If you are looking for some treats to bake this Christmas, try these Christmas M&M cookies that are easy to make and loaded with green and red M&M candy. These cookies are hard to resist so make sure to double the batch.
Table of Content
You don't need to be a kid to enjoy M&Ms right? So, be it for 5 or 50 this is a cookie recipe you definitely want to add to your holiday baking. Of course, in the spirit of Christmas, we only use the red and green M&Ms.
Why make these cookies?
- These cookies are adapted from my chocolate chip cookies, which have a soft and chewy texture, loaded with lots of sweet m&m candy.
- I am using an electric mixer (hand mixer) but you can also use a large bowl and whisk as well.
- And most of the ingredients are simple pantry staples or easy to find such as candy.
- Also, these can be made in just about 30 minutes from start to finish.
- This is a kids' favorite cookie, so make sure to double the recipe.
- In addition, they make perfect Christmas gifts to give family and friends during the holiday season. Once baked, and cooled completely, just wrap them in plastic and tie a pretty bowl.
- The process for these m&m Christmas cookies is also very simple and straightforward with no chilling time in between required. But if the dough is too soft, I highly recommend chilling for a few minutes before baking.
Ingredients and substitutions
- All-purpose flour - I use regular all-purpose flour with baking soda and salt. Baking soda gives it that wonderful light texture.
- Cornstarch - Also known as cornflour, adds a nice crisp to the cookies.
- Sugar - The light brown sugar keeps them soft but the white sugar makes them crisp giving this cookie a perfect texture.
- Spices - You can use cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin spice, or gingerbread spice. Today, I am not using any spices.
- Candy - I am using only the red and green m&m for this recipe to make it festive for the holidays but of course, you can use all colors just as well.
- Vanilla - You can use vanilla extract, bean paste, or vanilla sugar.
How to make Christmas M&M cookies
- Preheat the oven to 350°F / 177°C / Gas Mark 3. Line a large baking tray or 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Dry ingredients - In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt – Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, on medium speed, cream butter, and both white and brown sugars until almost light and fluffy.
Pro tip - It is important to cream until the sugar has almost dissolved. Otherwise, the cookies will not spread much. - Next, add the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract and flour mixture.
Pro tip - Once you add the flour, do not overmix as we do not want to activate the gluten in our flour.
- Finally, add the M&M candy and fold them into the dough with a spatula to prevent them from breaking.
Pro tip - This cookie dough can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to a month in freezer bags. - Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to drop balls of cookie dough onto the prepared baking tray leaving enough space for them to spread. Add a few additional M&Ms on top if desired.
- Bake for 10 to 12 mins or until the edges are lightly golden brown. Cool on a cookie tray for 5 minutes. Then, transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely before you save them to an airtight container or cookie jar.
Pro tip - I also like to add a few more M&Ms on top of the hot cookie.
M&M cookie variations
- Holiday - Use only the red and green holiday M&Ms for Christmas
- Classic - During the rest of the year, you can use all colors to make classic M&M cookies.
- 4th of July - Using only red, white, and blue M&Ms makes the perfect 4th of July cookies.
- Chocolate chips - Add a few white chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips to make chocolate chip M&M cookies.
- Cookie bars - Of course, you can spread all these cookie doughs into a 9 - 9-inch square baking pan and bake for 20 minutes to make M&M squares.
Tips for Success
- Always have all the ingredients at room temperature so the butter and sugars can cream until light and fluffy.
- If the cookie dough is too soft, put it in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Chilling the cookie dough will prevent spreading.
- Preheat the oven for a good 15 minutes making sure the oven is at the right temperature. A cold oven will spread the cookies too much.
- It is a good practice to place cookies in the fridge while the oven is preheating to prevent them from spreading.
- When baked, leave the cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Then, transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. This will prevent them from sweating on the bottom.
- If baking the cookie dough balls from frozen, add an additional 2 minutes to your baking time.
- Bake Ahead and Freezing Instructions
- Dough - You can freeze the dough for a month wrapped well in a ziplock bag. Then, thaw in the fridge overnight when ready to use.
- Unbaked cookies - And, you can also freeze the unbaked cookie dough balls in freezer bags. They will stay for up to a month.
- Baked cookies - Alternatively, freeze the baked cookies between parchment papers for up to 3 months and thaw in the fridge overnight when ready to use.
More holiday cookies
- White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies or White Chocolate Cranberry Bars
- Gingerbread Cookies Recipe or Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies
- Snickerdoodle Cookies Recipe or Snickerdoodle Bars
- Old Fashion Molasses Cookies or Ginger Molasses Cookies
- Gingersnap Cookies or Soft Ginger Cookies
- Christmas Spritz Cookies (No-fail Recipe)
- Stenciled Christmas Sugar Cookies - Video Tutorial
- See all cookie recipes or see all holiday cookies
How long will these Christmas M&M cookies keep?
