There's nothing more festive than baking a batch of Christmas M&M Cookies during the holiday season. With soft, chewy centers and bursts of red and green candy-coated chocolate, these cookies are a fun and delicious treat that everyone will love.

I first made these cookies for a last-minute holiday gathering, and they were an instant hit. Not only did they look festive on the dessert table, but the combination of buttery dough and crunchy M&Ms made them irresistible. Now, they’re a staple in my holiday baking lineup.

Why You'll Love This Christmas M&M Cookies Recipe

Get ready to make your new favorite holiday cookie! This Christmas M&M Cookies recipe combines classic flavors with a festive twist, making it perfect for the season.

First off, they’re incredibly easy to make. You don’t need any fancy equipment or complicated techniques — just a simple dough that comes together quickly, even for beginner bakers.

These cookies are also perfect for sharing. Whether you’re gifting them in cute tins, adding them to your cookie exchange, or serving them at a holiday party, they’re always a crowd-pleaser.

Plus, they’re kid-friendly and fun to make. Let little hands help by mixing in the M&Ms or pressing extra candies into the tops of the cookies before baking. It’s a great way to get the family involved in some holiday magic.

And don’t worry about leftovers — if there are any, these cookies store beautifully and taste just as good a few days later.

Ingredients Notes

The beauty of these Christmas M&M Cookies lies in their simple, pantry-friendly ingredients that come together for a festive result. Here’s what you need:

The butter is the foundation of this cookie dough, giving it a rich flavor and tender texture. Make sure to use softened unsalted butter for the best results. If you forgot to let it soften, you can microwave it for 10-second intervals, but avoid melting it entirely.

Next, the sugars create the perfect balance of texture and flavor. You’ll use both granulated sugar for sweetness and brown sugar for a chewy texture and caramel-like depth. Light brown sugar works best here, but dark brown sugar can add a richer flavor if you prefer.

You can’t skip the M&Ms, the star of this recipe! For a festive touch, use the red and green Christmas M&Ms. If you want to mix things up, you can add mini M&Ms or even holiday-themed chocolate chips for extra fun.

The all-purpose flour binds everything together. Be sure to measure it correctly by spooning the flour into the measuring cup and leveling it off with a knife to avoid dense cookies.

Lastly, a combination of baking soda and vanilla extract ensures your cookies bake up perfectly soft, chewy, and full of flavor. Don’t forget the salt — it enhances the overall taste of the cookies.

Special equipment isn’t necessary, but a cookie scoop makes it easier to portion out the dough evenly for uniform cookies.

How To Make This Christmas M&M Cookies Recipe

Making these festive Christmas M&M Cookies is a breeze! Follow these simple steps to get perfect results every time.

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining two baking sheets with parchment paper. This prevents the cookies from sticking and makes cleanup a cinch.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, 1 cup of granulated sugar, and ¾ cup of light brown sugar together until smooth and creamy. This step is crucial because properly creamed butter and sugar create light, fluffy cookies.

Add in 2 large eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then, stir in 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. The vanilla adds a cozy, warm flavor that pairs perfectly with the M&Ms.

In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Overmixing can make the cookies tough, so stop when you no longer see streaks of flour.

Gently fold in 1 ½ cups of red and green M&Ms, saving a handful to press on top of the cookies before baking. This step ensures that every bite has a festive pop of color and chocolatey crunch.

Using a cookie scoop or spoon, drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Press a few extra M&Ms onto the tops of each dough ball for that bakery-perfect look.

Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to turn golden. The centers might still look soft, but they’ll firm up as the cookies cool. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

The result? Buttery, chewy cookies bursting with colorful M&Ms that look and taste like Christmas cheer.

Storage Options

These Christmas M&M Cookies store beautifully, so you can enjoy them throughout the holiday season.

To keep them fresh, store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For added softness, place a slice of bread in the container — the cookies will absorb moisture from the bread and stay perfectly chewy.

If you want to keep them longer, freeze the cookies in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag for up to 3 months. To thaw, simply leave them at room temperature for 30 minutes, and they’ll taste as fresh as the day you baked them.

You can also freeze the dough! Scoop the dough into balls and freeze them on a baking sheet. Once solid, transfer the dough balls to a freezer bag. When you’re ready to bake, pop them in the oven straight from the freezer, adding 1-2 minutes to the baking time.

Variations and Substitutions

One of the best things about this Christmas M&M Cookies recipe is how versatile it is. You can easily customize it to suit your taste or what you have on hand.

Swap the M&Ms: If you’re not in a holiday mood, use regular M&Ms, Reese’s Pieces, or chocolate chunks. Seasonal variations like pastel M&Ms for spring work beautifully too.
Add sprinkles: For even more festive flair, mix in holiday sprinkles or roll the dough balls in sprinkles before baking.
Include nuts: Stir in ½ cup of chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds for a bit of crunch. The nuts pair perfectly with the chocolatey M&Ms.
Make them chocolatey: Add 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder to the dough for a subtle chocolate flavor, or mix in white chocolate chips for an extra creamy touch.
Go gluten-free: Replace the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. The cookies will still bake up soft and delicious.

No matter how you customize them, these cookies are guaranteed to be a hit. Don’t be afraid to experiment — holiday baking is all about fun!

There’s something so magical about biting into a soft, chewy Christmas M&M Cookie with bursts of red and green chocolate. Whether you’re baking them for a holiday party, gifting them to loved ones, or enjoying a cozy night at home, these cookies are sure to bring joy to everyone who tastes them.

So preheat your oven, grab those festive M&Ms, and let the holiday baking begin!