Easy Gluten Free M&M Cookies
Do you have a difficult time finding great gluten free cookie recipes to make at home? You’re not alone! With so many gluten free recipes using homemade flour or requiring you to weigh out each ingredient before adding it to the bowl, making sweet treats that are safe to eat can be pretty exhausting. But what if I told you that you could make delicious cookies without all that hard work? These yummy gluten free M&M cookies are a simple recipe that everyone in the family will love.
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M&M cookies have always been a favorite of mine. So, I knew I had to come up with a quick and easy recipe for gluten free cookies with M&Ms. And these delicious cookies do not disappoint.
This gluten free M&M cookies recipe is packed with candy. In addition to using regular M&Ms, it also has mini M&Ms in it too! That’s why they’re one of my favorite gluten free Christmas cookies.
Gluten Free M&M Cookie Recipe
The key to making these easy cookies is cornstarch. Adding just a little bit of cornstarch to your cookie dough will help your gluten free recipe taste just like it came from a bakery.
To make these easy gluten free M and M cookies, you’ll need:
- Gluten free baking flour: When it comes to learning how to make gluten free cookies, not any flour will do. I’ve tried a variety of gluten free flours when baking and I have found the best one is Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Baking Flour by far!
- Butter
- Brown sugar
- Sugar
- Egg
- Cornstarch
- Vanilla
- Salt
- Baking soda
- Chocolate chips
- Plain M&Ms
- Mini M&Ms
After looking at that list of ingredients, you may have a couple questions in mind, like:
- Are plain M&Ms gluten free? The answer is yes! Most varieties of M&Ms are gluten free, including plain M&Ms and mini M&Ms. That means it’s perfectly safe to add them to your cookies!
How to Make M&M Cookies
The first step to making these easy cookies is to mix the dry ingredients together. Whisk your flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl. Once the ingredients are well combined, set the bowl aside.
Next, add your butter, brown sugar, and white sugar to a large bowl. Beat the ingredients until they’re smooth and creamy, making sure all the ingredients are fully incorporated and the butter is well mixed.
Add the egg and vanilla extract to the sugar mixture and beat until smooth and well combined.
Pour in the dry ingredient mixture. Use your mixer to mix the ingredients as well as you can. But as the flour gets incorporated, they dough may become too thick to mix with a hand mixer. If that happens, simply grab a wooden spoon and stir until all the flour is incorporated.
Add the chocolate chips, plain M&Ms, and mini M&Ms to the batter. Use a spoon to fold all the add-ins into the batter, making sure the chocolate chips and candy are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
Use a tablespoon to scoop out a heaping spoonful of dough, then roll the dough between the palms of your hands to form a ball. Place the dough ball on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and press it down slightly. Top with more M&Ms if you would like to add some decoration to the top of each cookie.
When placing your cookies on the baking sheet, make sure to leave plenty of room between each cookie. These cookies will spread a they bake, so it’s a good idea to leave two to three inches of space between each cookie on the baking sheet.
Bake your cookies in your preheated oven for 14 to 16 minutes. You’ll know the cookies are ready to come out when the edges are golden brown but the centers are still slightly soft. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for around five minutes, then transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely before serving.
Questions About Gluten Free M and M Cookies
These M&M cookies couldn’t be easier to make! But if you have questions as you’re baking, I probably have the answer!
How do I keep the cookies from spreading?
Like most chocolate chip cookie recipes and their variations, these cookies will spread slightly as they bake. But if you notice that your cookies are spreading more than normal, I suggest chilling the dough before baking. Place the cookie dough in the refrigerator for an hour, then scoop out the dough and bake it according to the recipe instructions.
Can I include more add-ins to the cookie dough?
Of course! You can incorporate a variety of different mix-ins to make different flavors of cookie. This cookie dough is similar to chocolate chip cookies, which means it’s perfect for adding in a variety of different items. My gluten free kitchen sink cookies use caramel and pretzels for a sweet and salty flavor. You could also try mixing in:
- Toffee bits
- Chocolate chips
- Peanut butter chips
- Cinnamon chips
- Espresso chips
- Chopped up candy bars
- Mint and peppermint pieces
- Caramel pieces
How do I keep my M&M cookies from getting hard?
The reason cookies get hard is because they come in contact with air, which causes them to dry out. To keep your cookies tasting fresh, store them in an air-tight container or a zip-top bag to keep the air out. When stored properly, your cookies should stay soft and chewy for up to five days.
Gluten Free M&M Cookies
These delicious gluten free M&M cookies are so good you'd never know they were gluten free!
Ingredients
- 2 sticks (one cup) butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 egg
- 2 ¼ cup gluten free baking flour
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup semisweet chocolate chips
- ¾ cup M&Ms
- ½ cup mini M&Ms
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add butter, brown sugar, and sugar to a large bowl. Beat until smooth and creamy.
- Add vanilla and egg and beat to combine.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the gluten free baking flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture and mix until combined.
- Fold in the chocolate chips and M&Ms.
- Drop dough by ¼ cupfuls onto the prepared baking sheet. Flatten the cookies slightly before baking.
- Bake for 14 to 16 minutes, until the edges are golden brown but centers are still soft.
- Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1 cookieAmount Per Serving: Calories: 227Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 166mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 1gSugar: 30gProtein: 2g
More Delicious Gluten Free Recipes:
Brownie Mix Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies
The Best Gluten Free Heath Cookies
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Emily is a midwestern mom of two boys. She loves all things DIY — from home renovations to kids birthday party planning. Whether she’s making a new farmhouse craft for her home or helping her kids with a cool activity, you can bet she’s in the middle of some kind of DIY project (or three) right now!
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