Name: Santa’s Mix-In Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup (227 g) butter; 1 cup (220 g) packed brown sugar; ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar; 2 large eggs; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; ½ teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon salt; 3 cups (420 g) all-purpose flour; ¾ cup (125 g) M&M’s; ½ cup (85 g) peanut butter chips; ½ cup (25 g) potato chips; ½ cup (40 g) broken pretzels; Flaked sea salt for sprinkling

If you’re on the hunt for a cookie recipe that’s bursting with fun flavors and textures, you’re in the right place. I’m excited to share my Santa’s Mix-In Cookies Recipe with you — a festive, crowd-pleasing treat that’s as colorful as it is delicious. When I first tried this recipe, I couldn’t believe how all those mix-ins came together to create something truly magical. Whether you’re shopping your pantry or aiming to impress your holiday guests, these cookies have got you covered!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Playful Mix of Textures: The combination of M&M’s, peanut butter chips, pretzels, and potato chips gives each bite a delightful crunch and chewiness.
Beginner-Friendly: You don’t need to be a pro baker — the steps are straightforward and foolproof when you follow my tips.
Perfect for Gifting: These cookies look beautiful with the mix-ins peeking through and the flaked sea salt on top adds a gourmet touch.
Flexible and Fun: Feel free to swap in your favorite mix-ins – this recipe loves a creative twist!

The image shows eleven round cookies arranged in a triangle shape on white parchment paper on a dark baking tray. Each cookie has a light beige base with a soft texture. They are topped with red and green candy pieces, small broken pretzel shapes in golden brown, and light beige ridged potato chip pieces. Some cookies have light sprinkles of salt on top. The baking tray sits on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Santa's Mix-In Cookies, holiday cookie recipe, festive cookie ideas, fun cookie recipes, easy Christmas cookies

Ingredients You’ll Need

The magic here really is in how the ingredients come together. You’ve got a rich buttery dough paired with sweet and salty chunks that keep things interesting in every bite. I always recommend using fresh, good-quality butter and mixing the dry ingredients carefully to get the perfect cookie texture.

Flat lay of a large slab of creamy butter, two large whole brown eggs with clean shells, a small white bowl of golden packed brown sugar, another small white bowl filled with fine white granulated sugar, a small white bowl containing light amber vanilla extract, a small pile of fine white baking powder, a tiny heap of baking soda, a pinch of white salt crystals, a mound of all-purpose flour, a scattering of colorful m&m's, a small pile of peanut butter chips, a small pile of crinkled potato chips, a cluster of broken pretzel pieces, and a few flakes of coarse sea salt arranged artfully on simple white ceramic dishes, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997 - Santa's Mix-In Cookies, holiday cookie recipe, festive cookie ideas, fun cookie recipes, easy Christmas cookies

Butter: Unsalted, softened butter helps you control the salt level and creates a tender crumb.
Brown Sugar: Packed for moisture and a hint of caramel flavor, it keeps these cookies chewy.
Granulated Sugar: Adds just the right amount of sweetness and helps with spreading.
Eggs: They bind everything together and give great structure.
Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla makes all the flavors pop peacefully.
Baking Powder and Baking Soda: This dynamic duo gives your cookies lift and softness.
Salt: Balances sweetness perfectly; I like a pinch in the dough plus flaked sea salt on top.
All-Purpose Flour: The sturdy base that holds your mix-ins perfectly.
M&M’s: For festive color and chocolatey surprise inside every cookie.
Peanut Butter Chips: The creamy, nutty flavor complements the chocolate and salty chips.
Potato Chips: Adds an unexpected, crispy salty twist that I love.
Broken Pretzels: Crunchy pieces add texture and a hint of saltiness, boosting flavor complexity.
Flaked Sea Salt: Used as a finishing touch to elevate the sweet and salty contrast.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

One of the things I adore about the Santa’s Mix-In Cookies Recipe is how adaptable it is. I often tweak the mix-ins depending on what I have or what mood I’m in. Don’t be shy about switching things up or even tailoring it to dietary needs!

No-Nut Variation: Replace peanut butter chips with white chocolate chips or extra M&M’s to keep the festive feel without any nut allergy worries—I’ve done this for office parties with great success.
Double Chocolate Twist: Add cocoa powder to the dough and swap M&M’s for chocolate chips for a richer cookie experience that my kids can’t get enough of.
Vegan Version: Use vegan butter and egg substitutes like flax eggs; though I recommend adding a bit more time in the oven since vegan dough sometimes needs it.
Seasonal Themes: Swap pretzels or potato chips with crushed candy canes or walnuts during winter holidays—it adds a festive crunch.

How to Make Santa’s Mix-In Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Cream Your Butter and Sugars to Perfection

Start by preheating your oven to 365°F and lining two baking sheets with parchment paper — this makes cleanup so much easier! Next, in your stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the softened butter with both the brown and granulated sugars on medium-high speed until the mixture turns light and fluffy. This usually takes about 3 to 4 minutes. I learned that patience here pays off big time — the fluffier, the better for cookie texture!

Step 2: Add Your Eggs and Vanilla

Once your butter and sugar mixture looks airy and smooth, add in the eggs one at a time, mixing until fully combined before adding the next. Then, stir in the vanilla extract. This step builds flavor and binds your dough perfectly.

