Smartie cookie recipe

Rich, chocolate cookies, dotted with creamy, colourful chocolate. This Smartie cookie recipe is a winner for any chocolate lover.

Not only are there smarties on top, there are also Smarties stirred into the dough, so you'll get a mega-chocolatey hit with every bite. And they're wonderfully colourful too, so they'd be great for a party or get together.

Making the chocolate cookie dough is really easy. First, you'll cream butter, golden syrup and sugar together, then whisk in an egg. Next, you'll fold in flour, cocoa and baking powder, followed by a generous handful of Smarties and that's it, your dough is ready to portion out.

Shaping the cookies is good fun - my kids are always happy to help. To do this, you simply take a scoop of dough (an ice cream scoop is ideal for this job as it allows you to get evenly sized pieces), roll it up into a ball, place on a tray lined with greaseproof and repeat. 

The final step before they go into the oven is to flatten each cookie a little and then press a few extra smarties into the surface of each cookie. 12 minutes in the oven and your chewy, chocolatey Smartie cookies are ready to enjoy.

Here's the full recipe, complete with plenty of step-by-step pics to help you get them right first time.

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 180C (160C fan assisted).

Put the butter, golden syrup and sugar in a large bowl.

Beat until fluffy.

Add the egg.

Beat until well combined.

Add the flour, cocoa and the baking powder.

Mix until evenly combined.

Add 130g (4.6oz) of the Smarties - reserve the rest for now.

Fold them through. You should now have a sticky, light dough that’s just firm enough to roll pieces in your hands. If not, cover the bowl and place it in the fridge for 15 minutes.

Form 2.5cm (1 inch) balls of cookie dough and place at least 5 cm (2 inches) apart on a baking paper lined baking sheet. I got 20 cookies in total, weighing about 40g (1.4 oz) each.

Flatten slightly with the palm of your hand.

Gently press three Smarties onto the top of each cookie.

Bake for about 12 minutes – too long and they’ll go hard and the chocolate may burn.

Allow to cool slightly for a few minutes (they firm up a little) and then put on a wire rack to cool.

Pointers, tricks and troubleshooting tips for the perfect smartie cookies

Are smartie cookies easy to make?

Yes, these is a really easy recipe as it's a classic sugar cookie dough recipe: the sugars and fats are creamed, then the egg beaten in, and then the dry ingredients stirred in last. The Smarties on top make this simple bake look festive and fun.

Will I need any special equipment to make smartie cookies?

You won't need any special equipment to make Smartie cookies, just weighing scales, measuring spoons, a bowl, a spoon, a whisk, a baking sheet lined with baking parchment, and a wire rack to cool the cookies on.

Where can I buy Smarties?

You can buy Smarties at any supermarket or small convenience store. They usually come in small cardboard tubes or in larger plastic grab bags.

Can I make this recipe without Smarties?

Yes, you can leave them out if you prefer. If you make this recipe without the Smarties, you would have a simple but tasty chocolate flavoured sugar cookie.

What other chocolate or candy can I use that would be similar to Smarties?

You could use any candy coated chocolate bean for these cookies. Plain M&Ms are an obvious choice, or any generic supermarket version.

Is this smartie cookies recipe suitable for vegetarians?

Yes, these smartie cookies are suitable for vegetarians as they contain no meat, poultry or fish. 

Cadbury Smarties are vegetarian. If replace the Smarties with another chocolate, make sure to check the packet to ensure it does not contain gelatine or other non-vegetarian product.

Are smartie cookies suitable for vegans?

These Smarties cookies contain butter and eggs, as well as dairy chocolate, so are not suitable for vegans.

I have not attempted a vegan version of these cookies. However, you could replace the butter with a vegan spread, and replace the egg with one of the following alternatives (each = 1 egg, so multiply as needed for any given recipe):

• 1 tablespoon of crushed chia seeds or flax seeds mixed with 2 tablespoons of water and left for 10 minutes in the fridge.
• 3 tablespoons of aquafaba (the water you get in a tin of chickpeas).
• 3 tablespoons of applesauce (bear in mind this will add sweetness).

