Are you guys familiar with the expression “when it rains, it pours”? It’s a pretty apt description of the way things have been going here over the past few weeks. Earlier this month, after holding out as long as we could, we caved and turned on our heat. Well, we tried to anyway – it decided it was only going to work intermittently. Luckily it was before the temperatures really started to drop so it didn’t get too cold in here, and after a stressful week of dealing with repair issues, it’s back up and running.
But the fun didn’t end there. Within the past week both my laptop battery and our oven decided to die. Talk about a bad combination for a food blogger, right? π I haven’t dealt with the battery yet but just last night Shane and I did manage to fix the oven all on our own. Let me just say – the internet is a wonderful resource when it comes to DIY! From diagnosing the issue to finding the part we needed and watching videos on how to complete the repair, it was a total lifesaver. I’m giddy thinking about the money we saved not having to pay someone to do it for us!
By the time we finished the repair last night it was late and we were both starving. After a quick dinner, all I wanted to do was curl up under a blanket on the couch with a plate of cookies. These mini M&M pudding cookies specifically, and that’s exactly what I did! When I made the recipe way back in October, I froze most of the dough and love pulling it out to make cookies on demand when the urge strikes.
I might be the last person to jump on the pudding cookies bandwagon here, but if not and you haven’t tried them, I suggest you change that asap π The cookie recipe is fairly basic but a package of instant pudding mix is thrown in along with the usual suspects and it makes these cookies soft and chewy like no other. They even stay soft for a few days after baking, they’re the best! I much prefer M&M cookies over those made with chocolate chips so that’s what I used here, but either would work.
Mini M&M Pudding Cookies
adapted from AllRecipes.com
{Note: Recently I’ve been able to find bags of mini M&M’s in the candy aisle alongside the regular M&M’s, but if you couldn’t find them mini chocolate chips (or even regular ones) would be fine.}
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 (3.4 oz) package instant vanilla pudding mix
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 – 2 cups mini M&M’s
Preheat oven to 350 F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda and salt together. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and both sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the pudding mix until combined and then add the eggs, one at a time, and the vanilla. With the mixer on low, gradually add the dry ingredients, beating just until combined. Use a rubber spatula to stir in the mini M&M’s.
Using a small cookie scoop (mine measures about 1 1/2 inches across), portion the batter onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing the cookies about 2 inches apart. Bake for about 10 minutes (rotating the baking sheets halfway through) or until the edges of the cookies are set and light golden brown. Transfer the baking sheets to wire racks and let the cookies cool for a few minutes then remove the cookies to the wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with all of the dough.
Makes about 4 dozen
Love mini M&Ms in cookies! These sound delightful!
Pudding in cookies? And M&M’s? You are my hero π
Oh no, Tracey! You are right – when it rains, it pours. Hopefully things are on the upswing for you. These cookies are fabulous. I love pudding cookies and have some on my menu for next week!
Yes! Yes! This is my go-to recipe for M&M cookies too! It makes SO many though. I end up freezing most of it as well, but it’s perfect for a big crowd. They’re perfectly soft and chewy.
People are conspiring to make me bake. Talk about a plate of cookies!!! Marvelous!!! Help, though. Is there a packaged cookie mix I could use and still add pudding? I’ll only see your answer at scrout1944@msn.com
Mmmmm pudding cookies. Yours are so pretty and perfect. and Yes, youtube is an amazing tool, it taught me how to fold bed sheets π
I’ve made cookies with cake mix, but not with pudding. It sounds great, and you can’t go wrong with M&Ms in cookies!
Ugh so sorry about your laptop AND your oven – in such short order. When it rains…
Good thing for these adorable cookies!
So cute! I love that they are mini m&ms; and who knew you could use pudding in cookies?? Soft and chewy and oh man I wish I had a dozen π
It’s been “pouring” here also. Today I am stuck in the house getting new roof so I used my time in the kitchen. I saw this recipe this morning and never heard of pudding in a cookie so had to try it. I bake a lot and followed the recipe completely but I must be missing something. My cookies weren’t chewy (better after I flattened the scoop and cooked less) and not very sweet. Still great flavor so next time I may cut some flour and use more brown sugar.
I hope things settle down there for a while. It’s no fun having things break every time you turn around.
i absolutely love pudding mix in cookies! and i can relate to stuff breaking-yikes!
Drooling!!! These look awesome!
Glad you fixed your oven, love when home repairs work and save you money!
I love pudding cookies! Love the addition of M&M’s too, my favorite!
Tracey – So sorry about all the mishaps you’re having. You certainly came out of them shining with these adorable cookies. Can’t wait to try them. I’ve been baking up a lot of cookies too recently. Maybe you’ll have some time to check them out at http://bakewelljunction.wordpress.com
It is “pouring” here too. Oy vey. These cookies could go a long way in helping me cope though…
Oh man, I hate weeks like that! Glad to hear you were able to fix the oven yourself though – I know that was a big relief. These cookies look fantastic. I haven’t tried the pudding thing yet but I definitely need to.
Quick questions… How do these cookies compare to the chewey m&m cookies you posted in June? Also, would a packet of cook and serve pudding work instead of the instant kind? Thanks so much for all of your wonderful recipes!
@Jessica – Ooooh, tough call on the comparison. I’d say the pudding cookies are softer while the ones I posted back in June are more chewy. The ones from back in June are sugar cookie-based, while the pudding cookies are more like a chocolate chip cookie but with M&Ms. Both good, just different!
As for the cook and serve pudding, I’m honestly not sure. I’ve never tried and I’m not entirely sure how it differs from instant pudding. If you give it a shot, let me know how it goes π
Sorry you’ve had a rough month! Hope it gets better soon! Love pudding cookies and these look wonderful!
I made these over the weekend with holiday minis as the first baking project of the season. They are adorable, very tasty, and a big hit with the family. Thanks for the great recipe.
this happens to us with our cars. grr. nice work though on getting your oven running again!
so mini m&ms. what store(s) have you seen them in? i’ve been looking for bags of these for a while now, but without any luck. i’d love to know where you’ve seen these – thanks!!
@jamie – I think I bought my last bag from Walmart, but I’ve also seen them at Target. They’re in a blue-ish bag if that helps, it’s usually right near the other various M&M flavors in the candy aisle.
I did end up making these with the “cook and “serve” pudding mix, and they came out perfect!
they’re so liquid-y when put in the oven! not sure what i’m doing wrong. happened twice π
I just made these and they are sooooo good!! Thank you! Mine actually came out a lot thicker which I was happy about I love puffy soft cookies! I could only find the mini m&ms in the tubes lol so I opened 14 of them! (got a box at Sams club!)I also got 5 1/2 dozen becausemy cookie scoop is smaller. These are a go to cookie in our house now!! YUMM
Hi there, a quick question from a Brit across the pond: is instant pudding the one you whisk with milk and refrigerate? We call it angel delight?? Usually I can adapt American recipes but dont want to mess it up! would love your suggestion if you get chance π love the blog btw, your recipes are all yummy.