Name: M&M Nutella Lava Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: PT-490484H11M25S
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3/4 cup Nutella Spread; 1 cup Cold Butter (cut into small cubes); 3/4 cup Brown Sugar; 2/3 cup Sugar; 2 large Eggs; 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract; 3 cups All-Purpose Flour (or 1 1/2 cups cake flour + 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour); 1 teaspoon Baking Soda; 1/2 teaspoon Cornstarch; 3/4 teaspoon Salt; 1 cup Milk Chocolate Chips; 10 ounces M&M’s or Mini M&M’s (about 1 1/2 to 2 cups, plus extra for topping)

Jump to Recipe· 3.9 from 47 reviews

If you are a chocolate lover with a penchant for some colorful crunch, this M&M Nutella Lava Cookies Recipe is your new best friend in the kitchen. Imagine biting into a soft, buttery cookie bursting with a molten Nutella center and studded with vibrant M&M’s that add a delightful pop of texture and sweetness. These cookies are not just a treat; they are an experience—a perfect blend of gooey, crunchy, sweet, and buttery that hits every note just right. Whether it’s a cozy afternoon snack or a show-stopping dessert at your next gathering, these cookies will have everyone asking for the recipe.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Five round cookies with a light golden color are placed on a metal cooling rack. Each cookie is thick and lumpy with colorful candy-coated chocolate pieces in red, green, blue, yellow, orange, and brown scattered throughout and on top. The cookie dough looks soft and slightly cracked around the candy, showing a chewy texture. The background is a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Gathering simple and trustworthy ingredients is key to creating these irresistible cookies. Each component plays a crucial role, whether it’s providing that rich chocolaty core, the perfect crumbly texture, or those fun bursts of color and crunch from the M&M’s.

Nutella Spread: The star ingredient that gives these cookies their signature lava-like, creamy center.
Cold Butter: Using cold, cubed butter helps achieve a tender yet sturdy cookie dough.
Brown Sugar: Adds deep caramel notes and moisture to keep the cookies soft.
Sugar: Balances sweetness and helps with the cookie’s beautiful browning.
Eggs: Provide richness and structure for the dough to hold its shape around Nutella.
Vanilla Extract: Enhances all the flavors with a warm, aromatic touch.
All-Purpose Flour (or mix with Cake Flour): Gives the cookies their classic chewiness and structure.
Baking Soda: A leavening agent that ensures the cookies rise just right.
Cornstarch: Adds tenderness, making the cookies irresistibly soft.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and intensifies the chocolate flavors.
Milk Chocolate Chips: Introduces melty bursts of chocolate inside the dough.
M&M’s or Mini M&M’s: Provide those vivid, fruity crunches and a fun visual pop in every bite.

How to Make M&M Nutella Lava Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Freeze the Nutella Centers

Begin by scooping out 1-tablespoon dollops of Nutella onto a parchment-lined sheet and freeze them until firm, about 30 to 60 minutes. This crucial step helps the Nutella hold its shape when baked, so you get that wonderfully molten center without a messy oozing disaster.

Step 2: Make the Cookie Dough

In a large bowl, cream your cold, cubed butter with both brown and granulated sugars until fluffy—this usually takes around 4 minutes. Then add your eggs one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract to infuse warmth. Combine your flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt in a separate bowl and mix them into the wet ingredients just until you see no more flour streaks. Lastly, fold in the milk chocolate chips and the bulk of your M&M’s, saving a handful for topping later.

Step 3: Chill the Dough

Chilling isn’t just about patience here; it’s about flavor and texture. Letting the dough rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes helps meld the flavors and makes it easier to handle. For truly spectacular cookies, you can chill the dough for 24 to 48 hours. If you want, roll the dough into balls before chilling to simplify the wrapping step later.

Step 4: Roll Into Balls

Measure out your dough into approximately 5-ounce balls—think baseball size. You should end up with 12 large balls that will bake into bakery-quality cookies that are soft, thick, and just the right size for a comforting treat.

