Why did my cookies spread too much?

If your cookies spread too thin, your butter might have been too warm or you might have used too little flour. Make sure to measure flour correctly, and if it's a hot day, chill your dough for 30 minutes before baking.

Can I make these cookies without food coloring?

Absolutely! The food coloring is purely decorative and doesn't affect the taste or texture. Skip it entirely for classic sugar cookies, or substitute with natural alternatives like beet powder for pink coloring.

How do I know when the cookies are done baking?

The perfect cookie will have slightly golden edges but still look a bit underdone in the center. They'll continue to set as they cool on the baking sheet. If you wait until they look completely done in the oven, they'll end up overbaked and crispy rather than soft.

Can I use regular M&Ms instead of Easter M&Ms?

Yes! This recipe works beautifully with any variety of M&Ms. Switch them up depending on the season or holiday – red and green for Christmas, red and pink for Valentine's Day, or classic colors for everyday treats.

Easter M&M Sugar Cookies Recipe

Description

These Easter M&M Sugar Cookies are soft, sweet, and bursting with festive pastel colors. Perfect for holidays or any special occasions, these cookies combine buttery dough with colorful Easter M&M’s to brighten up dessert tables. The addition of pink food coloring adds a fun and seasonal touch to your cookies, making them both delicious and visually appealing!

Ingredients

Units Scale

Wet Ingredients

1 cup Butter (Sweet Cream, Salted, Softened to room temperature)
1 cup Granulated Sugar
2 large Eggs
2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract

Dry Ingredients

2 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt

Add-ins

1 package Easter M&M’s
Wilton Color Right Food Coloring – Pink (3 drops)

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Instructions

Cream the Butter and Sugar
Cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar in a mixer for three minutes until light and fluffy. This step ensures the cookies have a soft and tender texture.
Add Wet Ingredients
Mix in the eggs and vanilla extract, continuing to blend for another three minutes. This creates a rich and flavorful cookie dough base.
Incorporate Food Coloring
Add 3 drops of pink food coloring and mix until the coloring is evenly distributed throughout the dough, giving it a soft pastel hue.
Add Dry Ingredients
Gradually add the salt, baking soda, and flour to the wet mixture. Mix just until combined; avoid overmixing to keep the cookies soft and tender.
Shape the Dough
Scoop a heaping tablespoon of cookie dough and roll it into a ball. Repeat this step for the remaining dough.
Prepare for Baking
Place the cookie dough balls approximately 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet. Lightly press down on each ball to slightly flatten it.
Add the M&M’s
Press Easter M&M’s onto the top of each dough ball, ensuring even spacing for a visually beautiful result.
Bake the Cookies
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and bake the cookies for 10-11 minutes. The edges should be set, but the centers should remain soft. Allow to cool before serving.

Notes

For perfectly round cookies, use a cookie scoop to create evenly sized dough balls.
You can substitute the Wilton pink food coloring with any food-safe dye of your choice.
Make sure your butter is at room temperature to ensure it creams properly with the sugar.
To prevent overbaking, remove the cookies from the oven as soon as the edges are set and the centers are still slightly soft.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cookie
Calories: 145kcal
Sugar: 12g
Sodium: 95mg
Fat: 6g
Saturated Fat: 4g
Unsaturated Fat: 2g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 20g
Fiber: 0.5g
Protein: 2g
Cholesterol: 22mg