Ghoulishly Good M&M Cookies

Get ready to unleash some holiday magic in your kitchen with our incredibly delicious and unbelievably easy Halloween M&M Cookies! These festive treats are more than just a dessert; they’re a celebration in every bite, bursting with vibrant orange, rich dark brown, and crisp white M&M’s. Perfectly chewy and wonderfully chocolatey, these cookies are guaranteed to be a hit with the entire family, making them the ultimate crowd-pleaser for any Halloween gathering, school party, or cozy night in.

Are you tasked with bringing the treats to your child’s upcoming school Halloween party? Or perhaps you’re simply looking for a fun, straightforward recipe to enjoy with loved ones during the spooky season? Look no further! Our Halloween M&M Cookies are the ideal solution. They combine the timeless comfort of a classic chocolate cookie with the playful spirit of Halloween, creating a dessert that’s as delightful to look at as it is to eat. The signature chewy texture and rich chocolate flavor are elevated by the delightful crunch and burst of color from the carefully selected M&M’s, making these a truly irresistible Halloween cookie that everyone will adore.

Why These Halloween M&M Cookies Are a Must-Try

When it comes to Halloween baking, you want something that’s not only delicious but also easy to execute, especially when juggling costumes, decorations, and other festive preparations. These Halloween M&M cookies tick all the boxes! Here’s why they’ll become your new favorite spooky season treat:

• Effortlessly Delicious: The recipe is straightforward, yielding consistently perfect cookies every time. You don’t need to be a baking expert to create these masterpieces.
• Festive & Fun: The hand-picked orange, dark brown, and white M&M’s instantly scream Halloween! They add a vibrant, eye-catching element that’s perfect for the holiday.
• Kid-Friendly: From mixing the dough to pressing on the M&M’s, this recipe is a fantastic way to get kids involved in the kitchen. They’ll love seeing their creations come to life.
• Crowd-Pleaser: Everyone loves a good chocolate cookie, and when it’s topped with colorful M&M’s, it becomes utterly irresistible. Expect rave reviews at any gathering.
• Perfect Texture: These cookies boast a delightful chewiness with slightly crispy edges and a soft, tender center, making each bite a truly satisfying experience.

Essential Ingredients for Your Spooktacular Cookies

Creating these heavenly Halloween M&M cookies requires a few basic pantry staples, alongside our star ingredient: the M&M’s! Here’s what you’ll need for approximately 18-20 cookies:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) Sweet Cream, Salted Butter: Make sure your butter is softened to room temperature for optimal creaming. If using unsalted butter, add an extra pinch of salt to the dry ingredients.
• 3/4 cup Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps with the cookie’s structure.
• 2/3 cup Packed Brown Sugar: Adds depth of flavor, moisture, and that signature chewy texture we all love. Light or dark brown sugar will work equally well.
• 2 Large Eggs: Room temperature eggs incorporate better into the dough, resulting in a smoother batter.
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract: A crucial flavor enhancer that complements the chocolate perfectly.
• 2 1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of our cookie dough. Measure it correctly by spooning it into the measuring cup and leveling it off.
• 2/3 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Gives these cookies their rich, chocolatey base. Use a good quality cocoa powder for the best flavor.
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda: Our leavening agent, helping the cookies rise and achieve their soft texture. Ensure it’s fresh for best results.
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all the flavors in the cookie.
• M&M’s – Orange, Dark Brown, White: The festive touch! You’ll need about 1 cup total, separated for pressing onto the cookies.

How to Make the Perfect Chocolate Cookie Dough

The foundation of any great cookie is a well-made dough. Our chocolate cookie dough is simple to prepare and creates the ideal canvas for our festive M&M’s.

Step 1: Combine Dry Ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Make sure these are thoroughly combined to ensure even distribution throughout the dough. Set this aside for a moment.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars. In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer (handheld or stand mixer), cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and packed brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes. This step is crucial for incorporating air into the dough, which contributes to the cookies’ texture.

Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients. Beat in the large eggs one at a time, ensuring each egg is fully incorporated before adding the next. Then, stir in the vanilla extract. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is well mixed.

Step 4: Gradually Add Dry to Wet. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the reserved dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, about one cup at a time. Mix until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough, as this can lead to tough cookies. Mix only until no streaks of flour remain.

Preparing Your M&M’s and Baking Instructions

Now for the fun part – decorating and baking! This is where our Halloween M&M Cookies truly come to life with their signature festive look.

