Vibrant M&M Holiday Cookies

Welcome to the most wonderful time of the year, filled with joy, laughter, and, of course, delicious treats! When it comes to holiday baking, few things capture the festive spirit quite like a batch of brightly colored M&M Christmas Cookies. These delightful cookies are more than just a dessert; they’re a celebration in every bite, perfect for spreading cheer and making lasting memories.

Our M&M Christmas Cookies offer the perfect balance of soft, chewy centers and delightfully crisp edges, making them an irresistible addition to any holiday gathering. Imagine biting into a warm, gooey cookie, where the rich flavor of chocolate chips perfectly melds with the satisfying crunch and vibrant colors of red and green M&M candies. This recipe transforms a classic chocolate chip cookie into a holiday masterpiece, simple enough for even the busiest of schedules yet impressive enough for festive parties and cookie exchanges. If you’re looking for a delightful Christmas dessert that everyone will adore, you’ve found your new go-to!

Life during the holidays can be a whirlwind of activities, but that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on homemade goodness. This recipe for M&M Christmas Cookies is designed for ease and speed, ensuring you can whip up a batch of these amazing treats without feeling overwhelmed. It’s a fantastic solution for busy parents and anyone needing a quick, festive dessert. If you love M&M desserts as much as we do, you might also enjoy our M&M Cookie Cake or these fun M&M Rice Krispie Treats.

The secret to these cookies lies in achieving that ideal soft and chewy texture that melts in your mouth. They’re sure to become a cherished part of your holiday tradition, standing alongside other beloved recipes like Cowboy Christmas Cookies and the diverse collection in our 12 Days of Christmas Cookies. Get ready to bake, share, and savor the magic of the season with these extraordinary M&M Christmas Cookies.

Why These M&M Christmas Cookies Will Be Your New Favorite

These aren’t just any holiday cookies; they’re an experience waiting to happen. Here’s why these M&M Christmas Cookies are destined to become a beloved staple in your festive repertoire:

• Irresistibly Gooey Chocolate: Prepare for a chocolate lover’s dream! This recipe is generously packed with both rich chocolate chips and crunchy M&M candies, ensuring an explosion of chocolatey goodness in every single bite. The melted chocolate chips create a decadent chewiness, while the M&M’s add a satisfying textural contrast and burst of color.
• Effortlessly Simple to Make: Don’t let the stunning appearance fool you; these cookies are surprisingly easy to prepare. Most of the ingredients are likely already in your pantry, meaning you can whip up a batch on a whim without a special grocery run. The straightforward process makes it a perfect recipe for beginner bakers or a fun project with kids.
• Perfect for Festive Gatherings: Whether you’re hosting a grand holiday party, attending a potluck, or simply want to treat your family, these cookies are the ultimate crowd-pleaser. Their vibrant red and green hues instantly evoke the spirit of Christmas, making them a beautiful and delicious centerpiece on any dessert table.
• Kid-Friendly & Fun: Kids absolutely adore M&M’s, and these cookies are no exception. The colorful candies make them visually appealing and exciting, encouraging little ones to help with decorating (and taste-testing!). It’s a wonderful way to involve the whole family in holiday baking traditions.
• Versatile for Any Season: While perfect for Christmas, this recipe is incredibly adaptable. By simply swapping out the red and green M&M’s for other seasonal colors (think pastels for Easter, orange and black for Halloween, or primary colors for birthdays), you can enjoy these delightful cookies year-round!

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Cookies

Creating truly exceptional M&M Christmas Cookies starts with quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need, along with some insights to ensure the best results:

• Butter: For the most luxurious flavor and tender texture, always use real, unsalted butter. It should be softened to room temperature, which allows it to cream smoothly with the sugars, creating air pockets that contribute to a light and fluffy cookie. Cold butter won’t incorporate well, leading to a denser dough, while melted butter can result in flatter, greasier cookies.
• Brown Sugar: This ingredient is key to achieving that signature soft and chewy texture. Brown sugar contains molasses, which adds moisture and a rich, caramel-like flavor. You can even try our simple Homemade Brown Sugar Recipe for an extra touch!
• Granulated Sugar: Working in harmony with brown sugar, granulated sugar contributes to the cookies’ structure and helps achieve those coveted crispy edges.
• Large Eggs: Eggs bind the ingredients together and add richness and moisture. For even baking and a cohesive dough, allow your eggs to come to room temperature before adding them to the mixture. This helps them emulsify better with the fats and sugars.
• Vanilla Extract: A touch of pure vanilla extract enhances all the other flavors, adding warmth and depth to your cookies. Don’t skimp on good quality vanilla!
• All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of our cookies. For accurate measurements and to prevent a dense cookie, spoon the flour into your measuring cup and then level it off with a straight edge. Packing flour directly into the cup can result in using too much, leading to dry, crumbly cookies.
• Cornstarch: This secret ingredient is what makes these cookies extra soft and chewy. It helps tenderize the dough and prevents the cookies from becoming overly cakey.
• Baking Soda: Our leavening agent, baking soda, reacts with the acids in the brown sugar to create lift and spread, resulting in those perfectly pillowy cookies.
• Salt: A pinch of salt is vital for balancing the sweetness and enhancing the overall flavor profile of the cookies.
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: Use your favorite brand of good quality semi-sweet chocolate chips. They provide a classic chocolate flavor that complements the M&M’s beautifully. You can also experiment with milk chocolate or dark chocolate.
• Red and Green M&M’s: The star of the show! These festive candies not only infuse each cookie with extra chocolatey flavor but also provide that iconic red and green burst of holiday cheer, making your chocolate chip cookies truly seasonal.

