Description
These festive Chocolate Chip Cookies feature a colorful twist with pastel-hued dough portions blended into a beautiful marbled effect, studded with semi-sweet chocolate chips and Easter-themed M&Ms. Perfect for spring celebrations, these soft, buttery cookies combine classic flavors with playful, eye-catching colors.
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 Coloring
- 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: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined. Set this dry mixture aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, signaling that air has been incorporated.
- Add Eggs: Incorporate the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition to ensure the batter is smooth and uniform.
- Add Vanilla Extract: Stir in the vanilla extract until thoroughly combined into the wet mixture.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture on low speed. Mix just until barely combined to avoid overworking the dough, which can make cookies tough.
- Fold in Chocolates and M&Ms: Gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips and Easter-themed M&Ms, distributing them evenly throughout the dough.
- Divide and Color the Dough: Divide the cookie dough evenly into four portions. Tint each portion with a different gel food coloring (pastel pink, purple, yellow, and blue), mixing gently until the colors are fully incorporated.
- Create Marbled Dough Balls: Take small portions from each colored dough and press them together gently without fully combining to achieve a marbled pattern. Roll these marbled portions into balls about 2 tablespoons in size.
- Prepare for Chilling: Place the dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Press a few extra M&Ms on top of each dough ball for added visual appeal.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the baking sheet tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This step firms up the dough, which helps maintain the cookie’s shape during baking.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) while the dough chills.
- Bake the Cookies: Arrange chilled dough balls with enough spacing on the baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the cookie edges are set and slightly golden. The centers may look soft but will firm up as they cool.
- Cool the Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes to set before transferring them to a wire rack for complete cooling.
Notes
- Chilling the dough is essential to prevent spreading and helps develop the marbled effect in the cookies.
- Do not overmix the dough once the dry ingredients are added to keep the cookies tender.
- Use gel food coloring rather than liquid to avoid altering the dough’s consistency.
- Pressing extra M&Ms on top is optional but adds a pleasing colorful finish.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
