These candy Christmas cookies are fun and festive with crushed red and green candy over each cookie. Kids love candy, so this cookie gets kids' attention immediately. You can add as much or as little candy as you like. A simple and easy butter dough recipe that just melts in the mouth. These are highly addictive so make sure to keep some extra in the cookie jar.
Table of Content
Last week, Aadi wanted to take some fun cookies with him to school. He chose to bring Christmas cookies but he insisted that it has some red and green. Honestly, I was planning to make just my popular Chocolate chip cookies but since I had some red and green candy lying around I decided to give that recipe a little twist and make these candy Christmas cookies instead.
You can add some chocolate chips to the cookies as well, but I wanted to keep the sugar in check or I'd have some really hyper children running around. Notice in the video recipe I have not even used candy inside the dough. Just spread all the candy on top because obviously, the kids want to see candy.
Personally, I would not add to much candy for my kids so I decided to just sprinkle the candy on top. Having said that Christmas comes once in a year so feel free to throw as many as you like in the mix.
Ingredients and substitutes
- All-purpose flour - yes, plain flour works great for this recipe. The amount of flour in the recipe will contribute towards how dense the cookies will so make sure to measure the ingredients correctly.
- Egg - Always use large size eggs when baking unless specified. The size of eggs varies significantly these days so as a guide on large eggs weighs between 50 to 60 grams
- Vanilla - A good quality vanilla will make a huge difference in anything you make. Premium vanilla can be expensive which is why I make my own homemade vanilla extract, bean paste or sugar.
- Brown sugar - The molasses in the brown sugar contributes to the soft texture. You can add dark brown sugar as well but the cookies get deeper in color as well. I like a nice light brown cookie.
- Candy - I'm using my son's favorite candy in red and green. They look similar to the M&M candy but these are not. Honestly, any candy will work as long as you like eating it.
Step by step instructions
- Preheat the oven at 180 C / 356 F.
- Combine dry ingredients - Flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda - Set aside.
- Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add vanilla followed by the egg.
- Mix for two minutes until light and fluffy again.
- Add flour mixture and combine well.
- Use a cookie scooper to scoop dough onto a cookie sheet.
- Sprinkle crushed candy over each cookie
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes until lightly golden on the bottom.
- Leave on the baking tray for 5 minutes then.
- Cool on a wire rack completely before you store in the cookie jar.
- These cookies will stay good for up to two weeks on the counter.
Frequently asked questions
These lemon cookies will keep in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. You can freeze the dough for up to a month or freeze the cookies for up to three months.
These will spread a bit but should not spread too much.
Too much butter or sugar in the recipe can lead to cookies spreading.
Too much baking powder or baking soda can also make cookies spread too much.
Also, chill the cookie dough before rolling the cookies.
Place cookies on a cold, not hot baking pan.
And make sure the oven is at the right temperature.
It is always a good practice to refrigerate cookies while the oven is preheating. But these cookies can be baked right away.
These lemon cookies have a good shelf life as a dough as well as cookies.
The dough, if wrapped well, can usually stay in the fridge for 5 to 6 days before rolling and baking.
And you can even cover the cookies and place them on a parchment-lined tray, wrapped well with cling wrap, for about 3 to 4 days.
In addition, sugar cookies dough can be frozen for a month or more if covered well.
Hence, it's a great dough to have on hand in the freezer during the busy festive season.
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Printable Recipe
Candy Christmas Cookies
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Video
Conversions Used
1 lb = 453 grams, 1 cup = 240 ml, 1 stick = 113g, 1 tbsp= 15 ml, 1 tsp= 5 ml,
Ingredients
- 113 grams (0.5 cups) Unsalted butter ((1 stick) room temperature)
- 110 grams (0.5 cups) Light brown sugar
- 1 (1) Egg (large)
- 128 grams (1.00 cups) All-purpose flour
- 1 tsp (1 teaspoon) Baking soda
- ½ tsp (0.5 teaspoon) Baking powder
- ¼ tsp (0.25 teaspoon) Salt
- 2 teaspoon (2 teaspoon) Vanilla Extract
- 100 grams (1 cups) Crushed Candy (red and green)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven at 180 C / 356 F.
- Combine flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda - Set aside.
- Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add vanilla followed by the egg.
- Mix for two minutes until light and fluffy again.
- Add flour mixture and combine well.
- Use a cookie scooper to scoop dough onto a cookie sheet.
- Sprinkle remaining crushed candy on each cookie.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes until lightly golden on the bottom.
- Leave on the baking tray for 5 minutes then
- Cool on a wire rack completely before you store in the cookie jar
- These cookies will stay good for up to two weeks on the counter.
Nutrition Information
The nutrition information and metric conversion are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee its accuracy. If this data is important to you please verify with your trusted nutrition calculator. Thank you
Natalie
These cookies look adorable! Perfect for holiday season ♥
Veena Azmanov
Thanks, Natalie
Ellen
So festive for the holidays. I bet they were a hit with the kids.
Veena Azmanov
They were definitely a big hit here Ellen.
Marisa
What a fun and sweet way to celebrate Christmas. Love these!
Veena Azmanov
THanks, Marisa.
ali randall
This recipe looks simple to make and I bet I would have to make two batches as they would disappear quickly. Love this for the holidays and any cookie exchange.
Veena Azmanov
Thanks Ali. Yes, I have to often make more cookies because these are gone instantly.
Ron
These are definitely the perfect Christmas candy cookies. My kids loved it. And they looked so pretty in the Cookie jar during Christmas.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you Ron. So happy you had success with this recipe and that you enjoyed these so much. Thank you for coming back to write this feedback. Appreciate it very much. I love hearing from those who try my recipes.