Irresistible Chunky Peanut Butter M&M Cookies: Your New Favorite Homemade Recipe
Prepare yourself for an unforgettable cookie experience! These soft, thick, and incredibly chewy **chunky peanut butter cookies** are generously studded with coarse chopped peanuts and bursts of sweet, chocolatey M&M’s. Each bite offers a delightful texture contrast and a rich, comforting flavor that is sure to satisfy even the most intense cravings. Whether you’ve had a long day or are simply in search of a perfect sweet treat, these **homemade M&M cookies** are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face and make any moment feel a little brighter.
The Happy Accident Behind These Beloved Cookies
This particular **chunky peanut butter cookie recipe** came to life through what I like to call a “happy accident” – a recurring theme in my kitchen, and frankly, my life! It all started one day when my boys, avid snackers of salted peanuts, found themselves with a bag of plain peanuts I’d mistakenly bought. Unsurprisingly, these “misfit peanuts” went untouched. Not long after, I discovered my hidden stash of M&M’s had been raided, leaving just a few sad remnants at the bottom of a share-size bag. Instead of letting these overlooked ingredients go to waste, inspiration struck! I decided to combine them with my tried-and-true peanut butter cookie base. The result? A new family favorite, and now, my absolute preferred way to make **peanut butter cookies**! This serendipitous combination of crunchy peanuts and colorful M&M’s transforms a classic into something truly extraordinary.
Why These Peanut Butter M&M Cookies Are a Must-Try
What makes these **chunky peanut butter M&M cookies** truly stand out? It’s their incredible depth of peanut flavor and delightful textural contrasts. With over a cup of creamy peanut butter and a generous half cup of coarsely chopped plain peanuts, these cookies are a peanut lover’s dream. If you’re a fan of my loaded peanut butter rice crispy treats, you’ll absolutely adore these! The philosophy is simple: more peanut butter always equals better, right? The chopped peanuts add an irresistible crunch that complements the soft, chewy cookie base, while the M&M’s provide a playful touch of chocolate and a burst of color. They’re not just cookies; they’re a celebration of all things peanut butter and chocolate, crafted to deliver maximum satisfaction in every single bite.
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Chunky Peanut Butter Cookies
Achieving the perfect **chunky peanut butter cookie** starts with the right ingredients and understanding their role.
- Softened Salted Butter: The foundation of our chewy cookies, butter adds richness and tenderness. Ensure it’s truly softened, not melted, for proper creaming with the sugars.
- Brown Sugar & Granulated Sugar: A blend of both sugars is key. Brown sugar contributes to the moist, chewy texture and a deeper flavor, while granulated sugar helps with slight crispness at the edges and overall sweetness.
- Peanut Butter: The star! Using a good quality, creamy peanut butter is essential. Avoid all-natural, oily peanut butters unless you’re experienced in adjusting for the oil separation. Classic creamy varieties work best for consistency.
- Large Egg & Egg Yolk: The whole egg acts as a binder, while the extra egg yolk adds moisture, richness, and helps create that wonderfully chewy texture without making the cookies cakey.
- Vanilla Extract: A crucial flavor enhancer that complements the peanut butter beautifully. Don’t skip it!
- Unbleached All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure to the cookies. Measure it correctly – spoon flour into your measuring cup and level off, rather than scooping directly from the bag.
- Baking Powder: Our leavening agent, ensuring the cookies rise just enough to be thick and soft.
- Plain Peanuts (Coarsely Chopped): This is where the “chunky” in **chunky peanut butter cookies** comes from! They add a fantastic crunch and an extra layer of nutty flavor.
- M&M Candies: For a pop of color, a hint of chocolate, and an extra layer of sweetness and texture. They truly elevate these cookies from great to extraordinary.
Each ingredient plays a vital part in creating the ultimate **homemade peanut butter M&M cookies**, ensuring they are perfectly balanced in flavor and texture.
Baking Tips for Perfection: Achieving the Best Chunky Peanut Butter Cookies
Achieving perfectly **soft and chewy peanut butter M&M cookies** requires a few key considerations:
- The Classic Fork Marks: I love the traditional cross-hatch fork marks on top of my peanut butter cookies, and it’s entirely up to you if you want to include them. This recipe yields a dough that doesn’t spread much on its own, so if you decide against the fork design, make sure to flatten each cookie dough ball slightly with the bottom of a flour-dipped glass to about 1 cm tall. This ensures even baking and a good cookie shape.
