Description
These festive Red and Green M&M Christmas Cookies are soft, chewy, and bursting with colorful holiday spirit. Featuring a classic sugar cookie dough studded with vibrant red and green M&M candies, these cookies are perfect for sharing during Christmas celebrations or gifting to loved ones. Easy to prepare and bake, they offer a delightful balance of buttery sweetness and chocolate crunch.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Mix-ins and Toppings
- 1 ½ cups red and green M&Ms, divided (1 cup mixed into dough, ½ cup pressed on tops)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the softened butter until smooth. Add the granulated sugar and brown sugar, and continue beating until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Incorporate the egg and pure vanilla extract into the butter-sugar mixture, beating again until fully combined and smooth.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and salt.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring just until all components are incorporated. Avoid overmixing to keep cookies tender. Fold in 1 cup of the red and green M&Ms to distribute evenly in the dough.
- Shape Cookies: Using a cookie scoop or your hands, form approximately 1.5-inch diameter balls of dough. Place six cookie balls spaced apart on the prepared baking sheet to allow room for spreading.
- Add Toppings: Press 6 to 8 remaining M&Ms gently on top of each cookie ball for a festive, colorful appearance.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges start to turn a light golden color. Take care not to overbake to maintain a soft center.
- Cool: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies cool on the pan for about 5 minutes. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely, allowing the cookies to set properly.
Notes
- Serve cookies immediately for best freshness or store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days.
- Make sure the butter is softened but not melted for optimal dough texture.
- Do not overbake; cookies will continue to firm up slightly as they cool.
- You can substitute M&Ms with other festive colored candies if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 11g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 17g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1.5g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
