Meet your new holiday obsession: Easter Chocolate Chip Cookies! Packed with sweet chocolate chips and pastel candy-coated eggs, these cookies are the ultimate treat for spring gatherings and Easter celebrations. Imagine everything you love about a classic chocolate chip cookie, but with a whimsical, colorful twist that pops on every dessert table. Whether you’re baking with kids, gifting to friends, or just treating yourself, these cookies are a guaranteed way to bring extra joy (and a sugar rush!) to your festivities.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Don’t be intimidated by the list—each ingredient in these Easter Chocolate Chip Cookies plays its own delicious role, creating cookies that are buttery, melt-in-your-mouth soft, and full of festive flair. From pantry staples to pretty pastel candy, every component adds something special!
- Unsalted butter: Use softened butter for a rich, tender cookie base that holds everything together.
- Brown sugar: This adds a wonderful caramel-like depth and chewiness you’ll notice with every bite.
- Granulated sugar: Offers classic sweetness and helps create those golden cookie edges.
- Large eggs: Essential for moisture and perfect texture, plus they keep the dough together.
- Vanilla extract: A splash brings out all the chocolatey flavors and adds warmth.
- All-purpose flour: The reliable backbone for cookies—be sure to measure accurately for best results.
- Baking soda: Gives lift, helping the cookies puff up just the right amount.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and intensifies all the flavors—you don’t want to skip this.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Classic bits of gooey chocolate goodness in every cookie.
- Pastel candy-coated chocolate eggs or M&M’s: Use whole or crushed for pops of color and festive crunch!
- White chocolate chips (optional): For those who love extra creamy sweetness—it’s all about that contrast.
- Pastel sprinkles (optional): The easiest way to make your cookies look totally magical and celebration-ready.
How to Make Easter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Step 1: Prep Your Oven and Baking Sheets
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a couple of baking sheets with parchment paper to keep cleanup a breeze and help your cookies bake evenly without sticking. Gathering all your ingredients now will make mixing go super smoothly.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars
In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, packed brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and almost creamy. This is where the cookie magic begins—creaming helps create that irresistible texture you love in fresh cookies.
Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Beat in the eggs one at a time so the dough stays smooth and perfectly mixed. Pour in the vanilla extract and mix until everything is just combined. Your kitchen should start smelling amazing already!
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. This ensures the leavening and salt are evenly distributed, so every bite tastes just right.
Step 5: Mix Wet and Dry Components
Gradually add the dry mixture into your wet mixture, mixing until just combined—don’t overdo it! This keeps your cookies ultra-tender instead of tough.
Step 6: Stir in the Chocolate and Candy
Gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips, your candy-coated chocolate eggs (crushed or whole—your choice), and white chocolate chips if you’re using them. This is the step where all the playful color and rich flavor gets loaded in!
Step 7: Scoop and Decorate
Use a tablespoon to scoop out balls of dough and place them onto your prepared baking sheets, keeping them about 2 inches apart. For true Easter Chocolate Chip Cookies flair, press a few extra candy pieces or pastel sprinkles on top of each dough ball. This extra touch will make your cookies look like they belong in a bakery window.
Step 8: Bake
Pop the trays in the oven and bake for 9–11 minutes. Keep an eye out—the edges should be lightly golden but the centers will still look soft. Don’t worry, they’ll firm up as they cool!
Step 9: Cool and Enjoy
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This patience pays off with perfectly soft cookies that hold their shape but melt in your mouth with each bite.
How to Serve Easter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Garnishes
For an extra sprinkle of springtime joy, top your cookies with a handful of pastel sprinkles or a drizzle of melted white chocolate. You can even nestle an extra candy-coated egg on top of each cookie to make them look even more festive and irresistible.
Side Dishes
Easter Chocolate Chip Cookies shine alongside a cold glass of milk or a hot cup of coffee for the adults. For a real holiday dessert spread, try serving them with fresh berries, mini meringues, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream that beautifully complements the cookies’ soft, chocolatey centers.
Creative Ways to Present
For the ultimate wow factor, pile these cookies into a decorative basket lined with pastel tissue, or stack them in cellophane bags tied with a bright ribbon as creative Easter gifts. Arrange them in a circle on a platter for an edible “cookie wreath” centerpiece that looks almost too pretty to eat (almost!).
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once cooled, pop your Easter Chocolate Chip Cookies into an airtight container and keep them at room temperature for up to five days. They’ll stay soft and delicious, making it easy to sneak a sweet treat whenever the mood strikes!
Freezing
If you want to get a jump on holiday prep, freeze the dough or the baked cookies. For dough, scoop it onto a tray and freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to three months. Baked cookies can be stored in freezer-safe containers, separated by parchment paper, for the same amount of time.
Reheating
From the freezer or from day-old stashes, bring cookies back to life with a quick 10-second zap in the microwave. For larger batches, warm in a 300°F oven for 3–5 minutes—this restores that melty chocolate center and makes your kitchen smell wonderful all over again!
FAQs
Can I swap the candy-coated eggs for different Easter candies?
Absolutely! Feel free to use your favorite candy-coated chocolates, mini Cadbury eggs, or pastel M&M’s. Just chop larger candies into bite-sized pieces for even distribution.
How do I keep my cookies from spreading too much?
If your dough feels very soft, chill it in the fridge for 30 minutes before baking. Cold dough spreads less, creating thick, bakery-style cookies that everyone loves.
Can I make these Easter Chocolate Chip Cookies gluten-free?
Yes, simply swap the all-purpose flour for your favorite 1:1 gluten-free blend. This simple change keeps all the festive flair while making the cookies friendly for gluten-free guests.
What’s the secret to getting those gooey centers?
The magic is in slightly underbaking! Pull the cookies from the oven when the centers still look a little soft—they’ll firm up as they cool but stay wonderfully gooey inside.
Can I double the recipe for a crowd?
Definitely! This recipe scales perfectly for larger batches. Just make sure to rotate your baking sheets halfway through if your oven can’t fit them all at once, so everything bakes evenly.
Final Thoughts
Once you try these Easter Chocolate Chip Cookies, you’ll want to make them every spring—or any time you’re craving a little extra cheer! Bring a batch to your next celebration and watch as faces light up at their colorful, chocolatey goodness. Happy baking!
PrintEaster Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
These Easter Chocolate Chip Cookies are a delightful treat perfect for the holiday season. Soft and chewy with a colorful twist, they are sure to be a hit at any gathering.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Cookies:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup pastel candy-coated chocolate eggs or M&Ms (crushed or whole)
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips (optional)
- pastel sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream butter and sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until combined.
- Add mix-ins: Stir in chocolate chips, candy-coated chocolate eggs, and white chocolate chips if using.
- Scoop and bake: Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Press a few extra candy pieces or sprinkles on top of each dough ball for decoration. Bake for 9–11 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden and centers are still soft.
- Cool and enjoy: Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
Notes
- These cookies can be made ahead and frozen.
- Feel free to swap in dark chocolate or use chopped mini Cadbury eggs for extra Easter flair.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg