Easy Chocolate M&M Cookies: The Ultimate Cake Mix Recipe for Quick & Delicious Treats
Get ready to whip up a batch of the most delightful chocolate M&M cookies you’ve ever tasted, made effortlessly from scratch with a clever cake mix shortcut! This recipe transforms a simple cake mix box into homemade treats that are wonderfully crispy on the outside, yet irresistibly soft and tender on the inside. They are truly perfect for any occasion, whether you need a quick dessert, a colorful snack, or a delightful addition to your next family gathering. Imagine biting into a warm, fudgy cookie, complemented by the satisfying crunch and vibrant pop of M&M candies – pure bliss in every bite!
This simple cookie recipe has been a treasured favorite in my home for years, right alongside my beloved Cake Mix Cookie Bars (With m&m). It’s so incredibly quick and straightforward that I now enjoy making them with my own little one – it’s a fantastic activity for kids and results in instant gratification! The magic truly lies in its simplicity: you literally just dump all the ingredients into a single bowl, give everything a good mix, form small dough balls, and then bake them to perfection. The resulting texture is pure heaven – a delightful contrast of soft, chewy interiors with just a slight crispness on the edges, and those M&M candies add a wonderful, colorful crunch that I absolutely adore! These vibrant, delicious cookies are also a fantastic addition to any festive Christmas Cookie Boxes (Homemade Gift), making them ideal for gifting or sharing during the holidays. If you’re eager for more effortless baking ideas, be sure to explore our collection of Easy Cake Mix Recipes (Desserts) for endless inspiration.
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Key Ingredients for Your Cake Mix M&M Cookies
Creating these delightful chocolate M&M cookies couldn’t be simpler, thanks to a handful of everyday ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in achieving that perfect balance of flavor and texture:
- Cake mix: The star of our show! I typically opt for a rich Devil’s Food cake mix, as its deep chocolate flavor provides an excellent base for our cookies. However, feel free to experiment with other chocolate cake mixes or even a rich fudge brownie mix for a different twist. Make sure to use a standard 15.25 oz box.
- Eggs: Essential for binding the ingredients together and contributing to the chewy texture. Ensure your eggs are at room temperature, as this helps them incorporate more smoothly into the batter, leading to a more consistent dough and a better-textured cookie.
- Oil: This ingredient is key to achieving that signature “poofy,” soft, and moist texture. It replaces traditional butter or shortening, making the cookies incredibly tender and often extending their shelf life. Vegetable oil or canola oil works best here for a neutral flavor.
- Baking powder: While cake mix already contains leavening agents, a little extra baking powder helps these cookies puff up just right, ensuring they are light and airy rather than dense or flat. It contributes to their desirable soft center.
- Vanilla extract: A splash of good quality vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor profile, adding a touch of warmth and depth that complements the rich chocolate beautifully. Don’t skip this for that classic bakery aroma!
- M&M candies: The colorful crunch factor! You can use either mini M&Ms for a more uniform distribution of candy in each bite, or regular-sized M&Ms for bigger, bolder bursts of color and chocolate. Holiday-themed M&Ms are also a fun way to customize these cookies for special occasions.
Creative Variations and Customization Ideas
While these easy chocolate M&M cookies are perfect as is, they also serve as a fantastic base for endless creative variations. Don’t be afraid to experiment and make them uniquely yours!
- Double or triple chocolate version: For the ultimate chocolate lover, amplify the richness by adding about a ½ cup of your favorite chocolate chips into the cookie batter. Consider dark chocolate chips for an intense flavor, milk chocolate for extra sweetness, or even white chocolate chips for a beautiful contrast. This instantly elevates your cookies to a decadent double or even triple chocolate delight!
- Try other add-ins: The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to customizing these cookies. Toss in other exciting options like chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, or almonds), mini chocolate chips (dark, milk, or white), festive sprinkles for a party, or even crushed pretzels for a salty-sweet crunch that will surprise and delight your taste buds.
- Cookie bars: Transform your cookie dough into delectable bars for an easy-to-serve dessert. Prepare the dough as directed, but instead of forming individual cookie balls, spread the batter evenly into a greased and lightly floured 8×8 inch square pan. Bake for approximately 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs. Let cool completely before slicing and enjoying.
- Use mini M&Ms: For those who love candy in every bite, mini M&Ms are a fantastic choice. Their smaller size ensures that you get a burst of color and chocolate in almost every morsel. Plus, they look incredibly cute scattered throughout the cookies!
- Drizzle over the top: Elevate the presentation and flavor by drizzling the cooled cookies with a rich topping. A homemade Easy Chocolate Ganache or a luscious Homemade Caramel Sauce would add an extra layer of indulgence and visual appeal. Simply melt and drizzle in a zig-zag pattern for a professional touch.
- Dip in chocolate: Take your cookies to the next level by dipping them halfway into melted white, dark, or milk chocolate. This creates a beautiful contrast and adds another layer of chocolatey goodness. For an extra fancy touch, sprinkle with more mini M&Ms, sprinkles, or finely chopped nuts before the chocolate sets.
