Christmas M&M Cookies (Soft-Baked, Chewy, Holiday Perfect!)

Thank you so much for stopping by my cozy holiday kitchen today! Truly — it means the world that you’re here, especially during the busiest, sparkliest, most cookie-filled season of the year. I’ve been saving this recipe just for you, because if there’s ONE cookie that makes my heart swell with nostalgia, it’s these Christmas M&M Cookies. They’re the kind of soft, chewy, chocolate-studded beauties that make kids beam, adults melt, and even the grinch-iest of guests ask for seconds.

And hey — if you love festive treats as much as I do, make sure to subscribe so you never miss a single delicious recipe from me. Now let’s bake something merry!

Overview of the Recipe

These Christmas M&M Cookies are soft, thick, buttery, and packed with red-and-green M&M’s that make them instantly holiday-ready. They’re perfect for cookie exchanges, Christmas Eve dessert trays, snowy movie nights, or wrapping in cellophane for the sweetest edible gifts.

What Makes These Cookies Special

• Soft centers + slightly crisp edges (pure cookie perfection)
• Packed with holiday M&M’s
• Ready in under 30 minutes
• Stay soft for DAYS
• Freezer-friendly
• Zero chill time required (unless you like extra thick cookies)
• Festive, bright, cheerful — holiday magic in every bite

What They Taste Like

Imagine biting into a warm, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth sugar cookie — but better. Vanillay, rich, soft as a pillow, dotted with crunchy, melty pops of M&M chocolate. They taste like childhood, Christmas lights, and holiday joy.

Seasonal Relevance

A must-have for:

• Classroom treats
• Cookie swaps
• Christmas dessert tables
• Holiday gifting
• Santa’s cookie plate (he loves the M&M crunch — I asked )

Ingredients

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Here’s everything you need:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1½ cups Christmas M&M’s (plus extra for topping)
• ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips (optional but recommended)

Tools Needed

• Mixing bowl
• Hand mixer or stand mixer
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• Cookie scoop
• Cooling rack

Suggested Substitutions + Additions

• Switch Christmas M&M’s for peanut M&M’s for crunch
• Add white chocolate chips for extra holiday color
• Swap half the butter for brown butter for deeper flavor
• Add ½ teaspoon almond extract for bakery sweetness
• For gluten-free: use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend

How to Make Christmas M&M Cookies

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Let’s bake this magic step by step, just like we’re in the kitchen together — Christmas music playing, oven warming, cocoa simmering.

Step 1 — Preheat and Prep

Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2 — Cream the Butter and Sugars

Beat softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy — about 2–3 minutes.
This gives the cookies their soft, thick texture. Don’t skip!

Step 3 — Add Eggs + Vanilla

Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla.
You’ll smell Christmas coming together already.

Step 4 — Mix Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

Step 5 — Combine

Add dry ingredients into the wet mix. Stir until just combined — no overmixing!

Step 6 — Fold in M&M’s

Fold in the M&M’s and optional chocolate chips.
I always add a few extra because… why not?

Step 7 — Scoop + Bake

Scoop about 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie.
Press extra M&M’s on top — this is the secret to bakery-style looks.

Bake for 10–11 minutes, until edges are lightly golden.

Step 8 — Cool + Enjoy

Let cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack.
Try one warm. Trust me.

What to Serve with Christmas M&M Cookies

• Hot cocoa piled with whipped cream
• Eggnog (spiked or not!)
• Holiday coffee drinks
• Vanilla ice cream
• Peppermint tea

They also shine beautifully on dessert boards next to:

• Fudge
• Peppermint bark
• Gingerbread bars

Tips for Making Them Perfect

• Underbake slightly — cookies continue cooking on the tray
• Add extra M&M’s on top before baking for beauty
• For extra thick cookies, refrigerate dough for 30 minutes
• Use room-temp butter, not melted
• Press cookies gently right after baking for a chewy texture

Storage Instructions

Room Temperature:
Store in airtight container up to 5 days (they stay soft — miracle.)

Freezer (Dough):
Freeze scoops of dough up to 3 months. Bake from frozen +2 minutes.

Freezer (Baked Cookies):
Freeze baked cookies up to 3 months.

General Information

Christmas M&M Cookies go back to childhood bake sales, church kitchens, and those classic Toll House-style cookies moms made in the ‘90s. Adding festive M&M’s became a staple of American Christmas baking — quick, easy, colorful, nostalgic.

I used to make these with my aunt every December. She’d let me sort the M&M’s into red and green piles (still satisfying). There’s just something magical about these cookies — they feel like Christmas morning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I use mini M&M’s?

Yes! They give an even distribution of chocolate.

2. Why did my cookies spread too much?

Butter may have been too warm. Chill dough 20 minutes.

3. Can I double the recipe?

Absolutely — and you should.

4. Can I make them gluten-free?

Yes, use a gluten-free 1:1 baking flour.

5. Why press extra M&M’s on top?

It makes the cookies look bakery-perfect.

Conclusion

These Christmas M&M Cookies shine with holiday cheer, kid-like joy, and buttery perfection. Whether you’re baking for Santa, a cookie exchange, or simply a cozy night in, these cookies will absolutely win hearts.

If you want more delicious sweets, try these Poulef favorites:

• https://poulef.com/easy-chocolate-chip-quickbread/

And don’t forget — follow me on Pinterest for more holiday baking joy:
👉 https://www.pinterest.com/poulefrecipe/

Happy baking, my friend! 🎄❤️

Nutritional Info (Approx. per cookie)

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	210
Protein	2g
Carbs	27g
Sugar	18g
Fat	10g
Saturated Fat	6g
Sodium	120mg

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