Soft, chewy, buttery cookies loaded with festive red-and-green M&Ms — the ultimate Christmas classic.
If you could capture holiday joy inside a cookie, it would look exactly like these soft and chewy M&M Christmas Cookies. They’re buttery, thick, colorful, and packed with melty chocolate chips plus crunchy holiday M&Ms. The edges are lightly crisp, the centers stay soft for days, and every bite is pure nostalgic comfort.
These cookies are perfect for cookie exchanges, Christmas movie nights, gifting, or leaving out for Santa. They’re quick, easy, and always, always a crowd-pleaser.
Let’s bake the most cheerful cookies of the season. 🎄✨
🍪 Tools You’ll Need for M&M Christmas Cookies
A few simple tools make these cookies thick, soft, and perfectly shaped:
⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Soft, thick, bakery-style cookies
- Loaded with holiday M&Ms + chocolate chips
- Festive, colorful, and kid-approved
- No chilling required
- Perfect for gifting + cookie trays
- Stay soft for 3–4 days
🥣 Ingredients (with notes)
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg + 1 egg yolk — extra yolk = extra chewiness
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup holiday M&Ms
- ½ cup chocolate chips (optional but recommended)
🍪 Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Preheat
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Line trays with parchment.
2. Whisk dry ingredients
Flour, baking soda, salt.
3. Cream butter + sugars
Beat until light and fluffy, 1–2 minutes.
4. Add eggs + vanilla
Mix in the egg, then the egg yolk, then vanilla.
5. Add dry ingredients
Mix until dough forms.
6. Add mix-ins
Fold in M&Ms and chocolate chips.
Reserve a few M&Ms for topping.
7. Scoop & shape
Scoop 1.5 tbsp portions.
Press a few extra M&Ms on top.
8. Bake
Bake 9–11 minutes until edges set but centers look soft.
9. Cool
Let cookies rest 5 minutes before transferring.
🌟 Pro Tips for Success
- Press M&Ms on top before baking for the prettiest cookies.
- Underbake slightly for soft centers.
- Add extra yolk for super chewy cookies.
- Use room temperature butter — not melted.
- If dough seems too soft, chill 10 minutes.
🎨 Variations
- Double Chocolate M&M Cookies: add ¼ cup cocoa powder
- Peanut M&M Christmas Cookies: use peanut M&Ms
- White Chocolate Version: replace chocolate chips with white chocolate
- Big Bakery Cookies: use 3 tbsp dough per cookie and bake 12–14 min
🧊 Storage + Make-Ahead Tips
- Room temp: 4–5 days
- Freeze dough balls: up to 2 months
- Bake from frozen: add 1–2 minutes
- Freeze baked cookies: 2 months
M&M Christmas Cookies
Soft, thick, chewy M&M Christmas cookies loaded with festive red-and-green M&Ms and melty chocolate chips.
- 2 ¼ cups flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup butter
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup white sugar
- 1 egg + 1 yolk
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup M&Ms
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Whisk dry ingredients.
- Cream butter and sugars.
- Add egg, yolk, vanilla.
- Add dry ingredients.
- Fold in M&Ms and chocolate chips.
- Scoop and bake 9–11 minutes.
- Cool 5 minutes.
❓ FAQ
Why did my cookies spread?
Butter was too soft — chill dough 10 minutes next time.
Why aren’t my cookies soft?
Overbaked. Remove when centers still look slightly gooey.
Can I use mini M&Ms?
Yes! They distribute beautifully.
