Name: Cute Valentine's M&M Cookies
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 24
Cuisine: Desserts
Ingredients: ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick), softened; ½ cup granulated sugar; ½ cup light brown sugar; ½ cup creamy peanut butter; 1 large egg; ½ tsp pure vanilla extract; 1 cup all-purpose flour; ½ tsp baking soda; ¼ tsp kosher salt; 1⅓ cups Valentine’s M&M's (reserve 1/3 cup for decorating)

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Nothing says “love at first bite” like these Valentine’s M&M Cookies! With bursts of peanut butter goodness, melty chocolate candies, and a perfectly soft, chewy texture, they’re the ultimate Valentine’s Day treat. Whether you’re surprising someone special or baking for a festive family night, school party or bake sale, these cookies are always a hit.

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Close up of a plate of Valentine's Day M&M cookies with red, white and pink M&M's on a wooden background.

What makes these cookies extra special? They’re totally customizable, delicious and super fun to make with kids too. Just be aware you may need extra M&Ms as they always seem to disappear more rapidly. At least this is always the case with my kids.

When we make these for my youngest daughter’s Valentine’s Day class parties, or bake sales, we usually have to substitute the peanut butter for a seed butter.

This does change the taste & consistency a bit, but the kids don’t seem to care. Especially if there’s lots of M&Ms in each cookie. They’re adorable Valentine’s treats.

So grab your mixing bowl and get ready to bake up some love-filled memories!

A Pinterest pin with a close up of chocolate Valentine's M&M cookies with peanut butter.

Why You’ll Love This M&Ms Valentine’s Cookie Recipe

Festive & Fun: The Valentine’s M&M’s make these cookies perfect for the holiday.

Soft & Chewy: These cookies have the ideal balance of soft centers and slightly crisp edges, and peanut butter and chocolate tastes.

Easy to Make: Simple ingredients and straightforward instructions make this recipe perfect for bakers of all skill levels.

Plate of 6 peanut butter, M&Ms Valentine's Day cookies on a wooden background.

💖 Also try our quick 3 ingredient Valentine’s Oreo recipe.

Ingredients for Valentine’s M&M Cookies

Ingredients for the Valentine's cookies laid out on a counter. Jars of white and brown sugar, flour, salt, and baking soda, and vanilla, peanut butter, M&M's and stick of butter.

For the wet ingredients you will need:

½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick), softened
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup light brown sugar
½ cup creamy peanut butter (we prefer the natural unsweetened kind)
1 large egg
½ tsp pure vanilla extract

For the dry ingredients you will need:

1 cup all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp kosher salt
1⅓ cups Valentine’s M&M’s (reserve 1/3 cup for decorating)

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.

2. Mix the Wet Ingredients

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, peanut butter, egg, and vanilla extract together until light and fluffy.

3. Add the Dry Ingredients

3 images showing the process of mixing the dry cookie ingredients and M&M's into the wet ingredients.

Gradually add the flour, baking soda, and salt to the wet ingredients, mixing until fully combined.

Fold in 1 cup of Valentine’s M&M’s, reserving the remaining ⅓ cup for topping.

4. Scoop & Bake

Scoop of peanut butter M&M cookie batter on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.

Drop tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.

Bake for 10 – 12 minutes or until lightly golden brown around the edges.

5. Add Extra M&M’s for Decoration

As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, carefully press 2-3 Valentine’s M&M’s onto the top of each cookie while they are still warm for an extra loving touch.

Sorry, I missed getting a photo of this process. I was just too excited to get the extra M&M’s on the cookies. This is the fun part that kids like to help with too!

6. Cool & Serve

Close up of M&M peanut butter cookie on a cooling rack.

Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and let them cool completely. Enjoy these sweet Valentine’s treats with friends, family, or your special someone!

Plate of easy M&M peanut butter Valentines cookie treats for kids.

Tips & Notes

Don’t Overbake: The cookies will continue to bake on the baking sheet after being removed from the oven, so take them out when the edges are just turning golden brown.

Customize the Candies: Use other holiday-themed M&M’s for different occasions, or mix in white chocolate chips for extra sweetness.

Chill the Dough (Optional): For thicker cookies, chill the cookie dough for 30 minutes before baking to prevent spreading. If you are shaping the cookies like hearts, this is recommended.

Use a Cookie Scoop: A cookie scoop ensures evenly sized cookies that bake consistently.

Gift Idea: Package the cooled cookies in a festive tin or bag for an easy Valentine’s gift that everyone will love.