Smarties are not suitable for a vegan diet as they contain milk solids, but you could replace them with vegan chocolate beans. You'd also need to ensure that your dark chocolate is suitable for vegans.

Lyle’s Golden Syrup is certified vegan, but check the packet if you are using another brand.

Note: I haven’t tested this exact combination of alternatives, so if you try it, let me know how you get on.

Is this smartie cookies recipe gluten-free?

This recipe uses wheat flour, so is not suitable for those following a gluten-free diet. 

You could try replacing the wheat-based flour with a gluten-free flour. Results will vary depending on the quality and blend of flour. Some are designed specifically for use in pastry and may give better results. 

Whichever brand you choose, I always recommend using a good quality brand, which will usually be made from a blend of different flours such as rice flour, and oat flour and usually a binding agent such as xanthan gum.

The other elements of this recipe should be naturally gluten-free, but check the labels on everything to be sure.

Are smartie cookies recipe keto-friendly?

The flour, syrup and sugar in this recipe means it is not suitable for a keto diet. 

I haven’t tried making a keto-friendly version of this recipe, but you could try replacing the flour with almond flour and replacing the sugar with coconut sugar. Golden Syrup is too high in sugar for a keto diet, but a keto-syrup may work.

Are smartie cookies healthy?

Smartie cookies do have quite a lot of sugar and fat, so it’s best to enjoy them as an occasional treat. 

Is it safe to eat smartie cookies while pregnant?

There is nothing in this Smartie cookie recipe that should present a risk to pregnant people if the ingredients are in good condition and have been stored correctly, and the recipe is cooked hygienically and safely.

As with all baked goods, just make absolutely sure they are cooked through.

The NHS has a great resource that will help review the latest advice regarding foods that are safe to eat while pregnant in the UK.

This website does not offer medically advice. You should always seek advice from your health professional.

What goes well with smartie cookies?

These cookies are perfect to dunk into a cup of tea or coffee, or a glass of milk.

For dessert, you could press a scoop of ice cream between two cookies for an instant ice cream sandwich.

I haven’t got cocoa. Can I use drinking chocolate?

Cocoa is usually 100% cocoa powder, whereas drinking chocolate has a less strong chocolate flavour as it usually contains milk powder and sugar. These cookies could work with drinking chocolate if it is all you have, but the flavour will be less intense.

If you wish to make these with drinking chocolate, use 50g (1.75 oz) drinking chocolate, and reduce the sugar to 130g (4.5oz) .

Can I add extra candy or chocolate to this recipe?

You can experiment with different small chocolates and candies in these cookies. Try small fudge chunks, jelly beans or chocolate chips, or a mix of all three.

You could also try sprinkling popping candy on the top to surprise your guests. Try to keep to 200g (7.1 oz) of candy or chocolate in total, regardless of what you choose, so that you don't overwhelm the dough. 

How should I store smartie cookies?

It is best to store these cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresher for longer.

Allow the cookies to cool completely before sealing them in the container and placing somewhere dark, dry and cool such as a kitchen cupboard or pantry.

How long do smartie cookies keep?

These cookies will keep for up to a week in an airtight container.

Can I leave smartie cookies out on the counter?

These cookies are fine on the counter for a few hours, but will start to go stale if left out uncovered for long periods of time, so it’s best to get them into a sealed container as soon as possible once cool and place somewhere dark, dry and cool such as a kitchen cupboard or pantry. 

Can I make smartie cookies ahead?

If you want to make the dough ahead of time, unbaked cookie dough will keep in the fridge for 2 days if wrapped very tightly in clingfilm. You can also freeze it (again, tightly wrapped) for up to 3 months. 

Can I keep smartie cookies in the refrigerator?

You can keep these cookies in the fridge in an airtight container, if you prefer, but I recommend letting them come up to room temperature before serving, as the flavour and texture will be better.

Can I freeze smartie cookies?

Yes, you can freeze these cookies. Make sure they are thoroughly cooled after baking, then place in an airtight container or ziplock bag for freezing. Aim to leave as little empty space in the container as possible as this will reduce the likelihood of freezer burn.

