As Easter approaches, it’s time to celebrate with fun, vibrant, and delicious treats. These Easter M&M cookies, filled with pastel-colored M&Ms in the shape of bunnies and complemented by creamy white chocolate chips, are the perfect addition to your holiday festivities. With their festive look and irresistible taste, these cookies are sure to be a hit at your Easter party or make a delightful surprise in any lunchbox. Let’s dive into the details of why this recipe works so well and how easy it is to create these sweet, colorful treats.
Why This Recipe Works
- Festive Fun – These cookies are visually stunning, with their playful bunny-shaped M&Ms, making them a perfect choice for Easter.
- Simple Ingredients – You don’t need complicated ingredients or equipment. Everything you need is probably already in your pantry.
- Quick and Easy – This no-chill dough can go straight into the oven, making this a fast and easy recipe.
- Customizable – While we use pastel M&Ms and white chocolate chips, you can mix in any ingredients you like to suit your taste.
- Perfect for Sharing – With a batch size of 18 cookies, these are great for Easter gatherings or as a gift.
What You Will Need
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup melted butter
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup pastel M&Ms for the dough (plus more for decorating on top)
Equipment Needed:
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper
- Medium cookie scoop
- Mixing bowls
- Sharp knife (for cutting M&Ms)
How to Make Easter M&M Cookies
Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking and to ensure easy cleanup.
Step 2: Mix Wet Ingredients
In a separate bowl, melt the butter and let it cool for about 5 minutes. Then, combine the melted butter with the brown and white sugars in a mixing bowl. Stir in the egg and vanilla extract, ensuring everything is well incorporated.
Step 3: Prepare the Dry Ingredients
In another bowl, sift the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This ensures that the dry ingredients are evenly distributed and eliminates any lumps from the flour.
Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Mix until everything is combined into a dough. Be careful not to overmix, as this could result in tougher cookies.
Step 5: Add the White Chocolate Chips and M&Ms
Once the dough is ready, fold in the white chocolate chips and pastel M&Ms. The M&Ms add both flavor and that beautiful pop of color.
Step 6: Scoop and Bake
Using a medium cookie scoop, drop dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets. Space them a couple of inches apart, as the cookies will spread slightly during baking. Place them in the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges begin to turn golden.
Step 7: Add Bunny Ears
While the cookies are baking, carefully cut a handful of M&Ms in half with a sharp knife. These halves will serve as the bunny ears once the cookies are out of the oven. After baking, while the cookies are still warm, gently press the M&M halves onto the visible M&Ms on top of the cookies. If the M&Ms aren’t prominently sticking out, add some whole ones to the warm cookies and then place the bunny ears on top.
Step 8: Cooling Time
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. Then, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Note: Store the cookies in an airtight container for 3-5 days. You can also freeze them if you want to keep them fresh longer.
Tips and Tricks
- Chill the Dough (Optional): While this is a no-chill dough recipe, chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking can help the cookies maintain their shape better.
- Use Different Add-ins: Feel free to swap the white chocolate chips with regular chocolate chips or add chopped nuts for a crunchy texture.
- Decorate with Extra M&Ms: After pressing the bunny ears into the cookies, add a few more M&Ms on top to enhance the festive look.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use regular M&Ms instead of pastel ones?
Absolutely! While pastel M&Ms make these cookies more festive for Easter, you can use any M&M variety you prefer.
How do I store leftover cookies?
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze them for up to 3 months.
Can I double the recipe to make more cookies?
Yes, this recipe can easily be doubled to make 3 dozen cookies instead of 18. Just be sure to have enough space on your baking sheets to accommodate the extra dough balls.
What if I don’t have white chocolate chips?
If you don’t have white chocolate chips on hand, you can substitute them with regular chocolate chips or even caramel chips for a unique twist.
Summary
These Easter M&M cookies are fun, festive, and easy to make. With their pastel bunny M&Ms and white chocolate chips, they’re a delightful addition to any spring celebration. Whether you’re baking for an Easter party or just want a sweet treat to brighten your day, these cookies will not disappoint.
Easter M&M Cookies: A Sweet and Festive Treat
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter (melted)
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup pastel M&Ms for the dough (+ more for decorating on top)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Melt butter and cool for 5 minutes.
- Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Mix melted butter, sugars, egg, and vanilla.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients. Add white chocolate chips and M&Ms.
- Scoop dough onto baking sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes.
- While baking, cut M&Ms in half to make bunny ears.
- Once cookies are out, press bunny ears into the warm cookies.
- Cool for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Store in an airtight container. Enjoy!
