If you’re looking for the ultimate festive treat, this Christmas M&M Cookies recipe is it! These soft, buttery cookies are loaded with vibrant red and green candies that add a sweet crunch and plenty of holiday cheer. Perfect for cookie exchanges, gifting, or cozy nights by the fire, this recipe will quickly become your go-to cookies. They’re simple to whip up, fun to decorate with kids, and so irresistible that one batch of these M and M Christmas cookies is never enough!
Christmas is all about gathering with loved ones, sharing laughter, and of course—indulging in sweet, nostalgic treats. And nothing says “holiday magic” like a warm batch of baked cookies straight from the oven. This Christmas M and M cookies brings that magic to life with festive candies, golden crispy edges, and that classic soft center everyone craves. These cookies are our festive verion of original M&M cookie recipe!
These chewy cookies strike the perfect balance of sweetness and texture. They’re great for gifting, ideal for cookie exchanges, and just right for serving at holiday get-togethers. The colorful M&Ms nestled into golden dough bring instant joy to every bite, and they look just as festive on a dessert tray as they do packed into a holiday tin. These perfect cookies are a must-bake for your Christmas celebrations!
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Why We Love This Christmas M and M Cookies
- They’re part of our holiday baking lineup every year.
These Christmas M&M cookies are more than just dessert—they’re a fun activity that fills the kitchen with laughter and the smell of fresh-baked treats. We especially love using red and green candies for that extra festive feel. - You only need a few ingredients, and they turn out great every time.
This Christmas M&M cookies recipe keeps things simple, but the result is anything but basic. The cookies bake up with soft, chewy centers and golden, crisp edges—perfect for sharing or keeping all to yourself. - They add color and cheer to every cookie tray.
If you’re filling a tin for neighbors, hosting a cookie swap, or just want something fun and seasonal to snack on, these m and m Christmas cookies deliver. They’re bright, cheerful, and always one of the first to disappear.
Love cookies? Try our mint M&Ms, chewy chocolate chip cookies, spring sugar cookies with pastel M&Ms, and original M&M cookies. Or for a bright lemon flavor that’s perfect any time of the year, we love these raspberry lemon cookies.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- All-purpose flour: This is the base of the dough, giving the cookies their structure. You can use a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour if needed, but texture may vary slightly.
- Salt: Enhances all the sweet flavors and balances out the sugar.
- Baking soda: Acts as the leavening agent to help your cookies rise slightly and spread just enough while baking.
- Unsalted butter (softened): Adds rich flavor and moisture. Using unsalted butter lets you control the salt content, but if you only have salted butter, reduce the added salt in the recipe by half.
- Brown sugar (packed): Gives the cookies that signature chewy texture and subtle molasses flavor. You can use dark brown sugar for a deeper taste.
- Granulated sugar: Helps the cookies spread and adds crisp edges. No substitute needed here—it balances the moisture from the brown sugar.
- Eggs: They bind the dough and contribute to the chewy interior. Large eggs are ideal. If you’re out of eggs, a flaxseed or chia egg can work in a pinch (though texture may vary slightly).
- Vanilla extract: Rounds out the flavor and adds warmth. You can substitute with almond extract for a twist, but use half the amount since it’s more potent.
- Christmas M&Ms: The star of the show! Use red and green holiday M&Ms for the classic look, or try mint M&Ms, peanut M&Ms, or even chopped peppermint bark for a fun variation.
Recipe Variations
- Add an additional 1/2 cup of semi-sweet or white chocolate chips.
- Replace M&Ms with candy canes or other festive holiday candies.
- Add 1 teaspoon of instant espresso powder for a richer flavor.
- Dip the treats in melted white chocolate for an extra special treat.
- Drizzle melted chocolate over the dessert for a festive look.
- Use a food color gel to tint the dough green, red, or white for a fun and festive look.
Equipment Used in this Recipe
- Baking Sheet
- Electic mixer (stand or hand)
- Parchment paper
- Cooling rack
How to Make M and M Christmas Cookies
- Baking preparation. Preheat oven to 375º F. Grease or line baking sheets with parchment paper, or a Silpat baking sheet.
- Make the cookie dough. Mix the dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.
In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars using a mixer. Add vanilla and eggs, and mix until creamy.
Add the dry ingredients to the mixture, then mix until blended.
Gently mix 1 cup of Christmas M&M by hand with a spoon.
Note: If you bake all the M&M candies into the cookies, they will crack and melt slightly. Adding the other half of them after baking will keep the M&Ms intact and look nicer. - Mix the cookie dough. Scoop the dough balls onto prepared cookie sheets.
- Bake the dessert for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.
- Final touch. Gently press the remaining cup of Christmas M&M on top of the cookies before cooling, then serve.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
When adding the M&Ms to the cookie dough, be sure to fold them in by hand with a spoon. This helps to keep the colors from blending and keeps your cookies looking bright and festive!