Step 5: Wrap Dough Around Nutella

Cut off the top third of each dough ball and set it aside. Flatten the larger portion slightly, place a frozen Nutella disk in the center, then wrap the dough around fully to seal in the chocolatey treasure. This sealing is vital to keep the lava effect intact during baking.

Step 6: Bake

Preheat your oven to 385°F (195°C). Place half the cookies on a lined baking sheet and bake them for 9 to 11 minutes until their edges turn a light golden hue. Right after baking, press a few reserved M&M’s onto the tops for a colorful, gourmet finish that’s as pretty as it is delicious.

Step 7: Cool

Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes. This resting time lets the lava centers set slightly so they don’t run all over when you pick them up, giving you the perfect molten chocolate burst in every bite.

How to Serve M&M Nutella Lava Cookies Recipe

The image shows five round cookies with a thick texture, filled with colorful candy pieces on top, including red, blue, green, yellow, orange, and brown, spread evenly across the light golden brown cookie surface. One cookie is broken into two parts, revealing a soft, slightly melted chocolate layer inside with the same colorful candies. They are placed on a gold cooling rack, which is set on a white marbled surface, making the bright colors of the candies stand out clearly. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

A quick sprinkle of coarse sea salt over the warm cookies can elevate every bite by cutting through the richness. For an extra special touch, a dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of melted white chocolate makes these cookies look and feel like a decadent treat.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair beautifully with a cold glass of milk or a scoop of vanilla ice cream, creating a classic combo that balances rich, gooey chocolate with creamy coolness. For an adult twist, serve alongside a cup of coffee or a spiced chai latte to complement the cookie’s sweetness with warm spices.

Creative Ways to Present

For a party setting, display the cookies stacked on a rustic wooden board with mini jars of Nutella and a bowl of extra M&M’s. You can also serve them alongside a small bowl of fresh berries to brighten the palate. Wrapping each cookie individually in parchment with a colorful ribbon makes a charming homemade gift everyone will love.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

To keep these soft and chewy cookies fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. If you plan to keep them longer, refrigeration can help, but let them come to room temperature before enjoying to bring back their perfect texture.

Freezing

You can freeze both the dough balls (wrapped tightly) and the baked cookies. For dough, freeze for up to 2 months, then thaw in the refrigerator overnight before baking. Baked cookies freeze well for up to one month; just thaw them on the counter before serving.

Reheating

Warm your cookies gently in the microwave for about 10 seconds to revive the molten Nutella center and soften the dough. Avoid overheating to prevent drying them out. A quick 5-minute stint in a preheated 300°F oven can also refresh them beautifully.

FAQs

Can I use different types of chocolate instead of Nutella?

Absolutely! While Nutella provides that creamy hazelnut flavor that makes these cookies special, you can substitute with other chocolate spreads or even thick fudge, but keep in mind the texture and meltiness might vary.

What if I don’t have a food scale to weigh the dough balls?

No worries! Aim for dough balls about the size of a baseball, roughly 5 ounces each. This size ensures that the cookies bake evenly and hold enough Nutella inside for the lava effect.

Can I make these cookies vegan or dairy-free?

Modifications can be made using dairy-free butter and egg substitutes, along with vegan Nutella alternatives or homemade hazelnut chocolate spread. Keep in mind, texture and flavor might differ slightly, but the result can still be delicious.

Why is the dough chilled before baking?

Chilling the dough solidifies the fats and allows the flavors to meld, resulting in thicker, chewier cookies that bake more evenly. It also helps when handling the dough, especially for wrapping around the Nutella centers.

How do I prevent Nutella from leaking out during baking?

The key is freezing the Nutella dollops until firm, then carefully sealing the dough around them without gaps. Baking at the right temperature and for the precise amount of time also helps keep that molten center intact perfectly.

Final Thoughts

I genuinely cannot recommend this M&M Nutella Lava Cookies Recipe enough—it’s one of those joyful baking adventures that rewards patience with pure chocolate bliss and colorful fun. Whether you’re baking for family, friends, or just yourself, these cookies are guaranteed to bring smiles and sighs of satisfaction. So grab your ingredients, preheat that oven, and get ready to enjoy cookies like never before!