For the complete ingredient list with precise measurements and detailed instructions, please refer to the recipe card located further down in this post.

Creative Substitutions and Exciting Additions

While the classic M&M Christmas Cookie is divine, this recipe is wonderfully flexible, allowing for endless customization to suit your taste or the occasion.

• Seasonal M&M’s: The beauty of this recipe is its adaptability. Feel free to enjoy these delicious cookies year-round by simply swapping the red and green M&M’s for other colors. Think pastel M&M’s for Spring, patriotic red, white, and blue for summer holidays, or orange and brown M&M’s for Halloween. Any color combination works beautifully!
• Chocolate Chip Variations: Don’t limit yourself to just semi-sweet. You can substitute white chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, or even a delightful combination of two or three types for a multi-layered chocolate experience. Peanut butter chips or butterscotch chips could also add an interesting twist.
• Add-Ins Galore: Elevate your cookies with additional mix-ins. Consider adding chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts), shredded coconut, dried cranberries or cherries for a fruity touch, or even a sprinkle of festive holiday sprinkles for extra sparkle. Mini marshmallows could create a s’mores-like cookie!
• Extract Experimentation: While vanilla is classic, a splash of almond extract, peppermint extract (perfect for Christmas!), or even a hint of orange zest could introduce new and exciting flavors to your cookies.

Easy Step-by-Step Baking Instructions

Creating these delightful M&M Christmas Cookies is a straightforward and rewarding process. Follow these detailed steps to ensure perfectly baked, festive treats every time.

Step 1: Cream Butter and Sugars. Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line your baking sheets with parchment paper for easy cleanup. In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter with both the granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat them together using a stand mixer or a hand mixer on medium speed for 2-3 minutes, until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and creamy. This creaming process is crucial for incorporating air, which gives your cookies a tender texture.

Step 2: Incorporate Wet Ingredients. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl, ensuring all ingredients are well combined. Next, add the room-temperature large eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract until just combined. Be careful not to overmix at this stage, as too much air can make cookies tough.

Step 3: Prepare Dry Ingredients. In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Whisking ensures these dry ingredients are evenly distributed, which is essential for uniform leavening and flavor in your cookies.

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures. Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients. We highly recommend mixing this by hand using a sturdy spoon or spatula. Overmixing the dough once the flour is added can develop the gluten too much, resulting in tough, dry cookies. Mix just until no streaks of flour remain.

Step 5: Fold in Chocolate Chips and M&M’s. Now for the fun part! Add the semi-sweet chocolate chips and the red and green M&M candies to the cookie dough. Remember to reserve about 1/4 cup of M&M’s for pressing onto the top of the cookie dough balls later, which will make your cookies look extra pretty and festive.

Step 6: Gently Combine. Carefully fold in the chocolate chips and M&M’s by hand until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough. Again, avoid overmixing to maintain the tender texture of the cookies. The goal is just to incorporate the candies without crushing them.

Step 7: Portion and Decorate. Scoop the cookie dough into approximately 1.5 tablespoon-sized balls and place them about 2 inches apart on your prepared baking sheets. For a professional, bakery-style look, gently press some of the reserved M&M’s onto the top of each dough ball. This ensures the colorful candies are visible after baking.

Step 8: Bake and Cool. Bake the cookies in your preheated oven for 8-10 minutes. The edges should be set and lightly golden brown, but the centers may still look slightly soft or underdone. This is perfectly normal and desired for a chewy cookie; they will continue to set as they cool. Do not overbake! Remove the baking sheets from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the hot sheet for 5 minutes. Then, carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Expert Tips for Cookie Perfection

Achieving bakery-quality M&M Christmas Cookies is easy with a few insider tricks. Here are some pro tips to help you bake the most delicious and beautiful holiday treats:

• Allow for Proper Cooling: Patience is key! After baking, let your cookies cool on the baking sheet for at least 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This allows them to firm up slightly and prevents them from breaking apart. Moving them too soon can cause them to fall apart.
• Utilize Parchment Paper: Always line your baking sheets with parchment paper. This prevents sticking, ensures even baking, and makes for incredibly easy cleanup. Silicone baking mats also work wonderfully.
• Measure Flour Correctly: The “spoon and level” method is crucial for accurate flour measurement. Instead of scooping flour directly with your measuring cup (which compacts it and leads to too much flour), spoon the flour into the measuring cup, then level it off with the back of a knife. This prevents dense, dry cookies in this M&M Cookie Recipe.
• Use a Cookie Scoop: For perfectly uniform cookies that bake evenly and look professional, invest in a cookie scoop. It ensures each cookie is the same size, which means they’ll all be ready at the same time.
• Don’t Overbake: This is arguably the most important tip for chewy cookies. The cookies should look slightly underbaked in the center when you pull them from the oven. They will continue to cook on the hot baking sheet and will set up as they cool, resulting in that perfectly soft and chewy texture. Overbaking leads to hard, dry cookies.
• Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your butter and eggs are at room temperature. This allows them to emulsify better with the sugars, creating a smoother dough and a more consistent cookie texture.
• Chill the Dough (Optional but Recommended): If you have time, chilling the cookie dough for at least 30 minutes (or even overnight) can deepen the flavors, prevent excessive spreading, and result in a chewier cookie.

