Irresistible Triple Chocolate M&M Cookies: Your Go-To Recipe for Soft & Chewy Perfection

Prepare to fall in love with these Triple Chocolate M&M Cookies that are guaranteed to be soft, delightfully chewy, and absolutely bursting with rich chocolate flavor! This easy-to-follow chocolate pudding cookie recipe uses classic, beloved ingredients to create a treat that will disappear from your cookie jar in no time. Perfect for any occasion, these vibrant and decadent cookies are an ultimate crowd-pleaser, sure to become a staple in your baking repertoire.

These truly soft M&M cookies with extra chocolate are simply impossible to resist! Each bite delivers a harmonious blend of tender, fudgy cookie and molten chocolate, complemented by the delightful crunch of M&M candies. If you consider yourself a chocolate lover, this recipe is a dream come true. The brightly colored M&Ms instantly capture attention, but it’s the rich, chewy chocolate cookie base that will truly capture your heart. The secret to their incredible texture? A touch of instant chocolate pudding mix, which adds unparalleled moisture and chewiness, elevating these cookies from good to extraordinary. Whether you’re baking for a special event, a school treat, or just a cozy night in, these M&M pudding cookies are sure to bring smiles.

What Exactly are Triple Chocolate Cookies?

The term “triple chocolate cookies” refers to cookies that feature at least three distinct forms of chocolate, creating an intensely rich and varied chocolate experience. Typically, this begins with a chocolate-flavored cookie dough base, which is then enhanced with multiple types of chocolate pieces. In this particular recipe, we achieve the coveted “triple chocolate” status with a deeply flavored chocolate cookie dough, generous amounts of classic semi-sweet chocolate chips, and the delightful addition of chocolate-coated M&M candies. This combination ensures that every single bite is packed with a diverse range of chocolatey goodness, from the smooth melt of the chips to the satisfying crunch of the M&Ms, all enveloped in a rich cocoa-infused cookie.

Essential Ingredients for the Best M&M Cookies

Crafting these delectable chocolate M&M cookies requires a balanced set of ingredients, each playing a crucial role in achieving that perfect soft, chewy, and chocolate-rich texture. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need and why:

Butter: You’ll need ½ cup of softened butter (one stick). Softened butter is key for creaming with sugars, which creates air pockets, resulting in a lighter and more tender cookie. It also adds a rich, dairy depth of flavor.
Sugars: A combination of ⅔ cup of brown sugar and ¼ cup of granulated sugar is used. Brown sugar contributes to the cookies’ chewiness and moisture, thanks to its molasses content, while granulated sugar helps achieve that desirable crisp edge and contributes to overall sweetness and spread.
Vanilla Extract: Adding one teaspoon of vanilla extract enhances and balances the overall chocolate flavor, providing a warm, aromatic note that elevates the cookie’s taste profile.
Egg: One large egg acts as a binder, helping to hold the dough together and providing structure. It also contributes to the rich flavor and moist texture of the cookies.
Cocoa Powder: Two tablespoons of unsweetened baking cocoa powder are essential for creating a deep, intense chocolate flavor in the cookie dough itself. Make sure to use good quality cocoa for the best results.
Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix: This is our secret ingredient! A 3.9-ounce box of dry instant chocolate pudding mix is crucial. It adds an incredible amount of moisture, intensifies the chocolate flavor, and gives these cookies their signature ultra-soft and wonderfully chewy texture. Don’t skip this for truly fudgy results!
Water: One tablespoon of water helps adjust the dough to the perfect consistency, ensuring it’s neither too dry nor too sticky, making it easier to work with.
All-Purpose Flour: One cup of all-purpose flour forms the structural base of the cookie dough, providing the necessary body without making the cookies tough.
Baking Soda: Our leavening agent. Half a teaspoon of baking soda reacts with the acidic components in the cocoa powder and brown sugar, helping the cookies to puff up beautifully as they bake, creating that desirable slightly raised dome.
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: We recommend 1 ½ cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips for a balanced sweetness. However, feel free to use milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or even white chocolate chips if you prefer a different chocolate profile. These melt into luscious pockets throughout the cookie.
M&M’s: Our namesake candy! 1 ½ cups of M&M’s are the perfect amount to ensure every single cookie is studded with these colorful, chocolatey delights. They add a fun visual appeal and a satisfying candy-coated crunch.

