Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.

Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.

In another bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.

Gradually combine the dry mixture with the wet ingredients, stirring until just blended.

Fold in the M&M candies gently, ensuring they are evenly spread throughout the dough.

Drop rounded tablespoons of the dough onto the lined baking sheet, leaving space between each cookie.

Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookie edges are firm but the centers remain slightly soft.

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely.