Vegan M&M Cookies
These vegan M&M cookies are so soft and chewy with the perfect crispy edges, you’ll swear they came from a bakery. This recipe combines the best vegan chocolate chips made even better with colorful vegan chocolate-covered candies.
You may or may not know that vegan M&Ms are not all that common. They are more commercially available these days than ever, so I’m more than a little excited to offer you this vegan M&M cookie recipe.
Why This Recipe is a Winner
- Combining vegan M&Ms with dairy-free chocolate chips makes an intense chocolate flavor in these cookies
- Using both granulated and brown sugar makes a rich and tender cookie
- Vegan butter creates the perfect buttery flavor, especially when creamed together with sugar.
- Adding chocolate chips and candy pieces to the top of each cookie dough ball (before baking) makes these cookies look as good as they taste!
What You Need
You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are some explanations of ingredients and steps to help you make this recipe perfect every time.
- Lemon — We’ll use both the zest and the juice of the lemon.
- Oats — I used rolled oats for this recipe, but you can substitute instant oats.
- Chia — We’ll add some ground chia seeds to create a thicker texture. You can use whole chia seeds; I just prefer ground because it creates a smoother finished texture.
- Syrup — I used maple syrup, but you can substitute agave nectar.
- Milk — We’ll use almond milk for the best overnight oats! Substitute your favorite plant-based milk.
- Yogurt — I love adding some plant-based yogurt (plain, unsweetened) for an even more tangy flavor.
- Protein Powder — I add some vanilla protein powder for increased flavor and nutrients. If your protein powder is not sweetened, you may want to add an extra teaspoon or two of sweetener.
- Cornstarch — We’ll use cornstarch to thicken the lemon curd topping.
- Turmeric — A pinch of turmeric makes that lemon curd sunny yellow.
- Vegan Butter — Use storebought or make your own vegan butter.
- Sugar — We’ll use both granulated sugar and brown sugar (use light, dark, or homemade brown sugar).
- Flax Egg — I prefer a flax egg for this recipe, but you can use a chia egg.
- Cornstarch — We’ll add cornstarch to create soft, chewy cookies. You can substitute arrowroot powder.
- Vanilla extract — This adds a subtle vanilla flavor, but it’s optional or you can substitute a different extract, such as coffee extract.
- Flour — I recommend all-purpose flour, but you can substitute whole wheat pastry flour (different than whole wheat flour).
- Baking soda + baking powder — Make sure yours are fresh by testing baking soda in vinegar or baking powder in hot water. Both should bubble, indicating that they’re fresh.
- Salt — I use simple table salt, or you can use sea salt.
- Chocolate Chips — Choose from the many dairy-free chocolate chips available these days
- Vegan candy-covered chocolates (paid link) — See below for more on vegan M&Ms.
- Cream butter and sugar by adding the butter to a mixing bowl and creaming on medium speed until fluffy. Then add sugars and cream another minute. Add the flax egg and vanilla and mix to combine.
- Whisk together the dry ingredients in a separate bowl.
- Make cookie dough by pouring the flour mixture into the mixing bowl and beat until the dough is combined.
- Add the chocolate chips and vegan candies and then cover and chill in the fridge for 15 to 30 minutes.
- Drop cookie dough balls on a prepared baking sheet and bake in a pre-heated oven for 9 to 10 minutes.
Storage Tips
Store cooled cookies in a lidded container. They will keep at room temperature for 4 to 6 days, in the fridge for up to 10 days, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Do M&Ms have Dairy?
To date, there are no vegan M&Ms, which means they are not dairy-free. Even the dark chocolate M&Ms have dairy in them. However, there are other brands available that provide dairy-free candy-coated chocolate.
Marly’s Tips
- This beating process is important. It’s known as mechanical leavening and creates a nice structure for your cookies.
- This recipe is based on my vegan chocolate chip cookies recipe and it’s pretty easy to make.
- Press additional chocolate chips and candy pieces to the top of each cookie dough ball before baking to create a bakery shop look.
Reader Reviews
★★★★★
Greta
These are my new favorite cookies! Thanks for the vegan M&M recommendations!