- Don’t Overbake! This is perhaps the most crucial tip for these **chunky peanut butter cookies**. Unlike many other cookies, these do not brown significantly on top when they are perfectly done. Waiting for a deep golden brown will result in dry, crumbly, and over-baked cookies. Look for edges that are just set and a center that still looks slightly soft. They will continue to set as they cool on the baking sheet.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your butter and eggs are at room temperature. This allows them to cream together more easily and evenly, creating a smoother dough and a better cookie texture.
- Do Not Overmix the Dry Ingredients: Once you add the flour and baking powder, mix just until the dry ingredients are fully incorporated. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour too much, leading to tough cookies. Gentle mixing by hand after adding the peanuts and M&M’s is ideal.
- Cooling Time is Key: After removing the cookies from the oven, let them rest on the hot baking sheets for 3 minutes. This crucial step allows them to firm up slightly before being transferred to a wire rack. Moving them too soon can cause them to break apart.
- Even Sizing: Using a small cookie scoop helps ensure all your cookies are roughly the same size, promoting uniform baking and perfect results every time.
Following these simple tips will help you bake the most delicious, soft, and **chewy peanut butter M&M cookies** imaginable!
Variations & Serving Suggestions for Your Chunky Peanut Butter M&M Cookies
While these **chunky peanut butter M&M cookies** are perfect as is, they’re also wonderfully versatile! Feel free to experiment with different types of M&M’s, like peanut M&M’s for even more nutty goodness, or mini M&M’s for a finer texture. You could also swap out some of the M&M’s for chocolate chips (milk, semi-sweet, or dark), white chocolate chips, or even chopped toffee bits for an extra layer of flavor and crunch. For even more texture, consider adding other nuts like chopped walnuts or pecans. These cookies are absolutely divine warm, perhaps with a cold glass of milk, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or alongside your favorite coffee. They also make a fantastic addition to any lunchbox or a thoughtful homemade gift.
Storing Your Homemade M&M Peanut Butter Cookies
To keep your **homemade chunky peanut butter M&M cookies** fresh and delicious, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-5 days. If you want to enjoy them for longer, the baked cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months. Simply thaw them at room temperature when you’re ready to indulge. The cookie dough can also be prepared ahead of time and frozen as individual balls. Just bake from frozen, adding a couple of extra minutes to the baking time.
Now that you know all the secrets to making the perfect batch, it’s time to get baking! These **chunky peanut butter cookies with M&M’s** are more than just a dessert; they’re a little bit of happiness, ready to be shared and enjoyed.
Don’t Go Without Checking Out These Other Fantastic Cookie Recipes!
- S’mores Cookies
- Chewy French Toast Cookies
- Key Lime Pie Shortbread Cookies
- Peanut Butter Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chunky Peanut Butter Cookies with M&M’s
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Ingredients
- 6 Tablespoons salted butter (Softened)
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/3 cup peanut butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup plain peanuts (coarsely chopped)
- 1/2 cup M&M candies
Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
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In a medium-sized mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the peanut butter, large egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined. Gradually add the flour and baking powder, mixing just until the dry ingredients are completely combined and no streaks of flour remain. Fold in the coarsely chopped plain peanuts and M&M’s by hand to ensure they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
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Using a small cookie scoop (about 1.25 inches in diameter) or by hand, roll the dough into 1 1/4 inch balls. Place them on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie.
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Gently press each cookie dough ball with the tines of a fork in a traditional cross-hatch design. Alternatively, if you prefer not to use fork marks, use the bottom of a glass dipped in flour to flatten each cookie to approximately 1 cm (about 0.4 inches) tall.
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Bake at 350 degrees F (175 C) for 12-13 minutes. Remember, these cookies do not brown much, so do not wait for a deep golden-brown top. The edges should appear just set, and the centers might still look slightly soft. Once removed from the oven, allow the cookies to rest on the baking pans for 3 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy your perfect chunky peanut butter M&M cookies!
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