Description
These festive Chocolate Chip Cookies feature a colorful twist with pastel-colored dough and Easter-themed M&Ms, creating a marbled effect that is perfect for spring celebrations. Soft, chewy, and packed with semi-sweet chocolate chips, these cookies are a delightful treat that combines classic flavors with vibrant colors for a fun baking experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Add-ins and Colorings
- 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup Easter-themed M&Ms, plus extra for topping
- Gel food coloring (pastel pink, purple, yellow, and blue)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Set this dry mixture aside for later.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which usually takes about 3–4 minutes on medium speed.
- Add Eggs: Incorporate the eggs one at a time into the butter-sugar mixture, mixing well after each addition to ensure even distribution.
- Mix in Vanilla: Add the vanilla extract and mix until it is fully blended with the wet ingredients.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients on low speed. Mix just until combined to avoid overworking the dough, which can make the cookies tough.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips and M&Ms: Gently fold in 1 ½ cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1 cup of Easter-themed M&Ms evenly throughout the dough.
- Divide Dough: Separate the dough into four equal portions to prepare for coloring.
- Color the Dough: Use gel food coloring to tint each portion a different pastel shade — pink, purple, yellow, and blue. Mix each portion gently until the color is thoroughly distributed.
- Create Marbled Effect: Take small amounts from each colored dough and lightly press them together without overmixing to form a marbled, multi-colored dough.
- Shape Cookies: Roll each marbled dough portion into balls about 2 tablespoons in size, ensuring an even distribution of color and mix-ins.
- Arrange on Baking Sheet: Place the cookie dough balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them approximately 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Add Toppings: Gently press a few extra Easter-themed M&Ms onto the top of each cookie ball for an extra pop of color and sweetness.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap and refrigerate the dough balls for at least 30 minutes. This step helps the cookies retain their shape and enhances texture.
- Preheat Oven: Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C) to get ready for baking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for about 12 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers have set but remain soft.
- Cool Cookies: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents them from breaking apart and enhances texture.
Notes
- Using gel food coloring prevents the dough from becoming too wet, which can happen with liquid food coloring.
- Chilling the dough is essential to minimize spreading and maintain the marbled look of the cookies.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days for optimal freshness.
- For extra softness, slightly underbake the cookies and allow them to finish setting on the cooling rack.
- Feel free to customize the mix-ins with your favorite candies or nuts.
