If you are looking for some treats to bake this Christmas, try these easy-to-make Christmas M&M cookies loaded with green and red M&M candy. These cookies are hard to resist, so make sure to double the batch.
These Christmas M&M cookies are the one recipe my kids never outgrew. When they were little, they’d dig through the bowl picking out only the red and green M&Ms “for Christmas spirit,” and now, even as teenagers, they still argue about who gets the cookies with the most candies. It’s funny how something this simple has stayed part of our holiday baking every single year — no effort, no fuss, just classic cookies that always make everyone smile.
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 a whisk.
- 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 bow.
- 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 it 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’s 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.
Step-by-step: How to make Christmas M&M cookies
- Prep – Preheat the oven to 350°F / 177°C / Gas Mark 3. Line a large baking tray or two 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.
- Cookie dough – 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. Next, add the eggs, one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract and flour mixture.
- Additions – Finally, add the M&M candies 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. - Scoop – Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to drop balls of cookie dough onto the prepared baking tray, leaving enough space to spread. Add a few additional M&Ms on top if desired.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes 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.
Frequently asked questions
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.
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.
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.
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.
Video
Ingredients
- 3 cups (375 g) All-purpose flour
- 1 tsp Baking soda
- ¼ tsp Baking powder
- ½ tsp Salt
- 1 cup (227 g) Unsalted butter room temperature
- ½ cup (110 g) Granulated sugar
- 1 cup (100 g) Brown sugar
- 2 large Egg
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 cup (400 g) Red and Green M & M candy divided
- ½ cup Chocolate chips semi-sweet
Method
- Prep – 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.3 cups All-purpose flour, 1 tsp Baking soda, ¼ tsp Baking powder, ½ tsp Salt
- Cookie dough – 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. Next, add the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract and flour mixture.1 cup Unsalted butter, ½ cup Granulated sugar, 1 cup Brown sugar, 2 large Egg, 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- Additions – Finally, add the M&M candies and fold them into the dough with a spatula to prevent them from breaking. You can add chocolate chips as well.1 cup Red and Green M & M candy, ½ cup Chocolate chips
- Scoop – Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to drop cookie dough balls onto the prepared baking tray, leaving enough space 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.
Notes
- 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.
Equipment you will need
Nutrition
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Hi, I’m Veena
I’m the recipe developer, baker, and food photographer behind Veena Azmanov Kitchen.
I’ve spent years developing and testing recipes, from everyday meals and homemade breads to cakes and desserts.
I share the practical tips and little details I’ve learned along the way so you can get great results in your own kitchen.
These cookies were fun to make and turn out delicious. They will make perfect Christmas cookies. I will be making these again soon.
Thank you for the lovely feedback, Katie. Happy you enjoyed these cookies.
Such a classic recipe for the holidays! So festive and always a huge hit with family and friends!
These are so festive and perfect for Christmas! They are delicious and soft. I froze some for Christmas, but every day I’m so tempted to defrost them and eat them. I can’t wait!
I am so happy to hear that, Annie. Thank you for the lovely feedback. I have currently frozen some of my Christmas platter too.
These Holiday cookies were great. I always get a little nervous when any recipe says “BEST EVER,” but these were wonderful, and I am so glad I made them—great recipe with great instructions. Happy Holidays!
Ah, I am so happy to hear that. My kids love these cookies and the BEST EVER comes from them. I am happy to hear you agree.
My grandkids would LOVE these! They’re perfect for the holidays, and sounds like the kind of cookie they love best!
Delicious and easy cookies recipe to make for Christmas.
My kids will definitely love this. Yum!