Double Chocolate M&M Cookies Recipe – soft and chewy pudding cookies packed with cocoa powder, semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips and bright red and pink M&M’s! Make a batch and bake it – all in 30 minutes!

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The Ultimate Double Chocolate M&M Cookies: Soft, Chewy, and Irresistibly Festive!

Get ready to brighten your day and celebrate any occasion with these incredibly soft and chewy Double Chocolate M&M Cookies! Whether you’re planning for Valentine’s Day, a birthday party, or simply craving a delightful treat, this recipe promises pure joy in every bite. We’re talking about rich chocolate cookies, loaded with two decadent types of chocolate chips and a vibrant burst of red and pink M&M’s candy. These cookies are not just a dessert; they’re a mood-booster, guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone’s face!

Life can be hectic, but baking doesn’t have to be. This recipe is designed for maximum flavor with minimal fuss, ensuring you can whip up a batch of these glorious cookies in just around 30 minutes from start to finish. Say goodbye to long chilling times and complicated steps. My goal is always to share fun, delicious, and approachable recipes, and these Double Chocolate M&M Cookies perfectly fit the bill. While I occasionally share an easy and delicious dinner recipe, my heart is often drawn to creating charming treats, especially those with a festive touch. And honestly, who can resist the cheerful colors of M&M’s?

The Secret to Unforgettable Chocolate Chips

Every passionate baker has their go-to brands for essential ingredients, and chocolate chips are no exception. For these Double Chocolate M&M Cookies, the quality of your chocolate chips truly makes a difference. While many premium brands are fantastic, I’ve discovered a secret weapon: Aldi’s brand chocolate chips. Yes, you read that right – Aldi’s! I know it might sound surprising, but I’ve been incorporating their chocolate chips into my cookies and bars for a long time, and I am consistently impressed. Not only are they incredibly inexpensive, allowing you to stock up without breaking the bank, but their melting quality is sheer perfection.

Unlike some other store brands that can seize or become waxy, Aldi’s chocolate chips melt beautifully, staying wonderfully gooey as long as the cookie is warm, yet holding their shape just enough to create those inviting puddles of melted chocolate. Just take a look at the photos—the proof is in the pudding (or, in this case, the cookie!). Using both semi-sweet and white chocolate chips in this recipe creates a delightful contrast in flavor and color, enhancing the overall richness and visual appeal of these M&M-studded treats. Don’t be afraid to experiment with your favorite brands, but definitely give Aldi’s a try if you have one nearby!

The Magic of Pudding Mix: Soft & Chewy Perfection

The foundation of these incredible Double Chocolate M&M Cookies is a base recipe that I absolutely adore—it’s truly foolproof and delivers consistently soft and chewy results every single time. What makes it so unique and convenient? It requires absolutely no chilling! That’s right, you can simply mix the dough and bake it immediately, which is a game-changer when a cookie craving strikes or you’re short on time. This no-chill cookie recipe is a personal favorite for its efficiency and delicious outcome.

The secret ingredient that gives these cookies their signature soft and wonderfully chewy texture, without making them cakey, is instant pudding mix. For these double chocolate cookies, I opted for a chocolate instant pudding mix, which amplifies the rich cocoa flavor throughout the dough. To further enhance the chocolate intensity, I also added a touch of unsweetened cocoa powder and slightly reduced the amount of flour. The result is a deeply flavored, perfectly textured chocolate cookie that serves as an ideal canvas for all those delicious M&M’s and chocolate chips.

I’ve tested this recipe extensively, comparing batches baked fresh with those that were chilled beforehand, and I found very little discernible difference in texture. While chilled dough might yield a slightly thicker cookie, both methods produce incredibly soft, chewy, and satisfyingly thick cookies—exactly the way we love them! This means you can enjoy fresh-baked cookies with minimal waiting, making it perfect for impromptu baking sessions or last-minute treats.

Double Chocolate M&M Cookies Recipe

Author: Anna

Soft and chewy chocolate cookies with red, white, and pink M&M candy! So festive and perfect for Valentine’s Day celebrations or any occasion.

