These M&M Christmas cookies are always a huge hit at my local cookie exchange! I mean really, who doesn’t love a perfectly baked homemade cookie that’s loaded with festively colored chocolate candies? This is one of those simple recipes that always delivers. Kids and adults alike love these tasty cookies.
M&M Christmas Cookie Recipe
I’m sure your local grocery store has something like this in their bakery section, or even in the pre-packaged cookie dough section, but none of those options can hold a candle to the real deal. These homemade cookies are perfectly soft and chewy, loaded with delicious flavor, and perfect for Christmas.
While the list of ingredients may seem a tad extensive, I promise that the payoff is so very worth it! While these cookies have a lot of ingredients in common with standard chocolate chip cookies, they will be fluffier due to the addition of vanilla pudding mix, and they will have a warmer flavor due to the addition of maple syrup.
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Note: This recipe is one of those few exceptions on our site that has more than 10 ingredients. We try to keep things VERY easy around here, and limiting ingredients and time spent is one of our favorite ways. That being said, this recipe is too delicious to leave out of our recipe box! It’s an exception that is so flavorful and worth the extra ingredients if you have the time and resources to make it.
How to Store
Store leftover M&M Christmas cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before enjoying.
Tips for Success
- Refrigerating the cookie dough helps the cookies to not spread out as much while baking. While I’ve never run into a spreading issue with this recipe, you can chill the dough for about 30 minutes in the refrigerator prior to baking if you’re afraid of your oven running a bit too hot.
- Make these cookies fit any holiday by swapping out the M&M’s for another season! Halloween, Valentine’s Day, and even the 4th of July are all seasons that come with colored M&M’s. Get creative!
- DO NOT overbeat the dough! That will cause the cookies to go flat while they bake and totally lose their shape. Instead, mix in the flour mixture until just combined.
- Baking soda tends to clump, so make sure there are no clumps in it before you mix it with the other ingredients. If you do, you’ll have a hard time breaking it up and getting it to mix well.
M&M Christmas Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter room temperature (1 stick)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 3.4 ounces vanilla pudding mix (1 box)
- 1½ teaspoons baking soda
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1½ cups Christmas M&Ms
- ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Baking Sheet
- Stand Mixer
- Cookie Portion Scoop (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until fluffy and creamy, about 2 minutes.½ cup salted butter, 1 cup brown sugar, ¼ cup granulated sugar
- Mix in the eggs, maple syrup, and vanilla extract and beat together until combined, about 30 seconds.2 large eggs, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- Add the all-purpose flour, pudding mix, baking soda, and salt, and beat on the low setting until just combined, about 30 seconds. Do not overbeat the flour. Make sure that there are no lumps in the baking soda.1½ cups all-purpose flour, 3.4 ounces vanilla pudding mix, 1½ teaspoons baking soda, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Fold the M&M's and chocolate chips into the dough.1½ cups Christmas M&Ms, ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
- Scoop out cookies with a cookie scoop or spoon (I used a 2-inch cookie scoop) and place them onto the prepared baking sheet with about 2 inches between them.
- Bake for 9-10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies have set and turned golden.
- Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to finish cooling.
Notes
How to Make M&M Christmas Cookies Step-by-Step
Cream the Butter and Sugars: Preheat your oven to 350°F, line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat ½ cup of salted butter, 1 cup of brown sugar, and ¼ cup of granulated sugar together until fluffy and creamy, about 2 minutes.
Add the Eggs and Vanilla: Mix in 2 large eggs, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract and beat together until combined, about 30 seconds.
Fold in the Dry Ingredients: Add 1½ cups of all-purpose flour, 3.4 ounces (1 box) of vanilla pudding mix, 1½ teaspoons of baking soda, and ½ teaspoon of kosher salt, and beat on the low setting until just combined, about 30 seconds. Do not overbeat the flour. Make sure that there are no lumps in the baking soda.
Add the M&M’s: Fold 1½ cups of Christmas M&M’s and ½ cup of semisweet chocolate chips into the dough.
Portion the Cookies: Scoop out cookies with a cookie scoop or spoon (I used a 2-inch cookie scoop) and place them onto the prepared baking sheet with about 2 inches between them.
Bake the Cookies: Bake for 9-10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies have set and turned golden. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to finish cooling.
I would love to make these cookies, however, when do you add the vanilla pudding mix? I find it listed in the ingredients but not in the directions. Also is the pudding the instant kind?