Step 5: Gather Your Festive M&M’s. Before you start forming your cookies, it’s a good idea to gather and separate the M&M’s you’ll use for decoration. We recommend sticking to a classic Halloween palette of orange, dark brown, and white. You can usually find orange and dark brown M&M’s by picking them out of a regular bag of M&M’s. For the white M&M’s, you might need to look in specialty candy stores, party supply stores like Party City, or even order them online from websites like My M&M’s for custom colors.

Step 6: Form and Decorate the Cookies. To ensure your cookies are uniform in size and bake evenly, we recommend using a food scale to measure out approximately 2 ounces of dough for each cookie. If you don’t have a scale, a standard cookie scoop (about 2 tablespoons) works great. Roll the dough into smooth balls, then slightly flatten each ball on a parchment-lined baking sheet. This slight flattening helps them bake more evenly and provides a better surface for the M&M’s. Now for the creative part: randomly press your sorted M&M’s onto the top of each cookie dough ball. Don’t be shy – pressing them firmly will ensure they adhere well and pop with color after baking!

Step 7: Bake to Perfection. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the cookies for 9-11 minutes. Keep a close eye on them; cookies are done when the edges are set and slightly golden, but the centers still look soft. They will continue to set as they cool. Overbaking can lead to dry cookies. Once out of the oven, let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Don’t worry if some of the M&M’s crack slightly as they cool – this is perfectly normal and happens as the candy shells adjust to the temperature change. They will still taste absolutely fantastic!

Tips for Perfect Halloween M&M Cookies Every Time

• Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your butter and eggs are at room temperature for a smooth, uniform dough.
• Don’t Overmix: Overmixing develops gluten, leading to tougher cookies. Mix until just combined.
• Chill the Dough (Optional but Recommended): If your dough feels too soft or sticky, chill it for 30 minutes to an hour. This helps prevent spreading and enhances flavor.
• Parchment Paper: Always line your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
• Evenly Sized Cookies: Using a cookie scoop or food scale ensures all cookies bake at the same rate.
• Don’t Crowd the Pan: Leave enough space between cookies on the baking sheet to allow for spreading.
• Know Your Oven: Ovens can vary. Get to know yours and adjust baking times slightly if needed. Cookies are done when the edges are set but the centers still look a little soft.

Storage and Make-Ahead Options

These Halloween M&M Cookies are so good, you’ll want to make them last! Here’s how to store them or prepare them in advance:

• Storing Baked Cookies: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-5 days. For optimal freshness, place a slice of bread in the container; it helps keep them soft.
• Freezing Baked Cookies: Once completely cooled, place cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.
• Freezing Cookie Dough: Form the dough into balls as directed, then freeze them on a baking sheet until solid. Transfer to a freezer-safe bag. When ready to bake, place frozen dough balls on a baking sheet and add 2-3 minutes to the baking time. No need to thaw!

Other Halloween Treats You Will Love

Looking for more spooky season inspiration? Pair your delicious Halloween M&M Cookies with some of these other fantastic Halloween-themed treats:

• Halloween Marshmallow Pops
• Halloween Rice Krispie Treat Bites
• Candy Corn Cookies
• Witch Hats Rice Krispie Treats

Step-by-Step Video Tutorial

Print Recipe

Halloween M&M Cookies

Yield
18-20 cookies

Prep Time
10 minutes

Cook Time
10 minutes

Total Time
20 minutes

Our Halloween M&M Cookies are super delicious, easy to make and chock full of M&M’s. These cookies are a yummy Halloween cookie that the entire family will love.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter (Sweet Cream, Salted), softened
• 3/4 cup Granulated Sugar
• 2/3 cup Brown Sugar (packed)
• 2 Large Eggs
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 2 1/4 Cups All Purpose Flour
• 2/3 cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
• M&M’s – Orange, Dark Brown, White (about 1 cup total for decorating)

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, mix dry ingredients together (flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt) and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream softened butter and sugars (granulated and brown) until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla extract.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
5. Measure out 2 oz. of dough per cookie, roll dough into balls, and slightly press down on a parchment-lined cookie sheet.
6. Randomly press M&M’s onto the top of each cookie dough ball.
7. Bake in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 9-11 minutes, or until edges are set. Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

Did you Make this Recipe? Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @twosisterscrafting on Instagram so we can see it!