This year, I wanted to share a little fun we’ve had in our kitchen: Easter M&M Bunny Cookies. These aren’t just any cookies—they’re bright, playful, and irresistibly delicious, all dressed up with pastel M&Ms and the cutest little bunny “ears.” But more than that, they’ve become a delightful part of our Easter tradition, and a way to bring everyone together—especially the kids.
Sweet Traditions & Springtime Nostalgia
Growing up, Easter always meant a mix of reverence and revelry. We’d wake up early for church in new spring dresses and freshly polished shoes, only to change and dash outside later for a good old-fashioned egg hunt. I still remember the thrill of racing across the lawn, spotting a glimmer of foil hidden behind a flower pot or nestled in the grass.
After the hunt came the real treasure: time in the kitchen with my family. My grandmother would always make something special—a coconut cake shaped like a bunny, or deviled eggs that looked like chicks with little olive eyes. Those traditions stuck with me, and I’ve carried them into my own home. But now, I love creating new ones too, especially those that make my home feel full of laughter and flour and sprinkles.
Kid-Friendly Baking: A Memory in the Making
If you’ve ever baked with children, you know it’s rarely neat and tidy. But it’s almost always magical. That’s one of the things I love most about making our Bunny Cookies—they’re fun, forgiving, and made for little helping hands.
From pouring pastel M&Ms into the mixing bowl to carefully pressing the little “bunny ears” on top of warm cookies, this recipe invites creativity. My niece loves choosing which color combos go on each cookie, and my nephew has declared himself the official M&M “quality control” tester (one for the cookie, one for his mouth—fair enough).
What I appreciate is that it’s more than baking—it’s bonding. As they stir and scoop and sneak a few chocolate chips, they’re also learning skills and building memories. Some of the best conversations I’ve had with my littles have been while waiting on the oven timer. It’s a kind of everyday magic that can’t be rushed.
Easter Fun Beyond the Kitchen
Of course, baking is just one of the many ways we celebrate Easter. I always try to build in a few low-key, joyful activities that don’t involve screens or elaborate plans. Here are a few of our favorite kid-friendly Easter traditions:
- Egg Decorating Party: We set up a long table with cups of dye, stickers, glitter, and markers. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s creativity! Bonus points for making eggs that look like animals or emojis.
- Easter Storytime: We curl up with picture books about spring, baby animals, and the meaning of Easter. Favorites include The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes and Pete the Cat: Big Easter Adventure.
- Bunny Hop Obstacle Course: In the backyard, we set up a “bunny hop” race where the kids hop like bunnies from cone to cone. It’s a hilarious way to burn off that post-cookie sugar burst!
- Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt: Instead of a traditional egg hunt, we sometimes do a scavenger hunt with rhyming clues tucked inside each egg. It gets everyone thinking and laughing as they search.
These little activities help stretch the holiday beyond just one morning. They’re simple, sweet, and focus on time together, which to me, is the whole point.
The Comfort of Homemade
There’s something deeply satisfying about homemade cookies. Maybe it’s the way the scent fills the house, or the fact that every bite reflects the love and effort you poured into them. In a world that moves so fast, homemade baking slows us down. It lets us linger. It reminds us that joy doesn’t have to come from big plans—it can come from a warm cookie and a shared smile.
Our Easter M&M Bunny Cookies have become one of those little traditions that sneak into your heart. They’re colorful and playful, and each one turns out a little different—just like the kids who help make them. Some have bold bunny ears that stand tall. Others are a little wonky, with M&Ms off to the side or snuggled into the edges. And honestly? That makes them even better.
They’re more than cookies—they’re Easter memories, sealed with sugar and sprinkles.
Embracing the Imperfect Moments
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that holidays don’t need to be perfect. The table doesn’t need to look like a magazine spread. The cookies don’t need to be Pinterest-level pristine. What matters is the feeling behind it all. The giggles while mixing dough. The sticky fingers grabbing a second treat. The stories shared while decorating eggs.
Easter is a time for renewal, for grace, and for gathering—whether it’s a full house or just you and a plate of cookies. And no matter what it looks like this year, I hope you find moments that feel bright and blooming. I hope you laugh. I hope you rest. And I hope you get warm Easter M&M Bunny Cookies straight from the oven.
Happy Easter, friends. May your hearts (and your cookie jars) be full.
Check out my Brownie Mason Jar Mix or Au Gratin Potatoes Sauce Mix for more inspiration.
Easter M&M Bunny Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup pastel M&Ms for the dough + more for decorating on top
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Melt the butter and let it cool for about 5 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- In a separate large bowl, mix the cooled melted butter with the sugars until well combined. Stir in the egg and vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until just combined. Fold in the white chocolate chips and pastel M&Ms.
- Scoop the dough using a medium cookie scoop and place onto the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- While the cookies are baking, carefully slice a handful of M&Ms in half with a sharp knife—these will be your bunny ears.
- When the cookies come out of the oven, gently press the M&M halves into the warm cookies next to any whole M&Ms that are already visible. If there aren’t many showing, press a few whole M&Ms into the tops first, then add the halves for ears.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
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