Soft Chewy Pastel Cookies (Printable Version)

Soft, chewy cookies loaded with pastel M&M's, white chocolate chips and festive sprinkles - a perfect spring baking project.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 1½ cups plus one tablespoon all purpose flour, spooned and leveled
02 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
03 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
04 - ¼ teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

05 - ½ cup unsalted butter, softened but still cool
06 - ½ cup granulated sugar
07 - ⅓ cup brown sugar, lightly packed
08 - 1 large egg, cold from refrigerator
09 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

→ Mix-ins

10 - ¾ cup Easter/spring M&M's, plus extra for topping
11 - ½ cup white chocolate chips or chunks, plus extra for topping
12 - ¼ cup pastel sprinkles

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
03 - In a separate bowl, using a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and both sugars for 1-2 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla extract, mixing until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
04 - On low speed, add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
05 - Gently stir in M&M's and white chocolate chips. Place the sprinkles in a shallow bowl.
06 - Scoop balls of cookie dough, between 1½ and 2½ tablespoon portions. Gently press the top of each ball into the bowl of sprinkles. For slightly thicker cookies, chill the dough balls in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes (optional).
07 - Place dough onto prepared baking sheets leaving 2-5 cm between cookies for spreading. Form the dough balls higher rather than wider for optimal thickness.
08 - Bake for 8-11 minutes, until the edges of the cookies are set but the center is still slightly underdone for a soft texture.
09 - Place the baking sheets on wire racks and allow the cookies to cool completely. If desired, press additional M&M's and/or chocolate chips onto the top of the cookies while still warm.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Quick preparation time only 29 minutes total from start to finish
  • Uses simple pantry staples you likely already have on hand
  • Versatile recipe that can be customized with different candy colors for any holiday
  • Perfectly soft and chewy texture that stays fresh for days
02 -
  • These cookies freeze beautifully for up to 3 months
  • The dough can be made ahead and refrigerated for 3 days before baking
  • Each cookie contains approximately 200 calories making them a reasonable treat
03 -
  • For bakery-style cookies press additional M&Ms and white chocolate chips onto the tops immediately after baking while still hot
  • Chill the dough for at least 20 minutes before baking if you prefer thicker less spread cookies
  • Always underbake slightly pulling cookies from the oven when the centers still look a bit underdone as they'll continue cooking on the hot baking sheet

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