
- Then, using a spatula, transfer the warm cookies to a wire rack to allow them to come to room temperature.
- Once cookies have cooled, store them in an airtight container or wrap tightly with plastic wrap for 4-5 days.
Tips and Tricks
While this cookie recipe is pretty simple, here are a few ideas that will help you make the best cookies.
Freeze or refrigerate the dough before baking. Keeping the dough in the freezer or fridge before baking will help to create a chewier cookie that is less likely to spread while baking.
If you don’t have a sifter use a whisk. Whisking the dry ingredients not only helps to mix them well, it also helps to incorporate air which creates a fluffier texture.
Avoid overmixing. Overmixing dough and batter for most baked goods results in a denser, sometimes tough, texture.
Serving Suggestions
- With a cup of coffee or tea
- Milk (or alternative milk)
- Spiked coffee or cocktails
- Whipped cream
- Ice cream sandwiches
Common Questions About Valentine’s Day M&M Sugar Cookies
Bold, with answer underneath, no bullets, no intro sentence
Butter is one of the main contributors to a soft cookie. Sugars also help to develop a tender texture.
How can I give a sugar cookie more flavor?
Adding extract or mixing more than one type of extract can help to build flavor. Use any kind you like from fruity varieties to nutty like almond extract.
If you’ve overmixed your sugar cookie dough and it’s too dry, you can try slowly adding in a little bit of water to fix it.
More Delicious Desserts
Valentine’s Day M&M Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cup M&Ms (Valentine's variety; use extra for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Combine the butter with the sugar and beat on medium speed until well creamed together.1 cup unsalted butter, 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- Add the eggs one at a time, scraping in between. and vanilla extract.2 large eggs, 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Beat until light and fluffy.
- In a separate bowl, sift the dry ingredients. add into the dough and beat on medium-low speed just until the flour is incorporated and there are no streaks.2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 3 teaspoons cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Gently fold in 1 cup M&Ms.1 1/4 cup M&Ms
- Use a large cookie scoop to portion the dough.
- Press remaining M&Ms into the top of the cookie dough.
- Place on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart.
- Bake 10-12 minutes.
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for several minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
