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M&M Cookies for Valentine’s Day

Balanced in their buttery and sweetness, these festive M&M Cookies for Valentine’s Day are a delightful treat — and easy to make too.

A pink and white plate on a granite countertop shows a pile of cookies for Valentine's Day dotted with red and pink candies. Nearby, a cooling rack with cookies sits.

When my children were in preschool, Valentine’s Day was an all-out affair. Kids would decorate mailboxes in school. They’d do worksheets and crafts. And then parents would dutifully send in valentines to be distributed to all.

But the valentines wouldn’t just be cute cards. They’d be lollypops fashioned as butterflies or candies tucked into cards bearing the latest, hottest cartoon craze. Or all-out goodie bags.

As much as I loved the joy my kids derived from this tradition, I loathed the expectations. Why couldn’t a simple, cute card be enough? As a working mom balancing caring for my kids and a freelance career, it always felt like so much.

But I managed to remember the valentines every year. And the kids enjoyed themselves.

Still, I wasn’t sad when that part of our life ended.

These days, Valentine’s Day is fun again in our household. We decorate a little. We have a special meal — usually involving sushi. And we bask in the joy of loving love.

A pink and white plate on a granite countertop shows a pile of M&M cookies for Valentine's Day dotted with red and pink candies. A cooling rack with cookies sits in the background.

This recipe for M&M Cookies for Valentine’s Day is born from that. These are cookies for those who love love and aren’t afraid to show it. And these are perfect for packing in lunchboxes or serving after dinner.

But why make these? Let me tell you what I adore about them.

Two bags of M&Ms sit on a countertop.

I love the festive look of cookies adorned with pink, red and white M&M candies. It elevates the basic, beloved chocolate chip cookie to something greater and grander.

Moreover, these M&M Cookies for Valentine’s Day strike the perfect balance of butteriness and sweetness.

Making these is simple too — Mix, stir, form and bake. When you look at it that way, it takes away any apprehension that comes with baking.

A cooling rack with M&M Cookies for Valentine's Day is shown.

So why not make some? And why not share these M&M Cookies for Valentine’s Day too? No pressure or expectations here — just a little Valentine’s themed fun.

M&M Cookies for Valentine's Day

M&M Cookies for Valentine's Day

Yield: 2 dozen
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Balanced in their buttery and sweetness, these festive M&M Cookies for Valentine's Day are a delightful treat — and easy to make too.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 10 oz. package Valentine's M&Ms (white, pink and red M&Ms)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. Use a whisk to sift together.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar. Beat on medium speed until the dough is smooth and cohesive, about 2 minutes. With the mixer running on its lowest speed, add the egg and vanilla extract to the mixer, letting them blend in until fully combined. Then, slowly add the flour mixture, one spoonful at a time until fully blended.

Now, it's time to add the M&Ms. You can do this two ways. The easy way is to add them to the mixer and blend them in on low. This will result in some broken shells. If you'd prefer to avoid that, add the M&Ms and gently stir them into the dough. (I prefer stirring them in.)

Use a medium cookie scoop to drop the dough into even rounds on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2-inches between the cookies.

Slide the baking sheet into the oven and cook for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. The cookies should not appear doughy in the center when you remove them from the oven.

Let sit for a minute on the baking sheet before moving the cookies carefully to a cooling rack. 

Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

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