Mastering the Art of Making Chocolate M&M Cookies

Creating these delightful triple chocolate M&M cookies is a straightforward process, but paying attention to a few key steps will ensure perfect results every time. Follow these instructions for soft, chewy, and utterly irresistible cookies:

Cream the Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, or the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the softened butter and both brown and granulated sugars. Beat on medium speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes.
Add Egg and Vanilla: Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla extract and the egg. Beat on medium-low speed until just combined, being careful not to overmix at this stage.
Incorporate Chocolate Flavor: Next, add the unsweetened cocoa powder and the dry instant chocolate pudding mix to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until these dry ingredients are just incorporated into the butter mixture, creating a rich chocolate base.
Combine Dry Ingredients: Gradually mix in the water, all-purpose flour, and baking soda. Mix on low speed until the flour streaks have almost disappeared. Be very careful not to overmix the dough, as this can lead to tough cookies.
Fold in Mix-ins: With a sturdy wooden spoon or spatula, gently fold in 1 cup of the semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1 cup of the M&M candies. Distribute them evenly throughout the dough.
Prepare for Baking: Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or grease them lightly. Scoop the dough onto the prepared sheets in balls, each about 1 ½ tablespoons in size. Arrange them a few inches apart to allow for spreading.
Add Extra Toppings: For that bakery-style look and extra chocolatey appeal, press the remaining chocolate chips and M&Ms onto the tops of each scooped cookie dough ball. This ensures they are visible and vibrant after baking.
Chill the Dough (Crucial Step!): Place the baking sheets with the cookie dough balls into the refrigerator and chill for a minimum of 1-2 hours. This step is vital for preventing excessive spreading and ensuring your cookies maintain their thick, chewy texture.
Preheat Oven: While the dough is chilling, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Bake to Perfection: Bake your chilled cookies for 10-12 minutes. The edges should be set, but the centers should still look slightly soft and underbaked. This is key to achieving that wonderfully soft and fudgy texture. Do not overbake!
Cool and Enjoy: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. The residual heat on the baking sheet will continue to cook them slightly. Once cooled, savor every delicious bite of your homemade M&M cookies!

Why You’ll Adore These Chocolate M&M Pudding Cookies

There are countless reasons why this particular recipe for Chocolate M&M Pudding Cookies stands out and has become a beloved favorite. First and foremost is their incredible texture: they are impossibly soft, delightfully chewy, and possess a melt-in-your-mouth fudginess that is truly unmatched. The instant chocolate pudding mix is the secret weapon here, infusing the cookies with extra moisture and a richer chocolate flavor, while also contributing to their signature chewiness. Beyond texture, these cookies offer a vibrant visual appeal thanks to the colorful M&M candies, making them perfect for parties, bake sales, or simply brightening up a gloomy day. The “triple chocolate” aspect ensures a deep, complex chocolate experience with every bite, satisfying even the most ardent chocoholics. Plus, despite their gourmet taste and appearance, they are remarkably simple to make, using common pantry ingredients and straightforward steps. They’re quick to prepare, especially if you plan ahead with the chilling time, and freeze beautifully, making them ideal for meal prep or unexpected cravings.

Expert Tips for Perfect M&M Cookies Every Time

Achieving bakery-quality M&M pudding cookies at home is easy with a few insider tips:

Use Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your butter and egg are at room temperature. This allows them to cream together properly, incorporating air and creating a smooth, emulsified dough that results in a tender, even-textured cookie.
Don’t Overmix: Once you add the flour, mix only until just combined. Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour, leading to tough, dense cookies. Mix until no streaks of flour remain, then stop.
Chill the Dough: This step is non-negotiable for thick, chewy cookies. Chilling the dough solidifies the butter, preventing the cookies from spreading too much in the oven. It also allows the flavors to meld and the pudding mix to fully hydrate, enhancing both flavor and texture. A minimum of 1-2 hours is recommended, but you can chill for up to 24-48 hours.
Press Extra M&Ms on Top: For visually appealing cookies, press a few extra M&Ms and chocolate chips onto the top of each dough ball just before baking. This ensures they look beautiful and vibrant once baked.
Don’t Overbake: These cookies are meant to be soft and fudgy. Bake them until the edges are just set and the centers still look slightly soft and underbaked. They will continue to cook slightly as they cool on the hot baking sheet. Overbaking will result in dry, crumbly cookies.
Invest in a Good Scoop: Using a cookie scoop ensures uniform size, which leads to even baking. A 1.5-tablespoon scoop is ideal for this recipe.

Variations and Customizations for Your Chocolate M&M Cookies

While this recipe is perfect as written, feel free to get creative and customize your M&M cookies:

Chocolate Variety: Instead of semi-sweet, try milk chocolate chips for a sweeter cookie, dark chocolate chips for a more intense cocoa flavor, or white chocolate chips for a creamy contrast. You could even use a mix of all three!
Different Candies: Swap out some of the M&Ms for other chocolate candies like chopped Snickers, Reese’s Pieces, or even mini peanut butter cups.
Nutty Addition: For a delightful crunch and nutty flavor, fold in ½ cup of chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds.
Seasonal Fun: Use seasonal M&Ms (e.g., red and green for Christmas, pastels for Easter, orange and black for Halloween) to match any holiday or celebration.
Spice It Up: A pinch of cinnamon or a tiny dash of cayenne pepper can add an unexpected depth to the chocolate flavor.
Extract Experiments: Beyond vanilla, a touch of almond extract or peppermint extract could offer an interesting twist, especially for holiday baking.