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Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 10 mins

Total Time: 20 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 24 cookies

Calories: 165 kcal

Ingredients

½ cup unsalted butter softened to room temperature, 1 stick
¼ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1.75 cup all-purpose flour
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 3.5 oz chocolate instant pudding mix
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
¾ cup red and pink M&M’s candy
½ cup white chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175°C).
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter for 30 seconds. Add both granulated and brown sugars and beat with an electric mixer for 3 minutes, until the mixture is light and fluffy.
Add the egg and pure vanilla extract, mixing until just well incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
In a separate medium mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, instant chocolate pudding mix, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet butter and sugar mixture. Mix with an electric mixer on low speed until almost fully incorporated. Switch to a rubber spatula or a wooden spoon, then gently fold in ¾ cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips and ¾ cup of M&M’s candy (reserve the ½ cup white chocolate chips and a few extra semi-sweet chips and M&M’s for pressing onto the top of the cookie balls). Stir until everything is just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
Scoop the cookie dough using a medium (1 ½ tablespoon) cookie scoop. Roll each scoop into a smooth ball and place them on the prepared cookie sheet, ensuring they are spaced about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
For a bakery-style look, gently press the reserved white chocolate chips, additional semi-sweet chocolate chips, and M&M’s onto the tops of the cookie dough balls before baking. This ensures they are visible and beautiful once baked.
Bake cookies for 9 to 11 minutes. The cookies should be set around the edges but still appear slightly soft in the center. (10 minutes was the perfect baking time for my oven).
Once baked, let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes. This crucial step helps them set without falling apart. Then, carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!

Nutrition Information (Per Serving)

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Tips for Perfect Double Chocolate M&M Cookies

Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your butter and egg are at room temperature. This allows them to cream together properly, creating a smooth, emulsified mixture that traps air, resulting in lighter, chewier cookies.
Don’t Overmix Dry Ingredients: Once you add the flour mixture, mix just until combined. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour too much, leading to tough, dense cookies.
Quality Cocoa Powder: Use a good quality unsweetened cocoa powder for the best chocolate flavor. Dutch-processed cocoa powder can give a darker color and milder chocolate taste.
Instant Pudding, Not Cook & Serve: Make sure you’re using *instant* chocolate pudding mix. The cook and serve variety has different ingredients and won’t yield the same texture.
Reserve Some Inclusions: For that beautiful, bakery-style finish, reserve a handful of M&M’s and chocolate chips to press onto the top of the cookie dough balls right before baking. They’ll melt slightly and look stunning.
Watch Your Oven: Ovens can vary. Keep an eye on your cookies during the last few minutes of baking. They should be set at the edges but still look slightly soft and underbaked in the center. This ensures a super chewy interior.
Cool on the Pan: Don’t move the cookies immediately from the hot baking sheet. Letting them cool for a couple of minutes on the pan allows them to set up and prevents them from breaking when transferred to a cooling rack.

Variations and Make-Ahead Options

Customizing Your M&M Cookies:

Holiday Themes: Easily adapt these cookies for any holiday! Use green and red M&M’s for Christmas, pastel M&M’s for Easter, or orange and black for Halloween.
Different Chocolate Combos: While this recipe calls for semi-sweet and white chocolate chips, feel free to try milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or even peanut butter chips for a different flavor profile.
Add Nuts: For an extra crunch, fold in ½ cup of chopped pecans or walnuts with the chocolate chips and M&M’s.
Extract Variations: A touch of almond extract or peppermint extract can add an interesting twist, especially for seasonal baking.

Make-Ahead & Storage:

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 the cookies soft.
Freezing Baked Cookies: Baked and cooled cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months. Arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. Thaw at room temperature.
Freezing Cookie Dough: You can scoop the cookie dough balls and freeze them unbaked. Place the dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer to a freezer-safe bag. When ready to bake, place frozen dough balls on a baking sheet and add 2-4 minutes to the baking time.

These Double Chocolate M&M Cookies are more than just a dessert; they’re a versatile treat that can be enjoyed year-round and customized to your heart’s content. Their delightful texture and vibrant appearance make them perfect for sharing, gifting, or simply indulging in a moment of chocolatey bliss.

If you love this recipe and decide to make it, please snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Don’t forget to tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can admire your delicious creations!

More Delightful Cookie Recipes to Explore:

If you’re a fan of these soft and chewy cookies, you’ll definitely want to check out these other irresistible recipes:

Soft and Chewy M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies

A classic for a reason! These cookies combine the beloved texture with colorful M&M’s, a timeless favorite.

Pudding Chocolate Chip Cookies

Discover the magic of pudding mix in another fantastic chocolate chip cookie variation. Super soft and bursting with flavor!

Chocolate Chip M&M Cookie Bars

For those times you want all the flavor of cookies with less scooping, these M&M cookie bars are the perfect solution – easy to make and even easier to share (or not!).