Step 3: Incorporate Dry Ingredients Slowly

Now, whisk together baking powder, baking soda, salt, and flour in a separate bowl. Slowly add this dry mixture to your wet ingredients, mixing just until you still see some flour streaks. I want to be honest here: over-mixing can make cookies tough, so it’s better to under-mix slightly. Your dough should still look soft and slightly crumbly.

Step 4: Fold in All the Fun Mix-Ins

This is my favorite part! Carefully fold in the M&M’s, peanut butter chips, potato chips, and broken pretzels. I like folding gently to keep the chips and pretzels nice and crunchy rather than breaking them down too much.

Step 5: Scoop, Sprinkle, and Bake

Using a ¼ cup cookie scoop or ice cream scoop, drop 6 to 8 large dough balls onto each prepared baking sheet, leaving enough space since these cookies spread a bit. Add a few extra M&M’s or chips on top of each ball and lightly sprinkle with flaked sea salt. Pop them in the oven for 11 to 14 minutes, or until the edges are a nice golden brown and the center looks slightly glossy. If your cookies spread out unevenly, I like to gently nudge in those wider edges with a spatula to keep them looking neat and round.

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Pro Tips for Making Santa’s Mix-In Cookies Recipe

Measure Flour Correctly: I discovered spoons-and-level method or weighing your flour in grams really helps avoid dense cookies.
Don’t Overmix Dough: Stopping when you still see some flour is key to keeping cookies tender and soft.
Add Mix-Ins Gently: Folding keeps pretzels and chips crunchy instead of crushed into crumbs.
Watch Your Baking Time: The glossy center means they’re perfectly soft inside; don’t overbake or they dry out.

How to Serve Santa’s Mix-In Cookies Recipe

The image shows a close-up of seven soft, round cookies sitting directly on white parchment paper over a white marbled surface. Each cookie has a light golden beige dough base with visible rough and chewy texture. Mixed into the dough are bright red and green candy-coated chocolate pieces scattered throughout. On top, there are crunchy pretzel pieces and wavy potato chip slices, both golden brown, delicately pressed into the cookie surface. A few colorful candy pieces have also fallen around the cookies on the parchment paper. The scene is brightly lit, showing the chewy and crunchy contrast of the cookie toppings. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Santa's Mix-In Cookies, holiday cookie recipe, festive cookie ideas, fun cookie recipes, easy Christmas cookies

Garnishes

I always sprinkle my freshly baked cookies with a pinch of flaked sea salt before serving—it really elevates all the sweet and salty notes. Sometimes during the holidays, I add a little extra blush of colored sugar on top of some cookies to make them extra festive and fun.

Side Dishes

These cookies are great with a cold glass of milk or a warm cup of coffee. I especially love pairing them with a simple vanilla ice cream during holiday gatherings — the melty ice cream alongside the crunchy mix-ins? Absolute bliss.

Creative Ways to Present

If you’re bringing these to a party or giving as gifts, I like arranging them in festive tins with tissue paper or stacking them between parchment to keep things neat. Another favorite trick: stack them with a little ribbon tied around for an adorable homemade gift that always impresses.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover Santa’s Mix-In Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay perfectly soft for up to 4 days, though if you like them a bit crispier, popping them in an open container for a few hours does the trick.

Freezing

Freezing these cookies is a great way to enjoy them later! I freeze baked cookies separated by parchment paper in a freezer-safe container. When you’re ready, just thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes — they taste nearly as fresh as day one!

Reheating

If you want that just-baked warm cookie feeling, I recommend reheating leftovers in a preheated oven at 300°F for about 5 minutes. This revives the crunch on the edges while keeping the center soft and gooey.

FAQs

Can I substitute the mix-ins in Santa’s Mix-In Cookies Recipe?

Absolutely! One of the best parts about this recipe is its flexibility. Feel free to swap M&M’s for chocolate chips, switch peanut butter chips for white chocolate, or even add chopped nuts. Just keep about the same quantity of mix-ins to maintain balance in texture and flavor.
How do I prevent the cookies from spreading too much?

Great question! Make sure to measure your flour correctly — not too little. Also, chilling your dough for 30 minutes before baking can help cookies hold their shape better. Using parchment paper instead of greasing the pan also controls spreading.
What’s the secret to soft but crunchy texture in Santa’s Mix-In Cookies Recipe?

The mix of salty crunch (pretzels, chips) and soft dough yields that perfect contrast. Also, baking until edges are golden but centers remain slightly glossy makes sure the cookie stays chewy inside while crisp outside.
Can I make this recipe vegan or gluten-free?

Yes! For vegan, swap butter for plant-based butter and eggs for flax eggs or similar substitutes. For gluten-free, use a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour blend. Keep in mind bake times might vary slightly.

Final Thoughts

Santa’s Mix-In Cookies Recipe is one of those gems that brings so much joy and flavor to holiday gatherings or anytime you want a treat that’s a little bit unexpected. I love how each bite surprises you with salty crunch and sweet chocolate – it’s become a family favorite I can’t wait to share every season. I promise, once you give these a try using my tips, you’ll be adding them to your “go-to” list just like I did. Go on, whip up a batch and treat yourself (and your loved ones!) to some sweet and salty holiday magic.