Description
These festive M&M Christmas Cookies are soft, chewy, and packed with colorful candy for a delightful holiday treat. Perfect for sharing with family and friends, these cookies combine a buttery cookie base with pockets of melty chocolate and crunchy M&M’s for a joyful bite every time.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Add-ins
- 1 cup M&M’s (plus a little more for the tops)
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until well combined. This ensures even leavening and seasoning throughout your cookies.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed to cream the softened butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. This step incorporates air for a tender texture.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Mix in the large egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated, creating a smooth, cohesive batter.
- Combine Dry and Wet Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, beating just until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies tender.
- Fold in Candies: Gently fold in the M&M’s and semi-sweet chocolate chips, taking care not to break the candies to maintain festive appearance and texture.
- Scoop the Dough: Using a medium cookie scoop or a tablespoon measure, scoop out about 2 tablespoon-sized balls of dough. Place them on the prepared baking sheet spaced a few inches apart. Optionally, roll the dough into smooth balls with your hands for even edges.
- Add Extra M&M’s: Press a few extra M&M’s on top of each dough ball for a colorful, festive look.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges start to lightly brown. The centers may look slightly undercooked but will set during cooling.
- Cool: Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps them firm up without becoming dry.
Notes
- Do not overbake to keep cookies soft and chewy.
- Softened butter is key for creaming with sugars properly.
- Using parchment paper or a silicone mat prevents sticking and promotes even baking.
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet before moving to avoid breaking.
- For crispier cookies, bake an extra 1-2 minutes but watch closely.
