Description
Delight in these soft and chewy M&M Peanut Butter Cookies, featuring a perfect blend of creamy peanut butter, sweet brown sugar, and colorful M&M candies. Perfect for any occasion, these cookies combine classic flavors with a fun twist and a deliciously rich texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Sugars
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
Add-ins
- 1 cup M&M candies
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips or peanut butter chips (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, ensuring all ingredients are well incorporated for a smooth base.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Mix in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until the batter is smooth and creamy, which helps create a moist and cohesive dough.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and baking soda to evenly distribute the leavening agent and prevent clumps.
- Mix Dry Into Wet: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until just combined to maintain tenderness in the cookies.
- Incorporate M&Ms and Chips: Gently fold in the M&M candies and optional mini chocolate or peanut butter chips to add texture and bursts of flavor throughout the dough.
- Chill the Dough: Refrigerate the cookie dough for 30 minutes to 1 hour to help prevent spreading during baking and to develop flavors.
- Shape and Scoop: Using about 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie, scoop and shape into balls. For extra indulgence, optionally add a small dollop of peanut butter in the center before shaping. Place the dough balls on a lined baking sheet with enough spacing.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are set but the centers still look slightly underbaked to ensure chewiness.
- Cool the Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, preserving their soft texture.
Notes
- Chilling the dough is essential to prevent the cookies from spreading too much and helps develop deeper flavors.
- You can substitute crunchy peanut butter if you prefer a bit of texture in your cookies.
- Mini chocolate chips or peanut butter chips add extra bursts of flavor, but they can be omitted if desired.
- For a festive look, gently press a few extra M&Ms on top of each cookie dough ball before baking.
- Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days; they can also be frozen for longer storage.
