These Soft Halloween M&M Cookies are a real treat for any spooky celebration! They have soft centers and crisp edges, and those colorful M&Ms make them a hit with kids and adults alike.

They go perfectly with a glass of milk for the ultimate Halloween treat! Choose one of every color for the most festive look.

Soft Halloween M&M Cookies

A classic all-butter cookie with plenty of M&Ms. This recipe makes plenty for a festive party, the dough freezes beautifully, and the cookies are perfect: soft with crisp edges.

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 12

Chilling time 1

Serving Size cookies

Equipment

Baking sheets
Parchment paper
Mixing bowl
Hand mixer or stand mixer

Ingredients

¾ butter softened
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
2¼ cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon salt
2 cups ghoul mix M&Ms (divided)

Instructions

Cream the butter and sugar. Beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Then, add the eggs and vanilla extract and blend until combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Combine the dry ingredients. Whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate mixing bowl.
Mix the dry and wet ingredients. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing at low speed, one cup at a time, until combined. Then, stir in 1½ cups of the Halloween-themed M&Ms by hand.
Chill the dough: Cover the dough and chill it in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
Prepare for baking. Towards the end of the chilling time, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and position the oven rack in the center. Prepare two baking sheets with parchment paper or lightly coat them with cooking spray.
Shape the cookies. Drop the dough by tablespoon-sized balls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart as the cookies spread. Press 3 additional M&Ms on top of each dough ball for decoration.
Bake the cookies. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 11-13 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Notes

Before you begin, make sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature. This will make it easier to blend them evenly with the other ingredients.

Just mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until they are combined. Don’t overmix to avoid making the cookies tough.

You can skip pressing M&Ms on top, but it makes the cookies look better.

When adding extra M&Ms on top of the dough balls, do it gently to prevent the cookies from flattening too much.

It’s important to chill the dough for at least an hour to help the cookies keep their shape and stop them from spreading too much while baking.

More Tips:

Don’t forget to check on the cookies in the oven. They should be light golden around the edges and still be soft in the middle. If you bake them for too long, they can become too crispy.

When placing the dough balls on the baking sheet, make sure to keep them at least 2 inches apart to allow them to spread out without sticking together.

To measure your flour, use the spoon-and-level method. Simply spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife to prevent the flour from being packed in too tightly, which can make the cookies dense.

After taking the cookies out of the oven, let them cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to help them set and make it easier to move them without breaking.

Serving Suggestions

These M&M cookies are best served with milk, hot chocolate, vanilla ice cream, coffee, tea, or apple cider.

Key Ingredients and Tools

Here are a few important tools and ingredients to help you make these cookies perfectly.

Unsalted butter. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the salt content in your cookies, ensuring the perfect balance of flavors.
Halloween-themed M&Ms. These can be found in the seasonal candy section of most grocery stores during October, and they add a festive touch to your cookies.
Parchment paper. Lining your baking sheets with parchment paper helps prevent the cookies from sticking and makes cleanup easier.
Electric mixer. Whether you use a hand mixer or a stand mixer, this tool is crucial for achieving the right consistency when creaming the butter and sugars together.

These items will make sure your cookies turn out great and make baking easier and more fun.

Here are some simple swaps you can make for this recipe:

Unsalted butter: You can use margarine or vegan butter for a dairy-free option.
Granulated sugar: Try using coconut sugar or cane sugar instead.
Brown sugar: Use equal white sugar and a tablespoon of molasses.
All-purpose flour: Swap it with a gluten-free flour blend to make the cookies gluten-free.
Halloween-themed M&Ms: If you can’t find the themed version, use regular M&Ms or chocolate chips. You can also sub in red and green M&Ms to make Christmas M&M cookies!

These substitutions may change the recipe a bit, but you can try them if you need alternatives.

Storage Instructions

Keep the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

To freeze baked cookies, lay them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then, transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag.

They can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

To freeze the cookie dough, place it into balls on a baking sheet. Freeze until solid, then move the dough balls to a freezer bag.

The dough can be frozen for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to bake, place the frozen dough balls on a baking sheet and bake as directed, adding 1-2 minutes to the baking time.

These Soft Halloween M&M Cookies are a fun and festive treat everyone will enjoy. Perfect for parties or a cozy night, they will surely become a holiday favorite.

With their soft centers, crisp edges, and colorful M&Ms, these cookies are as delightful to eat as they make. Enjoy baking and sharing these delicious cookies, and don’t forget to get creative with your decorations!

Spooktacular Halloween M&M Cookies: The Perfect Spooky Sweet Treat