Delicious Chocolate Chip M&M Easter Egg Cookies: Your Ultimate Guide to Fun Holiday Baking
As the vibrant greens of St. Patrick’s Day fade, a new season of pastel hues and joyful celebrations bursts forth: Easter! For many, this time marks a delightful transition from one holiday’s festive spirit to another, igniting a fresh wave of creative energy, particularly in the kitchen. While I often start March with grand plans for St. Patrick’s Day crafts, a subtle takeover of my prop shelves by cheerful mini Cadbury eggs inevitably signals the shift. And before I know it, my crafting ambitions for one holiday are gently supplanted by the irresistible pull of the next, leading me straight into Easter baking mode. But as my wise sister often quips (usually when declining to fetch me a glass of water), “you win some, you lose some.” In this case, losing the craft battle means winning big with these utterly irresistible Easter treats!
Today, we’re diving headfirst into the magic of these festive cookies, a special seasonal rendition of a tried-and-true favorite. At their heart, these are similar to the beloved Mega M&M cookies that were a huge hit last month, but with a delightful Easter twist: the inclusion of peanut butter M&M eggs. It’s the same wonderfully chewy, perfectly sweet cookie dough that everyone adores, simply transformed into an adorable egg shape, making them perfect for your Easter celebrations. The subtle hint of peanut butter from the M&M eggs adds an extra layer of flavor complexity that elevates this classic to new heights, making them not just a treat for the eyes, but a true delight for the taste buds.
The Secret to Perfectly Shaped Easter Egg Cookies (No Rolling Required!)
When you think of shaped cookies, your mind might immediately jump to delicate sugar cookies that require meticulous rolling and cutting. However, these Chocolate Chip M&M Easter Egg Cookies are here to challenge that notion and introduce you to an ingenious shortcut! Forget the flour-dusted countertops, the sticky rolling pins, and the endless re-rolling of scraps. We’ve discovered a brilliantly simple method to achieve perfectly formed egg-shaped cookies with minimal fuss.
The trick lies in transforming your cookie cutter into a mold. After scooping your dough into uniform balls, instead of rolling it out, you simply press each ball gently into an egg-shaped cookie cutter. Give the top a quick flatten to ensure an even surface, and then carefully pop the dough out onto your baking sheet. It’s that easy! This innovative technique saves a tremendous amount of time and effort, making it ideal for busy bakers or anyone who wants the charm of shaped cookies without the traditional hassle. It creates a thick, substantial cookie that holds its shape beautifully while baking, promising a satisfying bite every time.
Choosing the right size cookie cutter is key to this method’s success. As these cookies tend to expand wonderfully during baking, I found that a 3-inch tall egg cookie cutter works perfectly. This size ensures that even with the natural spread of the dough, your cookies will emerge from the oven as beautifully large and thick egg shapes, retaining their festive appeal. Experimenting with different sized cutters might be fun, but for a reliably impressive result, stick to a cutter of similar dimensions.
Adding a Burst of Easter Color: The Finishing Touch
Once your glorious cookies are fresh out of the oven, still warm and inviting, it’s time for the final touch: adding those vibrant bursts of Easter color! Immediately after removing them from the heat, I gently press a few extra candy eggs onto the tops of each cookie. For this recipe, I used Easter-themed peanut butter M&M’s, whose bright pastel and neon shades truly make the cookies pop. Aren’t these colors just incredibly fun? That turquoise, in particular, is an absolute showstopper! This not only enhances their visual appeal, making them perfect for any Easter basket or dessert spread, but also adds an extra layer of delightful texture and flavor.
Beyond their charming appearance, these cookies boast an incredible versatility. They are truly best served warm, perhaps alongside a tall glass of cold milk, creating a comforting and nostalgic treat. The warmth brings out the gooey chocolate and soft texture, a truly unbeatable combination. However, if you’re planning ahead for an Easter brunch or need treats for a crowd, these cookies are also excellent for making in advance. Simply bake, cool, and then pop them into the freezer. I often find myself torn between the sheer joy of a warm, fresh-baked cookie and the unique delight of a half-frozen one – they offer such different yet equally wonderful experiences!
