Spring has sprung, and the Easter bunny is hopping nearby! What better way to celebrate than with a batch of these delightful Easter M&M cookies? These easy recipes are perfect for baking with the kids, a quick after-dinner treat, or even a fun addition to your Easter basket. Get ready to dive into a world of melt-in-your-mouth goodness with this simple, yet incredibly satisfying homemade cooking experience.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups Easter M&Ms (or your favorite colors!)
Instructions:
Step 1: Cream Together Butter and Sugar
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. This is easily done with an electric mixer, but you can certainly do it by hand if you're feeling strong!
Step 2: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract. Make sure everything is well combined before moving on to the dry ingredients.
Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; a few lumps are okay!
Step 4: Stir in the M&Ms
Gently fold in the Easter M&Ms. Reserve about ½ cup for pressing onto the tops of the cookies later for extra color and fun.
Step 5: Bake the Cookies
Drop rounded tablespoons of cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving some space between each cookie. Press a few extra M&Ms onto the top of each cookie. Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown.
Step 6: Cool and Enjoy!
Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool on the sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cool, enjoy your delicious Easter M&M cookies!
Tips for the Best Easter M&M Cookies:
- Softened butter is key: Make sure your butter is properly softened for optimal creaming. If it's too cold, the cookies will be crumbly.
- Don't overmix: Overmixing the dough will develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in tough cookies.
- Chill the dough (optional): For thicker cookies with crispier edges, chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking.
- Adjust baking time: Oven temperatures vary, so keep an eye on your cookies and adjust the baking time as needed.
Variations:
- Chocolate chips: Add ½ cup of chocolate chips along with the M&Ms for an extra chocolatey treat.
- Sprinkles: Add some festive sprinkles along with the M&Ms for extra flair.
- Different M&M colors: Use any color of M&Ms you like, or create your own custom Easter blend.
- White chocolate chips: Swap out some of the butter for white chocolate chips for a unique twist.
Nutritional Information (per cookie, approximate):
- Calories: 150-180
- Fat: 8-10g
- Sugar: 15-20g
- Protein: 2-3g
These delicious Easter M&M cookies are the perfect quick dinner dessert or addition to your Easter celebrations. They are a simple and fun recipe that the whole family will love. Enjoy!