M&M Christmas Cookies

Soft and chewy with red and green pops of festive colors make these M&M Christmas cookies the best holiday treat!

Table of Contents

M&M Christmas Cookies Ingredients
Substitutions And Additions
How To Make This M&M Christmas Cookies Recipe
Troubleshooting This Recipe
How To Serve Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies
Storing These Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies
Why We Love This Recipe
Frequently Asked Questions
More Christmas Cookie Recipes
JUMP TO RECIPE
Even More Cookie Recipes

Whip up a batch of red and green M&M Christmas cookies this holiday season. These bakery-style cookies have soft chewy centers, bursts of rich chocolate chips, and bright festive pops of Christmas colors from everyone’s favorite chocolate candy.

close up overhead shot of M&M Christmas Cookies on a plate

Why This Recipe

Main Ingredients: All-purpose flour, baking soda, butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, egg, semi-sweet chocolate chips, red & green M&M’s.
Quick Steps: Mix dry and wet ingredients, fold in M&M’s and chocolate chips, freeze dough, bake at 350°F.
Total Time & Yield: 4 hours, 22 minutes; makes 14 cookies.
Pro Tip: Add a tablespoon of cornstarch to the dough for an extra soft and thick cookie, preventing them from spreading too much during baking.
Why This Recipe: Our Christmas M&M cookie recipe stands out because we prioritized texture. Freezing the dough creates a perfect soft center and crispy edges. In addition, our M&M-to-chocolate-chip ratio ensures every bite is balanced, not overly sweet. The result is a bakery-quality cookie that’s easy and delicious.

M&M Christmas Cookies Ingredients

M&M Christmas Cookies raw ingredients that are labeled

You’ll need:

2½ cups of all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 cup of salted sweet cream butter, softened
¾ cup of light brown sugar, packed
½ cup of granulated sugar
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
1 large egg, room temperature
1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup of red and green M&M’s + additional for tops of cookies

Substitutions And Additions

CHOCOLATE CHIPS: You can substitute milk chocolate chips or white chocolate chips for the semi-sweet in these chocolate chip cookies.

MIX-INS: You can substitute mini chocolate chips and mini M&M’s for the regular size in this holiday cookie recipe.

COLORS: If you wish to make these cookies year-round, just swap out the red & green M&M candies for multi-colored ones.

Or you can support your favorite sports team and use the team colors for your M&M’s.

VANILLA EXTRACT: If you’re out of vanilla extract, almond extract can be a delightful substitute. It adds a subtle nutty flavor that pairs nicely with chocolate and can give your cookies a distinctive taste.

How To Make This M&M Christmas Cookies Recipe

These cookies are easy to make and only require mixing up the dough before baking.

STEP ONE: Using a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and baking soda. Set it aside.

STEP TWO: In the bowl of a stand mixer, or a medium-sized mixing bowl and a hand mixer, on medium-high speed, beat the softened butter for 1 minute.

STEP THREE: Add the brown sugar and the white sugar, and continue mixing for 1 to 1½ minutes.

STEP FOUR: Add the vanilla extract and egg. Continue mixing until completely combined.

vanilla extract and egg added and mixed until combined

STEP FIVE: Add the flour mixture and mix just until combined.

PRO TIP: Make sure not to overmix the dough or your cookies will flatten out too much.

STEP SIX: Fold in the chocolate chips and M&M’s.

chocolate chips and m&ms folded into the cookie dough

STEP SEVEN: To make cleanup easy, line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and spray it with cooking spray.

STEP EIGHT: Using a 3-tablespoon large cookie scoop, scoop cookie dough onto the parchment-lined baking sheet.

Leave just minimal space between the balls of cookie dough so that they aren’t touching.

STEP NINE: Place your sheet of cookie dough balls into the freezer so that it is flat with nothing on top that will flatten your cookie dough balls.

Freeze your cookie dough balls for at least 30 minutes but can freeze up to overnight.

