30-Minute Soft M&M Christmas Cookies
Festive holiday cookies loaded with colorful red and green M&Ms that stay soft and chewy thanks to the perfect balance of butter and brown sugar. These cheerful treats are ideal for Christmas cookie exchanges, holiday parties, or leaving out for Santa. The combination of vanilla-scented dough studded with candy-coated chocolate creates cookies that are both visually appealing and irresistibly sweet, making them a hit with kids and adults alike.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flourgluten-free flour blend1:1gluten-freegluten-free
may need extra binding
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup white granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups red and green M&Ms, dividedmini chocolate chips1:1vegetarian
use same amount
Instructions
- 1
Beat softened butter with white and brown sugars until light and fluffy
- 2
Add egg and vanilla extract and beat for 3 minutes
- 3
Gradually beat dry ingredients into butter mixture, switching to wooden spoon if too thick
- 4
Scrape bowl well and mix until no flour streaks remain
- 5
Fold 1 cup M&Ms into dough until evenly distributed
- 6
Refrigerate dough 30 minutes if extremely soft
- 7
Scoop dough with 2 inch scoop onto parchment lined baking sheet, spacing 2 inches apart
- 8
Press 5 M&Ms onto top of each cookie dough ball
- 9
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until golden around edges
- 10
Cool on baking tray 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack
Tips
Chill dough if too soft to prevent spreading and ensure thick cookies
Use a cookie scoop for uniform size and even baking
Press extra M&Ms on top before baking for better color distribution
Good to Know
airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week
dough can be made 2 days ahead and refrigerated, or shaped cookies frozen up to 3 months
at room temperature
Common Mistakes
check baking powder expiration date to avoid flat cookies
chill soft dough to prevent excessive spreading
do not overbake to maintain soft texture
Substitutions
Dairy-Free Swaps
Gluten-Free Swaps
may need extra binding
General Alternatives
FAQ
Can I use regular M&Ms instead of Christmas colors?
Yes, any color M&Ms work perfectly. The recipe stays exactly the same regardless of candy color choice.
What if my cookies spread too much while baking?
This usually means the dough was too warm. Chill the dough for 30 minutes and ensure your butter was softened, not melted.
How long will these cookies stay fresh?
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week, or freeze for up to 3 months.