Properly stored, they should keep for about three months.

What is the best way to defrost smartie cookies?

Ideally, you should defrost the cookies slowly overnight. You could also defrost in the microwave but make sure you use short bursts, at a low/defrost setting, to avoid drying them out. 

Can I make these smartie cookies in a different quantity?

If you'd like to make more or fewer smartie cookies, no problem! Just click the portion number on the recipe card below (it will say '20’ by default) and a slider should appear.

Move the slider up and down to alter the quantity. The measurements for all the ingredients will automatically change to suit the quantity chosen.

You can bake up to two trays of cookies at a time in a standard sized oven, on two shelves. 

Can I make smartie cookies in a stand mixer such as a KitchenAid or Kenwood Mixer?

You can use a stand mixer to cream the butter and sugar, and beat in the eggs.

However, when it's time to add the flour, it's best to be gentle, so either fold in by hand, or use the mixer only very briefly on slow, just long enough to combine the ingredients.

Can I make smartie cookies with a food processor?

You can use a food processor to cream the butter and sugar, and beat in the eggs.

Then, either stir in the dry ingredients by hand, or combine very lightly using the pulse feature.

Do not use the food processor to incorporate the Smarties, as it will chop them up.

How can I make sure my cookies are perfectly cooked?

Remember these cookies firm up as they cool. They should be well baked in 12 minutes at 180C, even if they seem soft when you take them out of the oven.

Why did my smartie cookies turn out dry, tough or dense?

Assuming all the ingredients were correctly weighed, it is possible you were too vigorous in stirring the dry ingredients in, which can make the finished cookie seem tough or dense.

However, it is more likely that the cookies were baked too long, or at too high a heat.

These cookies firm up as they cool, so it's fine if they are a little soft when you take them out of the oven.  

If you regularly have problems with inconsistent bakes, it could be that your oven temperature is hotter than the dial suggests. This is really common with home ovens and I’d recommend investing in an oven thermometer. Try keeping it in view for the whole bake, as some ovens preheat accurately but then continue to rise past the required temperature as they bake. 

It’s also common for ovens to be hotter on one side, so you might find that half of your tray cooks a little more slowly than the other side. There’s not an awful lot you can do about this, but if you suspect it to be a problem, try rotating the tin halfway through the bake. 

Why did my cookies turn out soft?

Assuming all the ingredients were correctly weighed, it is most likely that the cookies were not baked for long enough, or at too low a heat.

If you were using a plant-based spread instead of butter, it is worth remembering these have a higher water content than butter, so can make for a wetter dough and hence a softer bake. 

Why didn’t my cookies spread / why did they spread too much?

The colder your butter - and the colder the cookie batter is when it goes into the oven - the less it will spread.

If you want a thick cookie with a chewy interior, keep your mix very cold; if you want a thinner, crisper cookie, your mix should be a little warmer.

How can I add/change the flavours in these cookies?

You can try all different sorts of chocolates and sweets instead of - or as well as - Smarties. You could also use dried fruits or chopped nuts in place of the Smarties. Just aim to keep the total weight of the chocolate/sweets/fruits/nuts to 200 g (7.1 oz).

You could also add flavour extracts, such as orange extract sparingly to the dough, and since spice goes well with chocolate, you could experiment with adding a teaspoon of cinnamon to the dough mix, or adding small pieces of candied ginger to the candy mix.

Let me know what new flavours you create!

What is the origin of cookies like these?

The first historical reference to sugar cookies like these appears in a Persian recipe book from the 7th Century.

Sugar was still rare enough across Europe that these cookies were considered a luxury in the 17th and 18th centuries. Traders are thought to have popularised the recipe in Europe as sugar became a more easily available ingredient and in England alone they had a number of names, including jumbles, crybabies, plunkets and gemmels.

The classic American sugar cookie recipe is in fact a German recipe, brought to the US by Protestant settlers in around 1700. Sugar cookies are now so beloved in the US, they have their own National Day, 9th July.  

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