STEP TEN: Preheat your oven to 350°F. While your oven is preheating, remove the sheet of frozen cookie dough balls.

Prepare two other cookie sheets with parchment paper. Separate the frozen cookie dough balls onto the prepared cookie sheet (you can use the frozen sheet, too!).

Place the cookie dough balls two inches apart.

scoops of cookie dough on a baking sheet then baked

STEP ELEVEN: Bake the frozen cookie dough balls for 16 to 18 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown and the center of the cookie is just set.

STEP TWELVE: When cookies are done, remove them from the oven.

Being careful of the hot pan, place six to eight extra M&M’s on top of each warm cookie, gently pressing into the baked cookie.

(Note: It’s best to add the additional M&M’s on top of the cookies after baking so they don’t bleed into the cookie dough.)

STEP THIRTEEN: Allow the baked cookies to rest on the cookie sheet for five minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Troubleshooting This Recipe

These tips should help ensure your M&M Christmas cookies come out perfectly every time:

My Cookies Spread Too Much: This can happen if the butter is too soft or if the dough wasn’t chilled properly. Ensure your butter is just softened, not melted, and try chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking.

My Cookies Are Too Flat: If your cookies come out flat, the oven temperature might be too high, or you could have too little flour. Double-check your oven temperature with a thermometer and make sure to measure your flour correctly (spoon and level).

The M&Ms Bleed into Dough: Overmixing the dough can cause the colors from the M&Ms to bleed. Gently fold them into the dough at the end to avoid this issue.

My Cookies Are Dry or Crumbly: This can happen if you’ve overbaked the cookies or added too much flour. Bake just until the edges are set but the centers are still soft, and make sure to measure your ingredients accurately, weighting your dry ingredients helps.

My Cookies Aren’t Chewy: If your cookies lack chewiness, try reducing the baking time slightly and ensure you’re using enough brown sugar, which adds moisture and chewiness. Also, avoid overbaking!

My Cookies Stick to the Baking Sheet: Make sure to line your baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking.

How To Serve Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies

These easy and chewy cookies are perfect this time of year for cookie exchanges or a holiday party. The red and green will make your cookie tray extra festive.

If you want to keep them to yourself, make sure to serve them with a glass of milk or whipped hot chocolate or Christmas hot chocolate.

Arrange these M&M Christmas cookies on a festive platter alongside other holiday-themed treats like gingerbread cookies, peppermint bark, and sugar cookies.

Take your dessert game up a notch by creating ice cream sandwiches with these cookies. Simply place a scoop of vanilla ice cream between two cookies and gently press them together.

MORE CHRISTMAS RECIPES

Fudge Recipes

Christmas Fudge

Candy Recipes

Christmas Crunch

Try out more of our favorite Christmas cookies with our Christmas pinwheels and Christmas sugar cookies.

Storing These Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies

Now that you’ve mastered the art of baking these scrumptious M&M Christmas cookies, it’s important to know how to store them to keep that fresh-baked goodness intact.

MAKE AHEAD: If you want to plan ahead, you can prepare the cookie dough and shape it into balls, then freeze them on a baking sheet until they’re solid.

Once frozen, transfer the cookie dough balls to an airtight container or a zip-top bag. You can keep the dough in the freezer for up to three months.

When you’re ready to bake, simply preheat your oven, place the frozen dough balls on a baking sheet, and bake as directed, adding a couple of extra minutes to the baking time if needed.

ON THE COUNTER: Store any leftovers of these delicious cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

IN THE FREEZER: You can freeze the cookie dough for up to three months. Once your dough balls have frozen, you will just transfer them to a freezer bag. You can bake a batch of cookies, from frozen any time you wish to have a fresh, hot cookie.

The frozen balls of dough can be removed from the cookie sheet and placed into a freezer ziplock bag. When ready to bake cookies, follow the directions above starting at step 10.

