There’s something undeniably magical about baking, especially when it involves special occasions. For me, Valentine’s Day always conjures images of warm, homemade treats—a stark contrast to the chilly February air. This year, I found myself dreaming up the ultimate cookie: something that combined classic comfort with a festive burst of color and crunch. That dream led me to these Valentine’s Day Oreo M&M’s Cookies, and let me tell you, turning these seven sweet treats into a reality was just as delightful as anticipating the first bite.
Why You’ll Love This Dish
If you’re on the hunt for a show-stopping dessert that’s ridiculously easy to make, yet looks like you spent hours perfecting it, you’ve hit the jackpot. Our collection of Valentine’s Day Oreo M&M’s Cookies isn’t just about one recipe; it’s a whole spectrum of sweet possibilities designed to delight. Whether you’re baking for a special someone, a family gathering, or just treating yourself, these cookies offer soft, chewy perfection with pops of M&M color and the beloved crunch of Oreo pieces. They’re perfect for surprising your significant other, a fun baking project with the kids, or even as a thoughtful gift.
> “I made these for my office’s Valentine’s potluck, and they were the first things to disappear! Everyone asked for the recipe. So easy and absolutely delicious!”
How This Recipe Comes Together
Crafting these Valentine’s Day Oreo M&M’s Cookies is a delightful journey that begins with a classic cookie dough base. We’ll be mixing together the usual suspects—butter, sugar, eggs, and flour—to create a tender, chewy foundation. The real magic happens when we fold in crushed Oreo cookies and vibrant red, pink, and white M&M’s, transforming an ordinary dough into a festive celebration. After a quick chill to help the cookies hold their shape, they’re baked until golden, emerging from the oven as irresistibly soft and chewy disks of pure joy.
What You’ll Need
To whip up these delightful holiday cookies, gather these items:
- Unsalted Butter: Softened to room temperature for a smooth dough.
- Granulated Sugar: For sweetness and tenderness.
- Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and a lovely caramel note.
- Large Eggs: Binds ingredients and adds richness.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances all the flavors.
- All-Purpose Flour: The structure of our cookies.
- Baking Soda & Salt: Essential leavening and flavor enhancers.
- Oreo Cookies: Crushed into delightful chunks – don’t remove the cream!
- Valentine’s Day M&M’s: The red, pink, and white candies add festive color and chocolatey bites.
Directions to Follow
- Prep the Oven & Pan: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Cream Butter & Sugars: In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Mix Wet & Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Fold in Goodies: Gently fold in the crushed Oreo cookies and Valentine’s Day M&M’s until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Chill (Optional but recommended): For best results and to prevent spreading, cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours.
- Scoop & Bake: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between cookies.
- Bake: Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers are still soft.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Best Ways to Enjoy It
These Valentine’s Day Oreo M&M’s Cookies are absolutely perfect on their own, perhaps with a tall glass of cold milk or a warm cup of coffee. For an extra special touch, consider serving them alongside a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, drizzled with a little chocolate syrup. They also make an adorable presentation when stacked in a festive box tied with a ribbon—ideal for gifting to loved ones. For a fun twist, crumble a few over a bowl of plain yogurt for a sweet breakfast treat.
How to Store & Freeze
To keep your Valentine’s Day Oreo M&M’s Cookies fresh and delicious, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. If you want to extend their life, you can freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months. Simply place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to flash freeze, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. Thaw at room temperature when you’re ready to enjoy them again. You can also freeze the raw cookie dough rolled into balls; simply bake from frozen, adding an extra minute or two to the baking time.
Tricks for Success
- Don’t Skimp on Chilling: While it might seem like an extra step, chilling the dough significantly helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much in the oven, resulting in chewier cookies.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your butter and eggs are at room temperature. This helps them cream together smoothly, creating a more uniform and tender cookie dough.
- Don’t Overmix: Once you add the flour, mix until just combined. Overmixing develops the gluten, leading to tougher cookies.
- Parchment Power: Using parchment paper prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze, ensuring your cookies slide off the pan perfectly.
- Press in Extra M&M’s: For that picture-perfect look, immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, gently press a few extra M&M’s onto the tops of each warm cookie. They’ll melt slightly and stick beautifully.
Creative Twists
Feeling adventurous? Here are a few ways to switch up these delightful cookies:
- Chocolate Drizzle: Once cooled, melt some white or dark chocolate and drizzle it over the cookies for an elegant finish.
- Nutty Nudges: Add a handful of chopped pecans or walnuts to the dough for an extra layer of texture and flavor.
- Different Holiday Theme: Swap out the Valentine’s Day M&M’s for other holiday-themed colors throughout the year (e.g., red and green for Christmas, pastels for Easter).
- S’mores Style: Substitute some of the Oreos with crushed graham crackers and add mini marshmallows for a gooey s’mores experience.
- Cream Cheese Frosting Swirl: After baking, spread a thin layer of cream cheese frosting on top for an extra decadent treat.
Common Questions
How many cookies does this recipe yield?
This recipe, for one of the seven variations, typically yields about 2 dozen (24) medium-sized cookies. The exact number can vary depending on the size of your scoops.
Can I use store-bought crushed Oreos?
Absolutely! While crushing them yourself is easy, using pre-crushed Oreos, often found in the baking aisle, is a great time-saver. Just make sure the pieces aren’t too fine; you want some texture.
My cookies spread too much – what went wrong?
This is a common issue! It’s usually due to one of a few things:
- Warm butter: If your butter was too soft or melted, the cookies will spread.
- Skipping the chill: Chilling the dough helps solidify the butter, preventing excessive spreading.
- Oven temperature: Make sure your oven is preheated correctly; an oven that’s not hot enough can also cause spreading.
- Too much leavening: Double-check your baking soda measurement.
Classic Valentine’s Day Oreo M&M’s Cookies
Equipment
- Ziploc bag
- rolling pin (or heavy object)
- microwave-safe bowl
- spoon or spatula
- parchment paper
- plate
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 12-15 count Oreo cookies about 1 cup crushed
- 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate about 1 cup
- 2 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Valentine’s Day M&M’s red, pink, and white
Instructions
Preparation
- Crush the Oreo cookies in a Ziploc bag using a rolling pin or food processor until they are coarse crumbs.
- Melt the chocolate chips and milk/cream in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring until smooth.
- Pour the melted chocolate over the crushed Oreos and stir to form a thick, sticky “dough.”
- Fold in about a quarter of the M&M’s into the dough.
- Roll the mixture into 1-inch, bite-sized balls.
- Press the remaining M&M’s onto the outside of each cookie ball.
- Refrigerate for 10-15 minutes or until set for a firmer cookie, then enjoy.