Is it really already the end of January? You know what that means. Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. In my opinion, nothing says, “I love you” quite like delicious homemade treats. Therefore, I’ll be making and sharing a few of my sweetheart’s favorites this Valentine’s Day season. I’m starting with these easy and delicious M&M Chip Valentine Cookies.
Although I made these as a Valentine’s Day treat, they are also perfect for birthdays, barbecues, tailgates, or everyday snacks. Simply replace the Cupid’s Mix M&M’s® with plain or any other seasonal variety and shape in circles instead of hearts. Now that we’ve covered how versatile these are, let’s get started.
Due to their large size, these cookies bake best at a slightly higher temperature. Start by preheating the oven to 375° and either grease or line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
The process for making this dough is pretty simple. First, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt and set aside. Meanwhile, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. This shouldn’t take longer than a minute if the butter is room temperature. Next, add the egg and vanilla and continue beating until combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture. Continue mixing and scraping the sides of the bowl until a soft dough forms.
Next, use a rubber spatula to fold in the M&M’s and the chocolate chips. Since these are intended to be a Valentine’s Day treat, I am using the Cupid’s Mix Plain M&M’s. There is just something about the mixture of red, white, and pink that seems extra tasty. I admit that I love plain M&M’s, but think that a little milk chocolate goes a long way. Therefore, I also added a few dark chocolate chips. However, feel free to use milk, white, semi-sweet, or a blend of your own favorites.
At this point, you have a decision to make regarding the shape of your cookies. I made a few circles and a few hearts. They are super cute and festive either way. If you choose to make standard circles, simply measure the dough in ¼ cup portions, roll into balls, and place on prepared cookie sheets. Flatten slightly with the palm of your hand and add a few extra M&M’s to the top for color and texture. Note that you can also decrease the portion to one tablespoon and adjust the baking time to eight to ten minutes if you prefer smaller portions.
If you want to shape as hearts, you will need a 2.5” heart shaped cookie cutter, cooking spray, and a little patience. First, generously spray the cookie cutter with cooking spray and place on the prepared cookie sheet. Measure ¼ cup of dough and spread into the cookie cutter. Then, gently lift the cookie cutter up off of the sheet. Add a few extra M&M’s to the top for visual appeal. Once the sheet is full (a standard baking sheet should hold six hearts), refrigerate for approximately 15 minutes while you continue shaping hearts. Reapply cooking spray to the cookie cutter as needed.
Finally, bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-13 minutes. Chilling the hearts will help them keep their shape during baking. However, I recommend watching them carefully. If they start to spread too much (beyond recognition of a heart), open the oven door and use a spoon to gently “nudge” the edges back into shape. These should hold their shape pretty well if chilled properly. However, the “spoon trick” is a helpful tip I picked up from Sally’s Baking Addiction. Once the cookies are lightly golden brown on the edges, remove from the oven, cool completely, and enjoy.
These M&M Chip Valentine Cookies are large, chewy, and totally packed with candy coated goodness and chocolate chips. I promise that they are absolutely perfect for the M&M lover in your life.
M&M Chip Valentine Cookies
Cuisine: CookiesDifficulty: Easy4
servings20
minutes12
minutesIngredients
1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks, softened)
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 egg
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
¾ cup chocolate morsels
¾ cup Plain Cupid’s Mix M&M’s (divided)*
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 375°** and grease or line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Combine the flour, salt, and baking soda in a small bowl and set aside.
- With an electric mixer, cream the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Add the egg and vanilla and beat on low until just combined. Gradually add the flour mixture and mix until a soft dough forms. Gently stir in ½ cup of M&M’s and the chocolate morsels.
- Shape ¼ cup portions of dough into balls or hearts. If shaping as hearts, place a well-greased 2.5” heart-shaped cookie cutter on prepared baking sheet. Spread dough into cookie cutter. Gently lift cookie cutter from sheet. Use the extra ¼ cup of M&M’s to add extras to the top of each cookie (whether you are shaping as circles or hearts). Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes (if shaping as hearts – circles can go directly into the oven).
- Bake in preheated oven for 10-13 minutes or until edges are lightly golden brown. Remove from oven and cool slightly. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Notes
- *Divide candy into two portions – (1) ½ cup portion and (1) ¼ cup portion)
- **This is the instruction for standard ovens. However, I sometimes like to use the True Convection setting at 350°.
- These freeze beautifully. Simply store in an airtight container between sheets of wax paper and freeze for up to three months.