Chocolate Chip M&M Oatmeal Cookies

Chocolate Chip M&M Oatmeal Cookies. They’re thick, soft, and chewy! Perfect this holiday season or whenever the craving hits. 

 I have a confession to make. Oatmeal cookies were never really my thing. I’m not saying I don’t like them or that I still wouldn’t eat like 2 3 5 of them, but if there is a tray of cookies out I’m going for the chocolate chip every time. However, you put M&M’s AND chocolate chips in them- well now that’s a different story. I realized after making these cookies that it wasn’t the oatmeal cookie’s fault all these year that I didn’t reach for it first. It was the additions to the dough that I just didn’t care for. I’m sorry but raisins vs chocolate? Um, is that even a contest. Chocolate always wins.

So it turns out I do LOVE oatmeal cookies. The soft chewiness, the toasty oats, the brown sugar vanilla scented dough, the chocolate chips melting out. Yup, I’m a fan. Who knew?

This cookie recipe starts from a classic Cook’s Illustrated Oatmeal cookie, but of course with all the yummy changes. Instead of raisins, chocolate chips. And instead of nuts, M&M’s. Cook’s Illustrated cookbook is one my favorite go to cookbooks. 

A bag of M&M’s around my house. Pure torture. It took all my willpower not to eat the whole bag before mixing up these cookies.

Cookie making always start with a classic process. Let’s break down these ingredients and this process:

1. Your dry ingredients:  First whisk your dry ingredients together- your flour, baking powder, and salt. Just don’t  add  your oats- those will get added last. Keep this all in separate bowl to be added to your wet ingredients later. I used all purpose flour here. Flour= gluten= structure.  If you decide to use a whole wheat flour, I recommend only replace 1/2 of the AP flour with it. Baking powder will give your cookies the lift they need. And of course salt. All sweet things need a little salt to balance out all that sweet. It’s all about balance folks.
2. Butter: This is your fat and even more importantly your FLAVOR, clearly, which all cookies need. This recipe calls for softened butter. Does it matter? You bet it does! The temperature of your butter directly affects your the texture of your cookie. A softened butter will results in a more soft, tender, cakier cookie. Melted butter will result in a chewier cookie. You want your butter cool, room temperature. Say what? Cool Room Temperature butter = you could slightly indent your finger into the butter, but should not be able to smoosh your finger too easily through (or worse yet, see melty spots everywhere!)
3. Sugar– both brown and white. This cookie calls for equal parts. White= thin and crisp. Brown= tall and moist. This cookie has a perfect balance of both.
4. Oats– Ok, I know- oatmeal cookies- duh. Of course we need oats. But the KIND of oats does matter. You need to be sure to grab a container of old fashioned oats, not quick cooking  oats. Quick cooking oats are a more broken down processed version and just don’t hold up as well. Old fashioned oats give this oatmeal cookie structure and that’s key in a good cookie.
5. Creaming Method: You also need to cream the sugars and butter together. When I first started making cookies (I mean like we’re talking wee little here people) I never let the butter and sugar cream long enough. Patience- not really my thing even today. But trust me, let your butter and sugar get all happy for about 3 minutes or so. Cream on a speed of 2-3 of your mixer- don’t cream too fast. Don’t think “Can’t I just cream faster for a shorter period of time?” Sorry, you just can’t.   If you don’t cream long enough, you won’t incorporate enough air into the butter. Why do I need air? Remember that baking powder you added, well when that get’s activated, you need that air to help trap those bubbles made by the baking powder to give your cookies some lift. Otherwise they are hockey pucks. Hockey pucks = not a good cookie.

More Recipes To Try

• M&M Christmas Cookies
• M&M Cookie Bars
• Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
• Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
• Oatmeal Cream Pies
• Lemon Cookie Recipe

M&M Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

A thick and chewy oatmeal cookie loaded with M&M’s and chocolate chips.

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Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Servings: 16 -20 large cookies

Calories: 442kcal

Author: Heather Perine

Equipment

• ▢
  Stand MIxer
• ▢
  Mixing bowls
• ▢
  Baking Sheet
• ▢
  Cookie Scoop

Ingredients

• ▢ 1½ cups (180 g) all-purpose flour
• ▢ ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 cup (2 sticks, 227 g) unsalted butter, softened but still cool
• ▢ 1 cup (213 g) packed light brown sugar
• ▢ 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• ▢ 2 large eggs room temperature
• ▢ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ▢ 3 cups (300 g) old fashioned oats
• ▢ 1 cup (170 g) M&M's chocolate candies
• ▢ 1 cup (170 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or spray them lightly with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
• With an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
• Beat in the eggs, one at a time until thoroughly combined. Scrape down the bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla extract.
• Stir the dry ingredients into the creamed butter mixture on low speed. Do not overmix. Stir in the oats, candy, and chocolate chips.
• Using a cookie scoop, or two spoons, scoop generous 2 Tablespoons of dough and roll the dough into a smooth ball. Place the each cookie on the prepared baking sheets, spaced at least 2 inches apart.
• Bake until the cookie edges turn golden brown, about 22 to 25 minutes. If baking more than one cookie sheet, rotate the baking sheets from top to bottom racks in the oven. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes. Transfer the cookies with a wide metal spatula to a wire rack.

Notes

• Make ahead: You can make the dough and refrigerate for up to 72 hours. Be sure to cover with plastic wrap.
• Storage: Store baked, cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days. 
• Freezing: Freeze cookies, baked or unbaked, for up to 3 months. When baking frozen cookies, do no thaw, but simply add on a few minutes of baking time. 
• Oats: I prefer texture of old fashioned oats, but quick oats will also work. 
• Smaller cookies: You can always scoop these cookies smaller into 1 tablespoons portions. Bake for about 12-14 minutes. 

 

Nutrition

Calories: 442kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 97mg | Potassium: 174mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 419IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 2mg

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