- Try a different flavor cake mix: While Devil’s Food is a personal favorite, don’t limit yourself! The beauty of this cake mix recipe is its adaptability. Experiment with other delicious cake mix flavors such as classic yellow cake for a buttery cookie, spice cake for a warm autumnal treat, red velvet for a festive and colorful cookie, or even lemon cake mix for a bright and zesty twist.
- Make cookie sandwiches: Turn two cookies into an irresistible sandwich by filling them with your favorite creamy concoction. Some delightful filling ideas include light and airy Homemade Whipped Cream (try flavoring it with coffee or almond extract!), a rich Caramel Frosting, a refreshing Mint Frosting (perfect for holidays), or a classic Peanut Butter Frosting for an unbeatable chocolate-peanut butter combination.
How to Make Easy Chocolate M&M Cookies: Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these simple steps to create a batch of perfect chocolate M&M cookies that everyone will adore. The process is so straightforward, even beginner bakers will feel like pros!
- Prepare the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix powder, oil, room-temperature eggs, baking powder, and vanilla extract. Using an electric mixer (stand or hand-held) on medium speed, beat until all ingredients are just combined and form a thick, cohesive dough. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies.
- Scoop and Shape: Using a tablespoon or a small cookie scoop for uniform size, scoop out portions of the dough. Gently roll each portion into a smooth ball. Then, lightly flatten each ball slightly with the palm of your hand. This helps the cookies spread evenly during baking.
- Arrange on Baking Sheet: Place the shaped cookie dough balls onto a prepared cookie sheet. Ensure the sheet is lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup. Leave about 2 inches between each cookie to allow for spreading.
- Add M&M Topping: For that beautiful bakery-style look and extra candy in every bite, gently press a few extra M&M candies onto the top of each flattened cookie dough ball before baking.
- Bake to Perfection: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the cookies for approximately 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are just set and slightly golden, but the centers still look soft and slightly underdone. Remember, it’s better to slightly under-bake for a chewy, fudgy cookie than to over-bake and end up with dry ones. Remove from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy your freshly baked chocolate M&M cookies!
Expert Tips and Baking Techniques for Perfect Cookies
Achieving bakery-quality chocolate M&M cookies with a cake mix is easier than you think. Here are some pro tips and techniques to ensure your cookies turn out perfectly every time:
- Don’t over-bake the cookies: This is perhaps the most crucial tip for any cookie recipe. Over-baking will lead to hard, dry, and crumbly cookies. For these cake mix cookies, aim for edges that are just set and slightly golden, while the centers still appear soft. They will continue to set as they cool on the baking sheet. It’s always better to under-bake them slightly for a fudgier, chewier texture.
- Use oil for that “poofy” shape and soft texture: This recipe specifically calls for oil rather than solid fats like shortening or butter. Oil contributes significantly to the cookie’s moistness and chewiness, giving them that delightful “poofy” look and super tender crumb. Avoid substituting with solid fats unless you are comfortable with a potentially different outcome in texture.
- Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature: Especially the eggs! Room temperature ingredients emulsify much better, meaning they blend together more smoothly and evenly. This results in a uniform batter, which in turn leads to a more consistent and perfectly textured cookie.
- Line your cookie tray: Always line your baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. This crucial step prevents the cookies from sticking to the pan, ensures even baking, and makes for incredibly easy cleanup. No more struggling with stubborn, stuck-on cookies!
- Be sure to check cake mix box size: Cake mix box sizes can vary between brands and over time. This particular recipe is calibrated for a standard 15.25 oz (approximately 432g) box of cake mix. If your box is a different size, you might need to slightly adjust the liquid ingredients (oil/eggs) to achieve the correct dough consistency. A smaller box might result in a slightly wetter dough, while a larger one could make it too dry.
- Avoid over-mixing the dough: Once the wet and dry ingredients are combined, mix only until no streaks of dry mix remain. Over-mixing develops the gluten in the flour (from the cake mix), which can lead to tough, chewy cookies rather than the desired soft and tender texture.
Common Questions About Cake Mix M&M Cookies
If your cookie dough feels excessively sticky or too wet to handle and roll, don’t worry! This can sometimes happen due to varying humidity levels, egg sizes, or slight differences in cake mix formulations. The easiest solution is to place the entire bowl of dough in the fridge for about 30 minutes to an hour. Chilling the dough allows the ingredients to firm up, making it much easier to scoop and roll into balls. If you’re as impatient as I am and want to avoid the wait, simply wear a pair of disposable plastic gloves while shaping the cookies. This prevents the dough from sticking to your hands and makes the process much less messy!
Cookies typically become tough and overly chewy when the batter or dough has been over-mixed. When you mix flour extensively, you develop the gluten, which leads to a more elastic and tough texture. To avoid this, mix your dough only until the ingredients are just combined and no dry streaks of cake mix remain. Additionally, always be sure to measure your ingredients correctly. Accurate measurements are vital for maintaining the proper balance of wet and dry components, ensuring a softer and more desirable outcome.