Frequently Asked Questions About M&M Christmas Cookies

Serving and Gifting These Festive Treats

Once your M&M Christmas Cookies are baked to perfection, the possibilities for enjoying and sharing them are endless!

• Classic Serving: There’s nothing quite like a warm M&M Christmas Cookie straight from the oven, perhaps with a glass of cold milk or a steaming cup of hot cocoa. They’re also perfect alongside coffee or tea for a cozy afternoon treat.
• Ice Cream Sandwiches: For an extra decadent dessert, sandwich a scoop of vanilla (or peppermint!) ice cream between two cooled M&M Christmas Cookies. Roll the edges in extra M&M’s or sprinkles for a fun touch.
• Holiday Dessert Platter: Arrange these vibrant cookies on a festive platter with other holiday favorites like gingerbread, shortbread, and sugar cookies for an eye-catching spread that will impress any guest.
• Perfect for Gifting: Homemade M&M Christmas Cookies make thoughtful and much-appreciated gifts. Stack them in cellophane bags tied with festive ribbons, place them in decorative tins, or assemble a cookie box with a variety of your favorite holiday bakes. They’re ideal for neighbors, teachers, colleagues, or as hostess gifts.
• Cookie Exchange Superstar: If you’re participating in a holiday cookie exchange, these M&M Christmas Cookies are guaranteed to be a hit. Their cheerful colors and universally loved flavor ensure they’ll be traded quickly!

More Delicious & Easy Christmas Cookie Recipes

The holiday season is truly the best time for baking, and these M&M Christmas Cookies are just the beginning! If you’re eager to expand your festive baking repertoire, explore these other delightful and easy Christmas cookie recipes that are sure to bring joy to your kitchen:

• Easy Christmas Cake Mix Cookies
• Simple Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies
• Classic Christmas Pinwheel Cookies
• Charming Gingerbread Kiss Cookies
• Festive Cut-Out Christmas Sugar Cookies
• Delightful Easy Gingerbread Cookies

We genuinely hope you enjoy making these incredible M&M Christmas Cookies and that they bring a touch of sweet magic to your holiday season. Please do make them and come back to leave a comment—we absolutely love hearing from you and learning about your baking experiences!

M&M Christmas Cookies Recipe

Rating: 4.88 out of 5 stars (based on 8 votes)

These M&M Christmas Cookies are a holiday favorite, offering a delightful combination of soft, chewy texture and festive colors. Packed with red and green M&M candies and rich chocolate chips, each bite is pure holiday bliss. Simple to make, perfect for parties, and loved by all!

Recipe Details

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 10 mins

Cooling Time: 5 mins

Total Time: 30 mins

Servings: 24 cookies

Cuisine: American

Course: Dessert

Calories: 269 kcal per serving

Author: Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

This recipe yields approximately 24 cookies.

• 1 cup (2 sticks) Butter, softened
• ½ cup Granulated Sugar
• 1 cup Brown Sugar, packed
• 2 Large Eggs, room temperature
• 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 3 cups All-Purpose Flour
• 2 tsp Cornstarch
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• ½ tsp Salt
• 1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
• 1 cup Red and Green M&M’s (plus extra for topping)

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, using a stand mixer or a hand mixer, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar on medium speed for 2-3 minutes until the mixture is light, fluffy, and creamy.
3. Add Wet Ingredients: Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the room-temperature eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract until just combined.
4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt.
5. Incorporate Dry into Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix by hand with a sturdy spoon or spatula until just combined and no streaks of flour remain. Be careful not to overmix.
6. Fold in Candies: Gently stir in the chocolate chips and 3/4 cup of the red and green M&M’s by hand until evenly distributed. Reserve the remaining 1/4 cup of M&M’s for topping.
7. Portion and Top Cookies: Drop the cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets using a cookie scoop (approximately 1.5 tablespoon amounts). Press some of the reserved M&M’s onto the top of each cookie dough ball for a decorative finish.
8. Bake: Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown and the centers still look slightly soft. Do not overbake; the cookies will continue to set as they cool.
9. Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. Serve and Enjoy: Once cooled, your delicious M&M Christmas Cookies are ready to serve and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Store leftover cookies in an airtight container or ziplock bag at room temperature for up to 5 days. For extra moisture and softness, place a slice of bread in the container with the cookies.

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 269 kcal, Carbohydrates: 35g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.3g, Cholesterol: 36mg, Sodium: 170mg, Potassium: 79mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 21g, Vitamin A: 279IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 29mg, Iron: 1mg