Valentine’s M&M Cookies Recipe

Soft peanut butter cookies packed with Valentine’s M&M’s—no chilling required and ready in under 30 minutes.

If there’s one Valentine’s Day treat that never fails to make folks smile, it’s a soft, chewy cookie with colorful M&M’s peeking out. These Valentine’s M&M Cookies are quick to mix, bake up in just 12 minutes, and come out perfectly tender every single time.

This is the kind of recipe I love most — no fancy steps, no chilling, and plenty of room for little helpers at the counter. The peanut butter keeps the cookies soft, the red, pink, and white M&M’s make them look bakery-pretty, and you’ll have a whole tray ready before the kids finish setting the table. Whether you’re baking for a classroom party, gifting a few neighbors, or just treating your own sweethearts, you’ve got this.

Valentine’s M&M Cookies Recipe Details

• 🍪 Course: Dessert
• ⏱ Prep Time: 20 minutes
• 🔥 Cook Time: 12 minutes
• 🍽 Yield: 24 cookies
• 🍫 Flavor Profile: Soft, chewy peanut butter cookies loaded with chocolatey Valentine’s M&M’s
• 🥛 Best Served With: A cold glass of milk or a cozy mug of hot cocoa
• 🧊 Make Ahead: Dough can be chilled up to 24 hours before baking; baked cookies freeze well for up to 2 months

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Soft and chewy with classic peanut-butter flavor
• Valentine’s M&M’s make them instantly festive
• No chilling required
• Ready in under 30 minutes
• Kid-approved and perfect for gifting

Ingredients

• Unsalted butter (1 stick), softened
• Granulated sugar
• Light brown sugar
• Creamy peanut butter
• Large egg
• Pure vanilla extract
• All-purpose flour
• Baking soda
• Kosher salt
• Valentine’s M&M’s

Tip: Measure your flour carefully — too much can make cookies dry instead of soft and chewy.

Equipment

• Mixing bowl
• Hand mixer or stand mixer
• Rubber spatula
• Measuring cups & spoons
• Cookie scoop (1½–2 Tbsp size)
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
• Cooling rack

How to Make Valentine’s M&M Cookies

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. This prevents sticking and helps the cookies bake evenly.

Step 2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, peanut butter, egg, and vanilla on medium speed until light, creamy, and fluffy, about 1–2 minutes. The mixture should look smooth and slightly paler in color.

Step 3. Slowly add the dry ingredients to wet mixture, beating until well blended. Fold in the one cup M&M candies. Reserve the 1/3 cup for placing on top when they come out of the oven. Add the dry mixture gradually so it blends evenly without overmixing the dough. Mix only until the flour fully absorbs; the dough should look thick and cohesive but not overly stiff.

Step 4. Using a spatula, gently fold in 1 cup of the Valentine’s M&M’s, reserving the remaining ⅓ cup for topping the cookies after baking. The dough will be soft and slightly sticky.

Step 5. Scoop 1 tablespoon of dough and roll lightly between your palms. Place dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.

Step 6. Bake for 11–13 minutes, or until the edges are set and lightly golden while the centers still look slightly soft and puffy. Do not overbake — the cookies will continue to set as they cool.

Step 7. Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, gently press 2–3 M&M’s into the top of each cookie. This step gives the cookies their festive Valentine’s look and keeps the candy colors bright.

Step 8. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing.

Variations & Substitutions

• Jumbo Bakery-Style Cookies: Scoop ¼ cup dough per cookie, chill 20–30 minutes, and bake 14–16 minutes. Thick, soft centers with crisp edges—perfect for gifting.
• Cookie Bars (One-Pan Option): Press dough into a parchment-lined 9×13-inch pan and bake at 350°F for 20–24 minutes. Cool completely before slicing.
• Funfetti Valentine Cookies: Add 2–3 tablespoons Valentine’s sprinkles along with the M&M’s. Use jimmies to avoid color bleed.
• Extra Chocolate Lovers Version: Fold in ½ cup chocolate chips or white chocolate chips with the M&M’s for a richer, bakery-style cookie.

Storage, Freezing & Make-Ahead

• Room temperature storage: Store cooled Valentine’s M&M cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. Adding a slice of bread helps keep them soft.
• Freezing baked cookies: Baked cookies freeze well for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
• Freezing cookie dough: Cookie dough can be scooped into balls, frozen until solid, and stored for up to 2 months.
• Baking from frozen: Bake frozen cookie dough balls straight from the freezer, adding 1–2 extra minutes to the bake time.
• Refreshing cookies: Warm cookies in a 300°F oven for 3–4 minutes to restore softness after freezing or storage.

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Did you make these Valentine’s M&M Cookies? Leave a rating, comment, or tag your photos—I’d love to see them.