Storage and Freezing Instructions

To enjoy your delicious Chocolate M&M Pudding Cookies for longer, proper storage is key:

Storing Baked Cookies:

Once completely cooled, store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-5 days. For optimal freshness and chewiness, you can place a slice of bread in the container; the cookies will absorb moisture from the bread, keeping them soft.

Freezing Baked Cookies:

Baked cookies freeze beautifully! Once cooled, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and flash freeze for about an hour, or until firm. Then, transfer the frozen cookies to a freezer-safe airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or gently warm in the microwave for a few seconds before serving.

Freezing Cookie Dough:

You can also freeze the unbaked cookie dough for future baking. Scoop the dough balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and flash freeze until solid. Transfer the frozen dough balls to a freezer-safe bag, removing as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, place the frozen dough balls on a baking sheet and bake as directed, adding an extra 2-4 minutes to the baking time.

Close-up of a soft and chewy Triple Chocolate M&M Cookie

Triple Chocolate M&M Cookies

Chocolate M&M cookies that are soft, chewy and loaded with chocolate! Simple M and M pudding cookie recipe made with classic ingredients that everyone adores.

5 from 2 votes

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Course: Cookies, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Chocolate Pudding M&M Cookies

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 24 cookies

Calories: 236kcal

Author: Jessica & Nellie

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going to sleep

Ingredients

½ cup butter softened
⅔ cup brown sugar
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
3.9 ounces instant chocolate pudding mix
1 tablespoon water
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 ½ cups semi sweet chocolate chips
1 ½ cups M&Ms

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl using a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat together the butter and both sugars until fluffy.
Next add in the vanilla and egg until just combined. Mix in the cocoa powder and pudding mix.
Next mix in the water, flour and baking soda just until combined.
Using a wooden spoon mix in the 1 cup of the semi sweet chocolate chips and 1 cup of the M&M candies.
Line or grease your cookie sheet and add the dough to the sheet. I do about 1 ½ tablespoons of the dough for each cookie.
I add the remaining chocolate chips and M&Ms to the top of each cookie.
Chill in the fridge for 1-2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Bake for 10-12 minutes. You do not want to over cook these cookies to make sure they stay soft and fudgy.
Cool for 5 minutes on the pan before removing to a cooling rack.

Nutrition

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Frequently Asked Questions About These Chocolate M&M Cookies

Can I use sugar-free instant pudding mix?

While you could try, we don’t recommend sugar-free pudding mix for this recipe. The sugar in the instant pudding contributes to the cookie’s texture and moisture. Using a sugar-free alternative might result in a different consistency and potentially alter the overall sweetness and chewiness.

What if I don’t have instant chocolate pudding mix?

The instant pudding mix is a key ingredient for the unique soft and chewy texture of these cookies. If you omit it, the cookies will still be delicious chocolate M&M cookies, but they might be drier and less chewy than intended by this specific recipe. We highly recommend including it for the best results.

My dough seems too sticky/dry. What should I do?

Baking can be sensitive to environmental factors like humidity. If your dough is too sticky, try adding a tablespoon or two of extra flour until it’s workable. If it’s too dry and crumbly, add a teaspoon of milk or water at a time until it comes together. Remember, the pudding mix adds a lot of moisture, so the dough should be soft but not overly sticky.

How long do these cookies stay fresh?

When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies will stay wonderfully soft and fresh for 3-5 days. If you’re looking to extend their shelf life, consider freezing them as described above!

Can I prepare the dough ahead of time?

Absolutely! Preparing the dough ahead of time is a great idea. In fact, chilling the dough for an extended period (up to 24-48 hours) can actually enhance the flavors and texture, resulting in an even richer and chewier cookie. Just ensure it’s tightly covered in the refrigerator.

Final Thoughts on These Delightful Cookies

These Chocolate M&M cookies are more than just a dessert; they’re a moment of pure joy and indulgence. With their irresistible soft, chewy texture and an abundance of rich chocolate and colorful M&Ms, they embody everything you could want in a homemade cookie. This simple M&M pudding cookie recipe is straightforward to follow, making it accessible for bakers of all skill levels, and yields a batch of cookies that everyone will adore. So go ahead, preheat your oven, gather your ingredients, and get ready to bake a batch of happiness that will surely become a family favorite!