Vegan M&Ms
It used to be that it was impossible to find vegan M&M’s but not these days! If you’re looking for dairy-free M&Ms I recommend these brands:
- Unreal — this brand offers vegan candy-coated dark chocolate pieces (I used this one for these cookies)
- Little Secrets — they have candy-coated dark chocolate
- NoNo’s — They have vegan candy-coated chocolates.
You can find some of these brands at health food stores or online.
I hope you love these vegan M&M cookies as much as we do!
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Ingredients
- 1 flax egg
- 1 cup vegan butter
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour, sift, spoon, and level to measure
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup dairy-free chocolate chips
- 1 cup vegan candy-covered chocolates (see post tips for finding these)
Instructions
- Make the flax egg and set it aside.
- Place the butter in a mixing bowl. Use either a handheld or stand mixer on medium speed and beat until light and fluffy. Add the sugars and beat again until light and fluffy. Add the flax egg and vanilla and beat to combine.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir to combine. Pour the flour mixture in with the butter mixture. Stir to combine. Be sure to use the sift, spoon, and level process to measure flour.
- Assess your batter. If it's dry, stir in a tablespoon or two of plant-based milk. If it's too wet, stir in a tablespoon or two of flour. Wet batter can create flat cookies.
- Add the chocolate chips and candy covered chocolates, reserving a few of each to place on the top of each cookie before baking. Cover the bowl and place in the fridge for about an hour.
- Preheat oven to 350°F/175°C. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Use a cookie scoop to drop cookie dough on a prepared cookie sheet. Add a few chocolate chips and candies. Bake for 9 to 10 minutes, until golden brown on the edges. Remove from the oven and cool slightly before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store in a lidded container.
Recommended Equipment
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Notes
Measuring Flour
Use the sift, spoon, and level process to measure flour, otherwise, you risk adding too much flour to the batter, creating a dry batter. To do this, sift the flour (it settles when it sits) to lift it, then spoon it into a measuring cup until it’s higher than the cup’s edges. Then use a butter knife to level it.The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
This post was originally published in 2014 and was updated to include new photos, new text, and an updated recipe in 2021.
Chocolate and peanut butter? I’m in LOVE!!!!
Absolutely best flavor combination ever!
I am loving that list of reasons to love cookies… not that I ever need a reason (because… well… cookies), but it’s always nice to have a few extra justifications, just so I can further rationalize my cookie cravings. 🙂 (Also, cookies that pair up PB, chocolate AND M&Ms? Umm. Yes please.)
Isabelle, I think I love lists just as much as I like cookies, so it only seemed natural to combine the two. Because otherwise, I agree with you, they’re um, cookies. Nuf said!
These are vegan?! That’s amazing!! These cookies make my mouth water!
Like I need any reasons to eat cookies haha! I love your list, though. Wonderful post, Marly!!
Thanks, Rose!
Don’t I just love you! You 10 reasons to love cookies are so perfect too! I have never tried Dark Chocolate Candy-Covered Sundrops but they are on my list now. Yor link is so smart. Ha! I can go on and on. This is going on my facebook page!
Thanks, Ginny. We’re definitely on the same page. So glad you liked this recipe!
YUM! Your photos look like you just pulled the cookie out of the oven!
Well, to be completely honest, they were freshly out of the oven. It was hard to keep the camera in front of my face!
Oh my husband would go wild over these. He loves cookies.
Your hubby and my hubby have something in common. 😉
I agree with each and every one of those reasons to love cookies. I could probably make my list 3 times as long LOL Love these – and the pretty sundrop colors.
It’s so true, Ashley. I could go on and on…and on too about how much I heart cookies!
You just can’t go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate chips, whether traditional or vegan! Right? Yum!
You are singing my tune Lana! Love it!
This cookie recipe makes my list of reasons why I heart cookies! They look delicious!
I think we’re kindred cookie-lovin’ spirits!
Yet another home run cookie recipe! Ah, I can’t wait to make these myself 🙂
Thanks, Caitlin! They’re super tasty…hope you like them as much as we do!