Chocolate Chip M&M Easter Egg Cookies
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Ingredients
- ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 3.5oz. packet instant vanilla pudding mix (not sugar-free or cook & serve)
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup crushed peanut butter egg M&M’s
- ½ cup whole peanut butter egg M&M’s
- ½ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
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Instructions
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In a large mixing bowl, cream together softened unsalted butter (¾ cup, i.e., 1 ½ sticks), granulated sugar (½ cup), and light brown sugar (½ cup) with an electric mixer for 30 seconds. Add egg (1 large) and stir until combined.
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On low speed, add in vanilla extract (¾ teaspoon) and instant vanilla pudding mix (1, 3.5-ounce box). Add baking soda (¾ teaspoon) and stir for 10 seconds. Slowly add in all-purpose flour (1 ½ cups) and mix for 30 seconds, or until the dough is combined. On low speed, add in crushed peanut butter egg M&M’s (½ cup) and mini semi-sweet chocolate chips (½ cup) and mix until incorporated.
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Scoop and roll into 3-tablespoon sized balls and place on a parchment-covered baking sheet. Press each dough ball into a 3″ egg shaped cookie cutter, flattening out the tops of each cookie so they look like smooth, thick dough eggs. Place pan in the refrigerator for 1 hour to chill.
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Bake at 350℉ for 10-12 minutes or until edges start to brown (mine took about 12 minutes, but you will want to watch your oven for doneness).
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Immediately after removing from the oven, press whole peanut butter M&M eggs (½ cup) into the tops of each one. Allow for the cookies to continue to cool on baking sheet for 5-10 minutes until removing cookies from the baking sheet.
Last Step! Please leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe! This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
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Tips for Success and Creative Variations
While the cookie cutter molding technique works exceptionally well for creating those lovely round-ish Easter egg shapes, its effectiveness might vary for other, more intricate designs due to the dough’s natural tendency to spread during baking. However, don’t let that limit your creativity! You can always adapt the base cookie recipe and try different M&M flavors or even other candies to match various holidays or themes. Imagine red and green M&Ms for Christmas or orange and black for Halloween! The possibilities are endless when you start with such a delicious and versatile dough.
Speaking of expanding my cookie repertoire, I’m currently halfway through the cookie decorating course I mentioned a few posts back. So, don’t be surprised if beautifully adorned sugar cookies start making an appearance on this blog soon. I’m not entirely sure how pretty my first attempts with royal icing will be, but if it means spending a weekend in the kitchen perfecting my piping skills, I’m all in! Operation: Cookies has officially begun, and there’s no turning back now.
Why These Easter Egg Cookies Will Be Your New Favorite
These Chocolate Chip M&M Easter Egg Cookies are more than just a seasonal treat; they’re a testament to how simple innovations can bring immense joy to your holiday baking. They combine the universally loved flavors of chocolate chip cookies with the delightful crunch and festive colors of peanut butter M&M eggs. The “cookie cutter as a mold” trick simplifies the shaping process, making these accessible even for novice bakers, while the chilling time ensures a perfect, thick, and chewy cookie every time. Whether you’re baking for an Easter gathering, packing them into lunchboxes, or simply enjoying a sweet moment with a cup of coffee or milk, these cookies are guaranteed to bring smiles.
They encapsulate the spirit of Easter – vibrant, joyful, and utterly delicious. The convenience of being able to bake them ahead and freeze them also adds to their appeal, allowing you more time to enjoy the holiday festivities. So, gather your ingredients, enlist your family for a fun baking session, and prepare to make some truly memorable Easter Egg Cookies. We promise, these will quickly become a cherished part of your spring traditions. Happy baking!