Name: Chewy M&M Christmas Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 9 min
Total time: 29 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1½ cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking powder; ½ teaspoon baking soda; ¼ teaspoon salt; ½ cup unsalted butter (softened but still cool); ½ cup granulated sugar; ⅓ cup brown sugar (lightly packed, fresh and soft); 1 large egg; 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 1½ cups M&M’s or a mixture of M&M’s and chocolate chips (divided); ¼ cup holiday sprinkles

If you’re looking for a festive treat that hits all the right notes—soft, chewy, colorful, and fun—this Chewy M&M Christmas Cookies Recipe is an absolute home run. I absolutely love how these cookies come out every holiday season: perfectly chewy with bursts of chocolate and those iconic M&M crunches, plus a sprinkle of holiday magic. Keep reading because I’m sharing all my favorite tips to make sure your batch turns out as amazing as mine always does!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Perfect Chewiness: The balance of brown and granulated sugars keeps these cookies soft and chewy every single time.
Festive and Fun: Holiday sprinkles combined with red and green M&Ms make these cookies a visual hit at any Christmas gathering.
Easy to Make: Straightforward ingredients and a quick prep mean you can whip these up anytime you need a last-minute holiday treat.
Customizable: You can easily swap out M&Ms for chocolate chips, white chocolate, or even nuts to suit your taste.

A stack of three cookies is shown on a white marbled surface. The bottom cookie is whole, round, and light golden brown with bright red and green candy pieces visible in its dough. On top, two cookies are broken in half, showing a soft inside with small chocolate pieces and colorful candy sprinkles in red and green on the top. The sprinkles are scattered on and around the cookies, adding a festive look. The focus is close-up, making the texture and colors clear. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Chewy M&M Christmas Cookies, festive holiday cookies, easy Christmas cookie recipes, colorful holiday treats, soft chewy cookie ideas

Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe uses classic cookie ingredients with a few fun touches that bring out holiday vibes. I always recommend fresh brown sugar for that deep molasses flavor and good quality vanilla extract—it makes a difference. And the M&Ms? Those are your festive stars!

Flat lay of a small mound of all purpose flour on a simple white ceramic plate, a small white bowl filled with light brown soft brown sugar, a small white bowl with granulated white sugar, a whole large brown egg with a clean shell, a few pale yellow cubes of unsalted butter, a small white bowl of pure vanilla extract, a small white bowl of colorful M&M's candies, a small white bowl of red, green, and white holiday sprinkles, a small white bowl with baking powder, a small white bowl with baking soda, a small white bowl with salt, all arranged in perfect symmetry and balanced proportions, 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 - Chewy M&M Christmas Cookies, festive holiday cookies, easy Christmas cookie recipes, colorful holiday treats, soft chewy cookie ideas

All-purpose flour: Make sure you spoon and level the flour for accuracy; this keeps your cookies from turning out too dense.
Baking powder & baking soda: These leavening agents help give your cookies a nice lift while keeping them chewy.
Salt: Just a pinch to balance out the sweetness and boost flavors.
Unsalted butter: I use room temperature but still cool butter for easier creaming with the sugars.
Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness and a bit of crunch.
Brown sugar: Makes a huge difference in chewiness and flavor; always keep your brown sugar soft and fresh.
Egg: The glue that holds everything together and adds moisture.
Pure vanilla extract: This adds richness and warms up the cookie flavor.
M&M’s and/or chocolate chips: I love mixing these—1 cup folded in, then more pressed on top for extra colorful goodness.
Holiday sprinkles: For that festive final touch right before baking.

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

I love playing around with this Chewy M&M Christmas Cookies Recipe depending on the crowd and occasion. Feel free to experiment—you’ll find it’s pretty forgiving and fun that way.

Gluten-Free Option: I’ve swapped in a gluten-free all-purpose blend with great success when I bake for friends with sensitivities.
Peanut Butter Twist: Adding a half cup of creamy peanut butter to the dough adds richness and a new flavor profile that my family absolutely adores.
Chocolate Lover’s Version: Use all chocolate chips instead of M&Ms and toss in some chopped nuts for extra texture.
Vegan Variation: Try using vegan butter, a flax egg, and vegan chocolate chips for a cruelty-free batch that still tastes amazing.

How to Make Chewy M&M Christmas Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Dry Ingredients First

Start by whisking together your flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Setting this aside makes it so easy to mix in later and ensures even distribution of your leavening agents. It’s a small step that really pays off in texture.

Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars

Using a mixer, beat the softened but still cool butter with granulated and brown sugars until light and fluffy—about 1 to 2 minutes. This adds air that helps your cookies rise but stay tender. Don’t rush this part; it’s the secret behind soft cookies rather than dense ones.

Step 3: Add the Egg and Vanilla

Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until just combined, scraping down the bowl to make sure everything is incorporated evenly. This is where the cookie dough really starts to come together with that classic, rich flavor.

