Description
Loaded cookies with chocolate chips, pretzels, M&M’s, and nuts for a sweet and salty treat!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 cup crushed pretzels (about 2 cups whole pretzels before crushing)
- 1 cup Valentine’s Day M&M’s (or any festive candy-coated chocolate)
- 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional, but adds a nice crunch)
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut (optional, for added texture and flavor)
Instructions
- Cream the Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl (or the bowl of your stand mixer), cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. This usually takes about 3-5 minutes. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl occasionally to ensure everything is evenly mixed. The mixture should be pale and airy.
- Incorporate the Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then, stir in the vanilla extract.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually Add Dry Ingredients to Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix! Mix until the flour is almost completely incorporated, but a few streaks of flour are still visible.
- Add the “Trash”: Gently fold in the chocolate chips (semi-sweet, milk chocolate, and white chocolate), crushed pretzels, Valentine’s Day M&M’s, chopped pecans or walnuts (if using), and shredded coconut (if using). Make sure everything is evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Chill the Dough (Important!): Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or even better, for 1-2 hours.
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Make sure your oven rack is in the center position.
- Prepare Baking Sheets: Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Scoop the Dough: Use a cookie scoop or a spoon to drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are still slightly soft. The baking time may vary depending on your oven, so keep a close eye on them. Don’t overbake, or they’ll be dry.
- Cool the Cookies: Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Adjust the Sweetness: If you prefer a less sweet cookie, you can reduce the amount of sugar slightly.
- Substitute Ingredients: Feel free to substitute other types of chocolate chips, candies, or nuts based on your preferences. Butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips, or even dried cranberries would be delicious additions.
- Add Spices: For a warmer flavor, try adding a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the dough.
- Make Them Gluten-Free: You can easily make these cookies gluten-free by using a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.
- Storage: Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezing: You can freeze the cookie dough for up to 2 months. Scoop the dough into balls and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Freeze until solid, then transfer them to a freezer bag. When ready to bake, bake from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time. You can also freeze the baked cookies for up to 2 months.
- Cookies Spreading Too Much: If your cookies are spreading too much, make sure your oven is at the correct temperature and that you haven’t overcreamed the butter and sugar. Also, chilling the dough is crucial for preventing excessive spreading.
- Cookies Too Dry: If your cookies are too dry, you may be overbaking them. Reduce the baking time slightly and make sure you’re not using too much flour.
- Cookies Too Cakey: If your cookies are too cakey, you may have overmixed the dough. Be careful not to overmix when adding the dry ingredients.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 9-11 minutes