These soft and puffy Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies are loaded with red and green candies, making them the perfect holiday treat. Make sure to make extra because they're Santa's favorite cookies!
Looking to get into the holiday spirit? Why not bake a batch of giant chocolate chip Christmas cookies, just like the ones you'd find in a bakery? It's the perfect way to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.
These cookies are thick, soft, and packed with chocolate chips and holiday M&M's. They are the perfect treat to leave by the tree for Santa.
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Why You'll Love These Holiday Chocolate Chip Cookies
There's something special about the giant cookies you find in bakeries. They're more than just cookies; they're an experience.
This year, we used red and green M&M candies to transform our thick chocolate chip cookies into a treat that says Merry Christmas. Grab a glass of milk and enjoy the best Christmas cookies!
- Fun holiday tradition. Baking cookies during the holiday season is a cherished tradition for many. It brings people together, sparks creativity, and adds a sweet touch to the festive atmosphere.
- Pop of color. The colorful festive candies make a delightful addition to the cookie balls, perfect for this time of year.
- No chilling the dough. The best part about this chocolate chip cookie recipe is that the dough can be immediately baked. No chill time is needed!
Main Ingredients
Most of the simple ingredients needed for this M&M Christmas cookies recipe are in your pantry. This makes it easy to make them at any time.
- Butter - Adds a rich flavor to the dough. We prefer to use unsalted butter to control the amount of salt in each recipe. Melted butter is also not recommended.
- Sugar - A mixture of granulated sugar and light brown sugar sweetens the dough. I like using brown sugar because the molasses keeps the cookies super soft.
- Eggs - Binds the ingredients together and also gives the dough moisture.
- Leavening - The combo of baking powder and baking soda allows the cookies to spread and puff simultaneously.
- All Purpose Flour - Stabilizes the dough and controls the thickness. Spoon and sweep to avoid adding too much flour to the dough.
- Semisweet Chocolate Chips - Any brand will work. You can also use white chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips.
- M&M's - Use the large and mini holiday candies for the best pop of color.
How to Make Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies
These holiday treats are similar to our chocolate chipper cookies. However, you will make bigger cookie dough balls and add extra toppings after baking them.
- Beat the butter and sugars in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and mix again.
- Slowly beat the dry ingredients into the butter mixture on low speed until a soft dough forms. Make sure to scrape the sides of the bowl while everything is mixing.
- Gently stir in the chocolate chips and candies, then scoop into 14 even balls onto the prepared baking sheet. Break each dough ball in half, then press the rough edges together, making one ball with the rough edges at the top.
- Bake in a preheated oven, then cool on the hot pan for a few minutes. Press a few extra candies and chips into the tops before moving to parchment paper on the counter.
BruCrew Tip: Add a little bit of flaky sea salt to the tops of the warm cookies. The sweet and salty flavor is true cookie perfection!
Storage Recommendations
On the Counter - Once the cookies are cooled completely, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for 4-5 days.
In the Freezer - You can freeze the baked cookies to keep them fresh longer. Wrap the individual cookies in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer container. Remove and thaw as needed.
Tips and Tricks
- Splurge on good quality ingredients for the best-tasting cookies.
- Use parchment paper or a Silpat to keep your cookies from sticking to the baking sheet.
- Customize your mix-ins. While chocolate chips and holiday M&M's are classic, feel free to get creative! Chopped nuts, toffee bits, or white chocolate chunks can add a delightful twist.
- Avoid over-packing the flour. Too much will result in a crumbly cookie.
- Add holiday sprinkles. Stir ¼ cup Christmas sprinkles in the dough for even more color.
- Do not overbake! They will look pale and slightly underdone with golden brown, buttery edges, but they will continue to bake in the hot pan. Slightly underbaked is the key to perfect cookies.
- Make them smaller! Divide the dough into 30 balls, top with the extras, then bake for 10-11 minutes.
FAQs
For uniform cookies, use an ice cream scoop or a cookie scoop. Weighing each dough ball also ensures consistency in size. This helps create those thick, puffy cookies.
Yes, get festive with your mix-ins! Crushed candy canes, festive sprinkles, or chopped Oreo cookies add a seasonal flair.
Scoop the chocolate chip cookie dough into 28 balls, then adjust the bake time to 9-10 minutes. Keep an eye on them and remove them when the edges are golden.
Absolutely! Just reduce the added salt in the recipe to maintain that perfect balance.
More Easy Christmas Cookies
- Snowball Cookies
- Peppermint Oreo Cookies
- Sugar Cookies
- Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies
- Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies
- White Chocolate Pomegranate Cookies
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Recipe
Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies
These soft and puffy Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies are loaded with red and green candies, making them the perfect holiday treat. Make sure to make extra because they're Santa's favorite cookies!
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened slightly*
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, cold
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon table salt
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 3 ½ cups all purpose flour (fluffed & spooned)
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips + extra
- 1 cup holiday M&M's + extra
- ½ cup mini holiday M&M's
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°. Line a baking sheet with a Silpat or parchment paper.
- Beat the butter and sugars until light and creamy. This will take around 3-4 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and mix in.
- Slowly mix in the dry ingredients until a soft dough forms.
- Gently stir in the chocolate chips and candies. Divide the dough into 15 even scoops, each weighing 3.5 ounces.
- Roll each one into a round ball. Break each dough ball in half and press the two pieces back together, making one ball with the rough edges at the top.
- Bake 5-6 at a time in the preheated oven for 11-12 minutes. (I like the texture best at 11 minutes.) Remove the pan from the oven and immediately swirl a large cup around the outside of each hot cookie to fix uneven edges.
- Let the cookies rest on the hot pan for 3-4 minutes before gently moving them to a sheet of parchment paper on the counter.
- Press a few extra chocolate chips and candies into the tops of the cookies while they are still warm. Let them cool completely before storing them in a container.
Notes
- Splurge on good quality ingredients for the best-tasting cookies.
- Do not use room-temperature butter. When making this dough, start with slightly cold butter. Set it out for 20-30 minutes before making the dough. This will keep the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
- Use parchment paper or a Silpat to keep your cookies from sticking to the baking sheet.
- Customize your mix-ins. While chocolate chips and holiday M&M's are classic, feel free to get creative! Chopped nuts, toffee bits, or white chocolate chunks can add a delightful twist.
- Measure ingredients properly. Too much flour will result in a crumbly cookie. Fluff the flour, then use a spoon to fill your measuring cup. Do not pack or shake. Use the flat edge of a knife to level off the cup. (1 cup of fluffed and spooned flour = 114 grams or 4 oz.)
- Add holiday sprinkles. Stir ¼ cup Christmas sprinkles in the dough for even more color.
- Do not overbake! They will look pale and slightly underdone with golden brown, buttery edges, but they will continue to bake in the hot pan. Slightly underbaked is the key to perfect cookies.
- Make them smaller! Divide the dough into 30 balls, top with the extras, then bake for 10-11 minutes.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 15 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 425Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 224mgCarbohydrates: 59gFiber: 2gSugar: 34gProtein: 5g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
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