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

On a low mixer speed, slowly add your flour mixture in. Mix until just combined—you want to avoid overmixing here or your cookies might get tough. I always stop as soon as I don’t see dry flour.

Step 5: Fold in the M&Ms and Chocolate Chips

Gently stir in about 1½ cups of M&Ms and/or chocolate chips. I usually fold in just over a cup and reserve the rest to press on top of each cookie dough ball before baking—it makes for a stunning presentation and extra color pop.

Step 6: Shape, Sprinkle, and Chill (Optional)

Scoop dough balls between 1½ to 2½ tablespoons. Press a few M&Ms on top and then press the cookie tops into holiday sprinkles. You can bake immediately for thinner cookies, but I love chilling the dough for 15 minutes—it helps the cookies hold their shape and bake up thicker and chewier, which is my favorite.

Step 7: Bake to Perfection

Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 8 to 11 minutes. You’re aiming for edges that look set but centers that are still a touch soft—that’s your cue that they’ll be perfectly chewy once cooled. Don’t skip the cooling step on wire racks; it’s essential for that ideal texture.

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Pro Tips for Making Chewy M&M Christmas Cookies Recipe

Creaming Butter Right: I discovered this trick when I made my first batch—using butter that’s soft but still cool prevents greasy cookies.
Don’t Overmix Flour: Mixing just until combined keeps your cookies tender rather than tough and cakey.
Chill the Dough: A brief chill before baking really helps keep the cookies from spreading too thin, giving you that chewy center I adore.
Watch the Bake Time Closely: Pull cookies out when edges are set but center looks slightly underbaked to lock in softness as they cool.

How to Serve Chewy M&M Christmas Cookies Recipe

A white plate holds a stack of round cookies with a light golden color. Each cookie is topped with bright red and green candy pieces scattered around, along with small dark brown chocolate bits and tiny green and red sprinkles adding texture. The cookies look soft with slightly cracked surfaces, and a few green and red candies have fallen onto the white marbled surface below. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Chewy M&M Christmas Cookies, festive holiday cookies, easy Christmas cookie recipes, colorful holiday treats, soft chewy cookie ideas

Garnishes

I usually stick with festive holiday sprinkles pressed right into the cookie tops because they add a beautiful pop of color and a subtle crunch. Sometimes, I toss on a few extra whole M&Ms straight from the bag just before baking—they melt just enough to stick without losing their shape. It’s a little extra flair that guests always comment on!

Side Dishes

These cookies pair perfectly with classic hot cocoa or a creamy eggnog for the ultimate cozy holiday vibe. I’ve also served them alongside a cheese board at holiday parties—an unexpected but delightful combo of sweet and savory.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday gatherings, I like to arrange these cookies in a circular pattern on a festive platter with peppermint sticks and fresh pine sprigs sprinkled around for that Christmas feel. Wrapping them in cellophane tied with ribbon also makes them adorable homemade gifts for friends and neighbors.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They usually stay soft and chewy for up to 4 days if you layer them between sheets of parchment paper. My family often fights over the last bits before they go stale!

Freezing

You can freeze the dough balls before baking—pop them onto a baking sheet, freeze until firm, then transfer to a zip-top bag. When you’re ready, bake them straight from frozen, just add an extra minute or two to the baking time. This has saved me on so many busy holiday days.

Reheating

If your cookies get a little firm after storage, I warm them up for 10 seconds in the microwave. It’s amazing how fresh and chewy they taste again with just that little heat boost—like they just came out of the oven!

FAQs

Can I use mini M&Ms instead of regular size for this Chewy M&M Christmas Cookies Recipe?

Absolutely! Mini M&Ms work just as well and will give your cookies an even distribution of chocolate color and flavor. Just be mindful that smaller pieces might spread slightly differently, but the overall texture and chewiness remain fantastic.
How can I make these cookies more chewy and less cakey?

Great question! The key is the brown sugar content and baking time. Brown sugar adds moisture and chewiness, while avoiding overbaking keeps the center soft. Pull the cookies out of the oven when edges are set but centers look a little underdone, then let them cool on the baking sheet.
Is it necessary to chill the dough before baking?

It’s not absolutely necessary but highly recommended, especially if you like thicker, chewier cookies. Chilling firms the dough, prevents excessive spreading, and enhances flavor. If you’re short on time, you can skip this step, but expect slightly thinner cookies.
Can I substitute butter with margarine or shortening?

Butter is preferred for flavor and texture, giving the best chewy results. Margarine or shortening can be used as a last resort, but they might change the cookie’s taste and make them less rich. If you do substitute, try to use one designed for baking.

Final Thoughts

This Chewy M&M Christmas Cookies Recipe is one of those nostalgic joys that fills the kitchen with warmth and excitement during the holidays. I love how easy it is to make yet delivers so much festive cheer in every bite. Trust me, once you try these, you’ll want to make them every year—and your family will be asking for them long after the season ends. So grab your mixing bowl and M&Ms, and let’s bake some magic together!