REHEATING: Whether you want a quick microwave option or prefer to use the oven for the perfect crispness, these easy reheating methods will help you enjoy that irresistible soft center and slightly crisp edge all over again.

Here’s how to do it right:

MICROWAVE: Place a cookie on a microwave-safe plate and heat it for 10-15 seconds. This will make the cookie warm and slightly soft, as if freshly baked.

OVEN: Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Place the cookies on a baking sheet and heat them for 5-8 minutes, or until they’re warmed through. This method preserves the texture, giving them a slightly crisp edge with a soft center.

If you want extra gooey cookies, try covering them loosely with aluminum foil while reheating in the oven to lock in moisture.

close up shot of M&M Christmas Cookies stacked on top of each other

Why We Love This Recipe

There are so many reasons to love these cookies.

FESTIVE APPEAL: These cookies are a delightful addition to any holiday celebration, thanks to the vibrant red and green M&M’s. They bring a pop of color and festive spirit to your dessert table.

SIMPLE TO MAKE: The recipe is beginner-friendly, with clear step-by-step instructions, making it accessible even for novice bakers. You can whip up a batch with ease and confidence.

CROWD PLEASING: The combination of soft, buttery cookie dough, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and M&M’s creates a classic cookie that appeals to both kids and adults. It’s a universally loved treat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use chocolate or peanut M&M’s for these cookies?

These homemade Christmas cookies are best using chocolate M&M’s instead of peanuts, but you can use either if you’d like.

There are also other flavors, including caramel and peanut butter, that would be yummy too.

Can I freeze these Christmas M&M cookies?

You can freeze these cookies in an airtight container for up to three months.

Do I have to chill the dough in this recipe?

Chilling the dough is an important step in this recipe so that these chocolate chip M&M Christmas cookies come out with the best texture.

Chewy M&M Christmas cookies are a fun and festive holiday cookie. They are perfect for holiday cookie exchanges or enjoying with a warm and cozy drink. They would even be a welcome treat when Santa comes to visit.

M&M Christmas Cookies

5 from 2 votes

Soft and chewy with red and green pops of festive colors make these M&M Christmas cookies the best holiday treat!

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 12

Total Time 4 22

Servings

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Ingredients

2½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup salted sweet cream butter, softened
¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
½ cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large egg, room temperature
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup red and green M&M’s, plus additional for tops of cookies

Instructions

Using a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and baking soda. Set it aside.
Using a stand mixer, or a medium-sized mixing bowl and a handheld mixer on medium-high speed, beat the softened butter for 1 minute.
Add the brown sugar and the granulated sugar, continue mixing for 1 to 1 ½ minutes.
Add the vanilla extract and egg. Continue mixing until completely combined.
Add the flour mixture and mix just until combined.
Fold in the chocolate chips and M&M’s.
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Using a 3 tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop out the cookie dough onto the prepared cookie sheet leaving just minimal space between the balls of cookie dough, just so they aren’t touching.
Place your sheet of cookie dough balls into the freezer so that it is flat with nothing on top that will flatten your cookie dough balls. Freeze your cookie dough balls for at least 30 minutes but can freeze up to overnight.
Preheat your oven to 350°F. While your oven is preheating , remove the sheet of frozen cookie dough balls. Prepare two other cookie sheets with parchment paper. Separate the frozen cookie dough balls onto the prepared cookie sheet (you can use the frozen sheet too!). Place the cookie dough balls 2 inches apart.
Bake the frozen cookie dough balls for 16 to 18 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the center of the cookie is just set.
When cookies are done, remove from the oven and being careful of the hot pan, place 6 to 8 extra M&Ms on top of each warm cookie gently pressing into the baked cookie.
Allow the cookies to rest on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Video

Notes

Make sure not to overmix the dough or your cookies will flatten out too much.
Lining your baking sheet with parchment paper will make for easy cleanup!
It’s best to add the additional M&M’s on top of the cookies after baking so they don’t bleed into the cookie dough.

Nutrition

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This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

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