Chunky Chocolate Walnut Easter Cookies with M&Ms
These chunky chocolate walnut Easter cookies are loaded with chopped Easter M&Ms, chocolate chips, and walnuts. Soft, chewy, colorful, and perfect for Easter baskets or spring gatherings.
This is a classic chocolate chip cookie base kicked up with Easter M&Ms chopped into chunks so you get bursts of candy shell crunch and chocolate throughout. Add chocolate chips and walnuts and you’ve got a cookie that’s chunky, colorful, and totally Easter-appropriate without being too cutesy.
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Why You’ll Love These Easter M&M Cookies
- Easter M&Ms – Pastel colors make them festive
- Double Chocolate – M&Ms + chocolate chips = chocolate lovers’ dream
- Soft & Chewy – Perfect texture, golden edges
- Makes 4 Dozen – Plenty for Easter baskets and platters
- Kid-Friendly – Everyone loves M&M cookies
- Freezer-Friendly – Make dough ahead, bake fresh
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To make these Easter Cookies, you’ll need:
- Stand Mixer or Hand Mixer – For creaming butter and sugar. This is a quality stand mixer that’s more budget friendly.
- Cookie Scoop – For uniform cookies. I love the color coded sizes for these.
- Easter M&Ms – The pastel spring colors
- Walnuts – Adds crunch and richness
Chunky Chocolate Walnut Easter Cookies with M&Ms
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Chop Easter M&Ms into smaller pieces (halves or thirds). Set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine flour, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla for about 2 minutes until light and creamy.
- Add eggs and beat until fully combined.
- Slowly add dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Don’t overmix.
- Fold in chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, and chopped M&Ms.
- Drop by rounded teaspoons onto prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.
- Bake 7-10 minutes until edges are golden but centers still look slightly underdone. They’ll continue baking on the hot pan.
- Let cool on pan 1-2 minutes, then transfer to cooling rack.
Notes
Tips & Variations
Supper & Sage Tip: Chop the M&Ms before adding to the dough! Whole M&Ms are heavy and sink to the bottom. Chopped pieces distribute throughout the cookie so you get colorful bursts in every bite. Plus the candy shell edges add extra crunch.
For perfect cookies:
- Don’t overbake – they look underdone when you pull them out
- Edges golden, centers still soft = perfect
- They firm up as they cool on the pan
- Uniform size = even baking (use cookie scoop)
M&M tips:
- Easter M&Ms = pastel colors (pink, purple, yellow, blue)
- Regular M&Ms work year-round
- Chopping creates more color distribution and are a more pleasant eating experience
- Mini M&Ms can be left whole
Make ahead:
- Dough freezes beautifully for up to 3 months
- Scoop into balls, freeze on tray, then bag
- Bake from frozen, and add 1-2 minutes to bake time
- Or refrigerate dough up to 3 days
Variations:
- Skip walnuts for nut-free version
- Use pecans instead of walnuts
- Add white chocolate chips with regular chocolate chips
- Make them Easter egg-themed with only pastel M&Ms
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use regular M&Ms instead of Easter M&Ms?
A: Yes! Easter M&Ms just give you the pastel spring colors. Regular work great year-round.
Q: My cookies spread too much. What happened?
A: Butter was too soft or the dough was too warm. Chill dough for 30 minutes before baking the next batch.
Q: Can I skip chopping the M&Ms?
A: You can, but chopped pieces distribute better and create more color throughout the cookie.
Q: How do I know when they’re done?
A: Edges are golden, centers still look slightly underdone. They’ll finish baking on the hot pan after you remove them from the oven.
What to Serve With Easter M&M Cookies
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Vanilla Chai Latte – Warm, lightly spiced, and perfect for balancing the sweetness of the cookies.
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Strawberry Ranch Water – A light, refreshing option for spring gatherings and casual entertaining.
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Crustless Mini Bite-Sized Cheesecakes – Great for building a dessert spread with variety in texture and flavor.
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Carrot Cake Smoothie – A lighter, brunch-friendly pairing that keeps things from feeling too heavy.
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Lemon Poppy Seed Coffee Cake – A bright, citrusy option that complements chocolate without overpowering it.
Soft, chewy, loaded with chocolate and pastel M&Ms. These chunky Easter cookies are the spring treat that makes everyone reach for seconds.