The most common culprit for hard and dry cookies is over-baking. When cookies bake for too long, they lose too much moisture, resulting in a brittle and crumbly texture. It’s crucial to be accurate with your baking time and to watch your cookies carefully. Oven temperatures can vary, so the specified baking time is a guideline. Look for visual cues: the edges should be lightly golden and set, while the centers might still look slightly soft. Remember, cookies continue to bake and firm up slightly as they cool on the baking sheet. Removing them just a minute or two early can make all the difference in achieving that perfectly soft and chewy cookie.
Absolutely! This is one of the great advantages of cake mix cookies. You can prepare the cookie dough up to 3 days in advance and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to bake, simply scoop and bake as directed. If the dough is very firm from being chilled, let it sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to soften slightly before shaping.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
These easy chocolate M&M cookies are so delicious, they rarely last long! But for those rare occasions when you have leftovers, or if you want to prepare them in advance, here’s how to properly store them to maintain their freshness and deliciousness:
- Make ahead (Dough): You can easily prepare the cookie dough up to 3 days in advance. Simply mix the dough as directed, cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap, and store it in the refrigerator. When ready to bake, let it sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to soften slightly before scooping and baking. For longer storage, the raw cookie dough can be frozen for up to 1 month. Form the dough into balls, flash freeze them on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. Bake directly from frozen, adding a minute or two to the baking time.
- Room temperature (Baked Cookies): Once baked and completely cooled, store your cookies in an airtight container or a cookie jar at room temperature for up to 3 days. To keep them extra soft, you can place a slice of bread in the container with the cookies; the cookies will absorb moisture from the bread.
- Refrigerate (Baked Cookies): To extend their freshness slightly, place baked cookies in a sealed, airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. While refrigeration can sometimes alter the texture of cookies, these cake mix cookies tend to hold up well. Bring them back to room temperature or warm them slightly in the microwave for a few seconds before serving for the best experience.
- Freeze (Baked Cookies): For longer storage, baked cookies can be frozen for up to 1 month. Once completely cooled, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and flash freeze until firm. Then, transfer the frozen cookies to a freezer-safe airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking. Thaw them at room temperature for a few hours before serving. You can also quickly warm them in a microwave or oven for a “freshly baked” feel.
More Irresistible Cake Mix Cookie Recipes
If you loved the simplicity and deliciousness of these chocolate M&M cookies made with cake mix, you’re in for a treat! The world of cake mix cookies is vast and incredibly versatile. Here are some other fantastic cake mix cookie recipes that are just as easy and delightful to make:
- Gooey Butter Cookies
- Easy Heart Cookies
- White Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Easy Eggnog Cookies
- S’mores Cookies
Recipe Card: Easy Chocolate M&M Cookies (Cake Mix)
Easy Chocolate M&M Cookies (Cake Mix)
Abeer Rizvi
Pin Recipe
10 minutes
10 minutes
20 minutes
Cookies
American
24
cookies
78
kcal
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Ingredients
-
1 box
Devil’s Food cake mix 15.25 oz. box - 2 Large Eggs at Room temperature
-
⅓ cup
Vegetable Oil -
1 teaspoon
Baking powder -
1 tablespoon
Vanilla extract -
1 cup
M&M candies
Instructions
-
In a large mixing bowl, combine and mix together the cake mix powder, oil, eggs, baking powder and vanilla extract until just combined.
-
Scoop out tablespoons of the cookie dough, roll them into balls, and then flatten them slightly.
-
Place them on a cookie tray lined with parchment paper, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
-
Gently press a few M&M candies on top of each cookie dough ball for decoration.
-
Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F (175°C) for about 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are lightly crispy and set. Enjoy warm or fully cooled!
Notes
- For the best consistency, ensure eggs are at room temperature as they blend together more smoothly.
- Always line your baking tray with parchment paper or a silicone mat to prevent cookies from sticking and for easy cleanup.
- If the cookie dough feels too “wet” or sticky to handle, place it in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour to firm up. Alternatively, wearing disposable plastic gloves can help prevent stickiness during shaping.
- You can use either regular-sized or mini M&M candies, depending on your preference for candy distribution and visual appeal.
- Do not over-bake these cookies! They will become hard and dry. For a soft and fudgy center with crispy edges, remove them from the oven when the edges are just set and the centers still look slightly soft.
- Refer to the “Expert Tips and Baking Techniques” and “Creative Variations” sections above for more detailed advice and ideas.
- Leftover baked cookies can be stored in an airtight container or cookie jar at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. They can also be frozen for up to 1 month.
Nutrition
Calories:
78
kcal
Carbohydrates:
6
g
Fat:
5
g
Saturated Fat:
1
g
Cholesterol:
14
mg
Sodium:
11
mg
Potassium:
26
mg
Sugar:
5
g
Vitamin A:
40
IU
Vitamin C:
0.1
mg
Calcium:
21
mg
Iron:
0.2
mg
An automated tool is used to calculate the nutritional information. As such, I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information provided for any recipe on this site.
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