Patriotic Chocolate M&M Cookies
Break out the sparklers and slap bracelets, because these patriotic chocolate M&M cookies are ready to party like it’s 1989! This cookie recipe is packed with bold chocolate flavor, semisweet chips, and red, white & blue M&Ms that shout born in the USA!
Warning: These cookies may cause spontaneous air guitar solos and fireworks-level cravings. Whether it’s Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, or a celebration of all things red, white, and blue, these cookies are bursting with bold chocolate flavor and freedom vibes.
These treats are serving full-on star-spangled snack attack. Made with ultra-rich chocolate cookie dough, studded with semisweet chocolate chips and red, white & blue M&Ms, the cookies are crisp on the edges and chewy in the centers. Best part is, the recipe is super easy and comes together in no time at all! So crank that Cyndi Lauper, wear your sunglasses at night, and get ready to bake like a legend.
If chocolate chips and M&Ms are totally your thing, check out my classic chocolate chip cookies, M&M cookies, and double chocolate chip cookies.
Ingredients for Patriotic Chocolate M&M Cookies
- Unsalted butter
- Light brown sugar + granulated sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
- Dark cocoa powder or dutch-process cocoa powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Semisweet chocolate chips
- Red, white & blue M&M candies
How to Make Patriotic Chocolate M&M Cookies
- Prep: Preheat the oven and line baking pans with silicone mats or parchment paper.
- Make the cookie dough: Cream the butter and sugars. Add the eggs and vanilla extract. Mix in the flour, dark cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Fold in the chocolate chips and M&Ms.
- Portion the cookie dough: Scoop the cookie dough with a large cookie scoop. Press additional chocolate chips and M&Ms into the cookie dough balls.
- Bake the cookies: Bake the cookies for 12 minutes and then transfer the cookies to a cooling rack.
Courtney’s Expert Baking Tips
- Use a large cookie scoop (3 tablespoons) to portion the cookie dough to create round and uniform-sized cookies.
- Press additional chocolate chips and M&Ms into the cookie dough balls before baking for additional color, texture, and chocolate.
- Underbake the cookies slightly for the perfect cookie texture with crisp edges and chewy centers.
- Immediately when the cookies come out of the oven, use the back of a spoon to gently shape the cookies into perfectly round circles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Regular cocoa powder will work with this recipe. I prefer to use a dark cocoa powder or dutch-process cocoa powder to get a richer and darker chocolate flavor.
Absolutely! You could use milk chocolate, peanut butter, butterscotch, dark chocolate, or white chocolate chips in place of the semisweet chocolate chips.
Yes! If you would like a smaller cookie, use a medium cookie scoop which contains 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough. Bake the cookies for about 10 minutes until the edges are set and the centers are slightly underbaked.
If you try out these patriotic chocolate M&M cookies, please take a moment to leave a comment with a star rating below to let me know how you enjoyed this recipe!
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Patriotic Chocolate M&M Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup (227 g) unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 ½ cups (330 g) light brown sugar
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 2 (2) large eggs room temperature
- 2 tsp (2 tsp) vanilla extract
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (65 g) dark cocoa powder
- 1 tsp (1 tsp) baking soda
- 1 tsp (1 tsp) salt
- 1 cup (180 g) semisweet chocolate chips plus more for adding to the top of the cookies
- 1 cup (208 g) red, white & blue M&M candies plus more for adding to the top of the cookies
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉ (177℃). Line baking sheet pans with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or in a large bowl with an electric hand mixer, cream the unsalted butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar for a few minutes on medium speed until well combined. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and mix on medium speed until well combined.
- Add in the all-purpose flour, dark cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt and mix on low speed until the cookie dough comes together. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure the ingredients are well mixed. Fold in the semisweet chocolate chips and red, white & blue M&M candies.
- Use a large cookie scoop (3 tablespoons) to portion the cookie dough and place on the prepared baking sheet pans, allowing room for spreading. If desired, press additional chocolate chips and M&Ms into the cookie dough balls.
- Bake the cookies for about 12 minutes until the edges are golden brown and set and the centers of the cookies are slightly underbaked. Cool the cookies on the pan for 2 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Room temperature: Store the cookies in an airtight container or storage bag at room temperature for 2 to 3 days.
- Refrigerator: Store the portioned cookie dough in an airtight container or storage bag in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. To use, remove the cookie dough 30 minutes before baking and bake as directed.
- Freezer: Store the portioned cookie dough in an airtight container or storage bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. To use, thaw the cookie dough for 1 hour and bake as directed. Store baked cookies in an airtight container or storage bag in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Made This Recipe?
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About Courtney
Baker | 80s Lover | Cookbook Author
Courtney is a self-taught home baker and cookbook author of “Girls Just Wanna Bake Cupcakes”. She loves to create new and unique recipes while simultaneously listening to 80s music.
Okay, so I just made these. I didn’t have M&Ms and didn’t feel like running to the store. But I did have caramel bites, and they worked out great. It showed me that this recipe has some versatility to it and I appreciate that. Thank you for a well done recipe.
Hi Laura! Thanks for trying the recipe! Caramel bites sound like the perfect addition to this recipe! Love that substitution!