These Christmas cookies will keep in an airtight container for up to a week. You can chill the cookies in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or you can also freeze the dough for up to 3 months or freeze the cookies for up to a month.
Can you freeze M&M cookies?
Yes, you can freeze the dough as well as the baked cookies.
- Dough - You can freeze the dough for a month wrapped well in a ziplock bag. Then, thaw in the fridge overnight when ready to use.
- Unbaked cookies - And, you can also freeze the unbaked cookie dough balls in freezer bags. They will stay for up to a month.
- Baked cookies - Alternatively, freeze the baked cookies between parchment papers for up to 3 months and thaw them in the fridge overnight when ready to use.
How do I prevent flat cookies?
The right oven temperature is vital for cookies. In particular, you want the cookie to melt, while at the same time, cooking quickly on the outside edges. And every cookie recipe comes with its own defined time and temperature, so it is essential to follow the recipe and guidelines.
Can I make eggless Christmas M&M cookies?
This recipe works best with eggs but you can use my eggless chocolate chip cookies and substitute all or half the chocolate chips with M&Ms.
Printable Recipe
Christmas M & M Cookies
Print Pin Rate Share by Email Share on FB Save GrowCalories: 253kcal
Adjust Servings Here: 12 cookies
Description
If you are looking for some treats to bake this Christmas, try these Christmas M&M cookies that are easy to make and loaded with green and red M&M candy. These cookies are hard to resist so make sure to double the batch.
Video
Conversions Used
1 lb = 453 grams, 1 cup = 240 ml, 1 stick = 113g, 1 tbsp= 15 ml, 1 tsp= 5 ml,
Ingredients
- 1 cup (227 g) Unsalted butter ( room temperature)
- ¾ cup (100 g) Brown sugar
- ¾ cup (110 g) White sugar
- 2 large Egg (large)
- 3 cups (375 g) All-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon Baking powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
- 2 cups (400 g) Red and Green M & M candy (divided)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F / 177°C / Gas Mark 3. Line a large baking tray or 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mat.
- Dry ingredients - In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt – Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, on medium speed, cream butter and both white and brown sugars until almost light and fluffy. Pro tip - It is important to cream until the sugar has almost dissolved otherwise the cookies will not spread much.
- Next, add the eggs one at a time followed by the vanilla extract and flour mixture. Pro tip - Once you add the flour, do not overmix as we do not want to activate the gluten in our flour.
- Finally, add the M&M candy and fold them into the dough with a spatula to prevent them from breaking. Pro tip - This cookie dough can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to a month in freezer bags.
- Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon drop balls of cookie dough onto the prepared baking tray leaving enough space for them to spread. Add a few additional M&Ms on top if desired.
- Bake for 10 to 12 mins or until the edges are lightly golden brown. Cool on a cookie tray for 5 minutes. Then, transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely before you save them to an airtight container or cookie jar.Pro tip - I also like to add a few more M&Ms on top of the hot cookie.
Recipe Notes & Tips
- Always have all the ingredients at room temperature so the butter and sugars can cream until light and fluffy.
- If the cookie dough is too soft, put it in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Chilling the cookie dough will prevent spreading
- Preheat the oven for a good 15 minutes making sure the oven is at the right temperature. A cold oven will spread the cookies too much.
- It is a good practice to place cookies in the fridge while the oven is preheating to prevent them from spreading.
- When baked leave the cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely. This will prevent them from sweating on the bottom.
- If baking the cookie dough balls from frozen, add an additional 2 minutes to your baking time.
Bake Ahead and Freezing Instructions
- Dough - You can freeze the dough for a month wrapped well in a ziplock bag. Then, thaw in the fridge overnight when ready to use.
- Unbaked cookies - And, you can also freeze the unbaked cookies dough balls in freezer bags. They will stay for up to a month.
- Baked cookies - Alternatively, freeze the baked cookies between parchment papers for up to 3 months and thaw in the fridge overnight when ready to use.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 253- kcalCarbohydrates: 34- gProtein: 3- gFat: 12- gSaturated Fat: 7- gCholesterol: 36- mgSodium: 187- mgPotassium: 41- mgFiber: 1- gSugar: 20- gVitamin A: 291- IUCalcium: 35- mgIron: 1- mg
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
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Katie Crenshaw
These cookies were fun to make and turn out delicious. They will make perfect Christmas cookies. I will be making these again soon.
Veena Azmanov
Thank you for the lovely feedback, Katie. Happy you enjoyed these cookies.