These Christmas M and M cookies will continue to bake slightly once they’re out of the oven, so be sure to take them out when they’re still slightly under-baked.
Serving Suggestions
This Christmas M&M cookies recipe is perfect for enjoying with a glass of cold milk, hot cocoa, or even a cup of coffee. They also pair nicely with other festive treats like fudge or candy canes.
For a show-stopping dessert spread, serve these perfect Christmas cookies with other holiday favorites like sugar cookies shaped like snowflakes, gingerbread houses, or shortbread stars. You’ll have a feast fit for Santa Claus!
Craving more easy holiday recipes? Don’t miss our gingerbread cake bundt—it’s festive, flavorful, and so simple to make!
Recipe FAQs
The best way to keep them from cracking is to add the M&M’s to the dough after it’s been mixed and before you shape them into cookie balls.
The cookies can be flat if the dough is too soft. Try adding more flour or chilling it in the fridge before baking. You could also try using a cookie scoop to ensure uniform size and thickness.
Another reason is that the oven is too hot which causes the butter to melt too quickly and spread out. Check your oven temperature and make sure not to overbake them.
Cookies can get hard after cooling if they are over-baked. Be sure to remove them from the oven when the edges are golden and still slightly soft in the center.
These homemade Christmas M and M treats can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature and will be fresh for up to 3 days.
Place them individually with a plastic wrap for longer storage, then put them in a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze them for up to 3 months.
Thaw frozen cookies overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
More Christmas Recipes To Love…
- Christmas Tree Charcuterie
- Christmas Puppy Chow Recipe
- Chocolate Peppermint Cupcakes
- Cranberry Salad with Jello
If you tried this M and M Christmas cookie recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Christmas M&M Cookies Recipe
Equipment
- rimmed baking sheet
- stand mixer
- parchment paper - optional
- cooling rack
Ingredients
- 2½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups Christmas M&Ms divided, reserve 1 cup for decorating
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375º F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper, a Silpat baking sheet, or spray baking sheets with cooking spray.
- In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the flour, salt, and baking soda. Set bowl aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugars together with an electric or stand mixer until light and fluffy. Scraping down the sides of the bowl with a silicone spatula. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until creamy.
- Turn the speed of the mixer to low and add flour mixture just until blended. Gently stir in 1 cups of Christmas M&Ms by hand with a spoon *see notes*.
- Drop dough by rounded tablespoons (or with a small scoop) onto prepared cookie sheets. Bake cookies in the middle rack of the oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until the cookies are golden brown around the edges, and just set in the center.
- Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before transferring the cookies to a wire rack. Gently press in remaining cup of M&Ms into cookies before cooling *see notes*.
Video
Notes
- How do you keep M&Ms from cracking in the oven? The best way to keep them from cracking is to add the M&M’s to the dough after it’s been mixed and before you shape them into cookie balls.
- Why are my M&M cookies flat? The cookies can be flat if the dough is too soft. Try adding more flour or chilling it in the fridge before baking. You could also try using a cookie scoop to ensure uniform size and thickness. Another reason is that the oven is too hot which causes the butter to melt too quickly and spread out. Check your oven temperature and make sure not to overbake them.
- Why do my cookies get hard after they cool? Cookies can get hard after cooling if they are over-baked. Be sure to remove them from the oven when the edges are golden and still slightly soft in the center.
- Can I store and freeze these cookies?
These homemade Christmas M and M treats can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature and will be fresh for up to 3 days.
Place them individually with a plastic wrap for longer storage, then put them in a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze them for up to 3 months.
Thaw frozen cookies overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
- Add an additional 1/2 cup of semi-sweet or white chocolate chips.
- Replace M&Ms with candy canes or other festive holiday candies.
- Add 1 teaspoon of instant espresso powder for a richer flavor.
- Dip the treats in melted white chocolate for an extra special treat.
- Drizzle melted chocolate over the dessert for a festive look.
- Use a food color gel to tint the dough green, red, or white for a fun and festive look.
- When adding the M&Ms to the cookie dough, be sure to fold them in by hand with a spoon. This helps to keep the colors from blending and keeps your cookies looking bright and festive!
- These treats will continue to bake slightly once they’re out of the oven, so be sure to take them out when they’re still slightly under-baked.
- These homemade Christmas M and M treats can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature and will be fresh for up to 3 days.
- Place them individually with a plastic wrap for longer storage, then put them in a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze them for up to 3 months.
- Thaw frozen cookies overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Nutrition
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Steph says
Thank you for the recipe. Just made these this morning, and they’re great! I needed just a tiny bit more flour, but that’s always a weather-related thing in baking cookies. Merry Christmas!