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This pastel-colored Easter cookie recipe brings a burst of springtime joy to your dessert table. Soft, chewy cookies studded with colorful M&M's, creamy white chocolate chips and festive sprinkles create the perfect treat for Easter celebrations or any spring gathering.
I created these cookies for my family's annual Easter egg hunt brunch and they've become our most requested spring dessert. The pastel colors bring such joy to the table that I find myself making them well into summer just to see everyone smile.
Ingredients
- All purpose flour creates the perfect structure for these cookies with a tender crumb
- Baking powder and baking soda work together to give the cookies their ideal rise and texture
- Unsalted butter provides richness while allowing you to control the salt content precisely
- Granulated sugar and brown sugar combine for the perfect sweetness and moisture level
- Cold egg straight from the fridge helps prevent overspreading for thicker cookies
- Pure vanilla extract enhances all the flavors look for real extract not imitation for best results
- Easter M&Ms bring festive color and chocolate flavor choose seasonal pastel colors for spring
- White chocolate chips add creamy sweetness that pairs beautifully with the colorful candies
- Pastel sprinkles create a festive finishing touch use jimmies rather than nonpareils for best texture
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare Your Workspace
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Having everything ready before you start mixing ensures seamless baking and prevents your dough from sitting too long.
- Mix Dry Ingredients
- In a medium bowl whisk together the flour baking powder baking soda and salt until fully combined. This step distributes the leavening agents evenly throughout the flour ensuring consistent rise in your cookies.
- Cream Butter and Sugars
- Using either a stand mixer with paddle attachment or hand mixer beat the butter with both granulated and brown sugars for a full 1-2 minutes. The mixture should become noticeably lighter in color and fluffy in texture. This incorporates air into the dough creating a tender cookie.
- Add Wet Ingredients
- Mix in the cold egg and vanilla extract until completely incorporated scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. The cold egg helps maintain a thick dough that won't spread too much during baking.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients
- Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix on low speed just until combined. Overmixing at this stage can develop too much gluten resulting in tough cookies rather than tender ones.
- Add Mix-Ins
- Gently fold in the M&Ms and white chocolate chips using a spatula until evenly distributed throughout the dough. Using a light hand preserves the texture of your dough.
- Prepare Dough Balls
- Scoop portions of dough between 1½ and 2½ tablespoons depending on your desired cookie size. Press the top of each ball into the bowl of sprinkles for a colorful finish.
- Bake to Perfection
- Place the dough balls on prepared baking sheets leaving space for spreading. Bake for 8-11 minutes until the edges are set but centers still look slightly underdone. This ensures soft chewy cookies that stay fresh longer.
- Shape and Cool
- While cookies are still hot use the glass bowl method or spoon technique to create perfectly round cookies if desired. Allow cookies to cool completely on the baking sheets placed on wire racks.
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The white chocolate chips are truly the secret star of this recipe. I discovered their importance accidentally when I ran out of regular chocolate chips one Easter. The creamy sweetness against the candy shell crunch of the M&Ms creates the most satisfying texture contrast that elevates these cookies beyond ordinary chocolate chip cookies.
Storage Solutions
These Easter cookies maintain their soft texture and fresh taste for up to 5 days when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. The key is allowing them to cool completely before storing otherwise steam will create moisture that makes them soggy. For longer storage place cooled cookies in freezer bags separated by parchment paper and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for about an hour before serving.
Make-Ahead Options
The cookie dough can be prepared up to 3 days in advance and refrigerated tightly wrapped. You can also freeze shaped dough balls for up to 2 months. Simply place the sprinkle-topped dough balls on a baking sheet freeze until solid then transfer to freezer bags. When ready to bake add 1-2 minutes to the baking time no need to thaw first. This makes holiday prep much more manageable and allows you to enjoy fresh-baked cookies anytime.
Seasonal Variations
While designed for Easter these cookies adapt beautifully to any holiday or occasion simply by changing the candy and sprinkle colors. Try red and green M&Ms for Christmas red white and blue for Fourth of July or team colors for game day celebrations. The base recipe remains deliciously consistent while the appearance transforms completely. My family has come to expect a version of these cookies at nearly every gathering throughout the year.
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Common Questions
- → Can I make these cookies ahead of time?
Yes! You can prepare the dough up to 3 days in advance and store it covered in the refrigerator. You can also freeze the shaped dough balls for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, you can bake the frozen dough directly, just add 1-2 minutes to the baking time.
- → How do I store these cookies to keep them soft?
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. To maintain maximum softness, you can place a slice of bread in the container with the cookies - the bread will go stale instead of the cookies!
- → Can I substitute regular M&M's for the Easter/spring ones?
Absolutely! You can use any variety of M&M's you prefer or have on hand. Regular, peanut, or seasonal varieties all work well in this recipe. You can also swap in different colored sprinkles to match any holiday or occasion.
- → Why do you recommend cold eggs for this cookie recipe?
Using cold eggs helps control the temperature of the cookie dough, which affects spreading during baking. Cold eggs help create a slightly thicker cookie with a better texture, as they don't over-soften the butter in the mixing process.
- → How can I tell when the cookies are perfectly baked?
The cookies are done when the edges are set but the centers still look slightly underdone (after 8-11 minutes depending on size). They will continue cooking from residual heat on the baking sheet. This method ensures soft, chewy cookies rather than crisp ones.
- → Can I make these cookies without sprinkles?
Yes, the sprinkles are optional. You can either omit them completely or replace them with additional M&M's or white chocolate chips. The cookies will still be delicious without the sprinkles, though they do add a festive touch.