If there’s one recipe that instantly brings the festive spirit into your kitchen, it’s Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies. These aren’t just your everyday chocolate chip cookies—the bright pops of red and green M&M’s, cheerful sprinkles, and that classic, gooey, buttery center make every bite taste like Christmas morning. Ideal for sharing, gifting, or cozying up with a glass of milk by the fire, this recipe creates the perfect balance between nostalgia and holiday excitement, ensuring your cookie plate is always the one guests reach for first.

Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

Simple pantry staples come together here, with a handful of star ingredients giving these Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies their irresistible flavor and festive flair. Each ingredient plays a unique role, from making the cookies perfectly chewy to adding bursts of color and sweetness.

All-purpose flour: The sturdy base for the dough, giving the cookies structure so they’re soft but never flat.
Baking soda: A touch of leavening for that gentle rise and signature cookie texture.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and intensifies all the delicious flavors in every bite.
Unsalted butter, softened: Creates that perfect, melt-in-your-mouth richness and is key to a tender, chewy crumb.
Granulated sugar: Brings sweetness and aids in getting those perfectly golden edges.
Packed brown sugar: Adds moisture and a hint of molasses for that soft, gooey center we crave.
Large eggs: Binds the dough and brings a touch of lightness for cookies that puff just enough.
Pure vanilla extract: Enhances the flavors and adds that cozy, unmistakable warmth to the batch.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Melty pockets of chocolate in every bite—need I say more?
Red and green holiday M&M’s: A pop of festive color and a gentle chocolate crunch for your Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Festive sprinkles (optional): For extra cheer and sparkle, sprinkle these in to make every cookie feel like a celebration.

How to Make Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies

Step 1: Prep Your Oven and Trays

Before you start measuring and mixing, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. This gives your cookies the best chance to bake evenly and keeps their bottoms perfectly golden. If you prep everything in advance, the whole process feels like a cozy holiday ritual rather than a chore.

Step 2: Mix Your Dry Ingredients

Grab a medium bowl and whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Blending your dry goods first ensures even distribution, so you don’t end up with pockets of baking soda or salt in any one cookie. It’s the secret to a batch that’s consistent, bite after bite.

Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugars

In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This process adds air to your dough, setting up a cookie that’s thick and chewy rather than dense. Don’t rush here—the more time you spend creaming, the better your cookie texture will be.

Step 4: Add Eggs and Vanilla

Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract. The eggs make everything hold together, while the vanilla perfumes the dough with its lovely warmth—absolutely essential for Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies that taste as magical as they look.

Step 5: Bring Everything Together

Gently add your dry ingredients to the wet, mixing just until combined. The key word here is “gentle”—over-mixing can make your cookies tough. Embrace a few streaks of flour; they’ll disappear when you fold in the fun bits next.

Step 6: Stir in the Mix-ins

Fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips, those cheery red and green M&M’s, and festive sprinkles if you’re using them. Suddenly, your dough transforms into pure, scoopable holiday joy. For an especially photogenic finish, save a handful of M&M’s and chips to press into the tops of each dough ball before baking.

Step 7: Scoop and Bake

Use a tablespoon or cookie scoop to drop balls of dough onto your prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Pop them into the oven and bake for 9-11 minutes, just until the edges look set but the centers are still soft. That slightly underdone middle turns into chewy perfection as the cookies cool.

Step 8: Cool and Enjoy

Let your cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes—they’ll firm up a bit as they rest. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely…or, be honest, enjoy one warm while the chocolate is still melty! There’s nothing quite like that first bite of freshly baked Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies.

How to Serve Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies

Garnishes

A finishing touch can truly make your Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies irresistible. Before baking, press a few extra M&M’s or chocolate chips on top of each dough ball for a picture-perfect look. If you’re feeling extra festive, add a second sprinkle of colorful sugar right after baking while the cookies are still warm.

Side Dishes

Set out a platter of cookies with mugs of hot cocoa, peppermint tea, or classic cold milk for the ultimate holiday pairing. Cookies also make a playful add-on to ice cream sundaes or an impressive display on a dessert board alongside truffles and candied nuts for your Christmas spread.

Creative Ways to Present

Fill cellophane bags with stacks of cookies tied with a red ribbon, or pile them into a festive tin for edible gifting that delights everyone from neighbors to teachers. For a party centerpiece, arrange the cookies in a tree shape on a platter—each one topped with sprinkles as “ornaments”—for a whimsical, edible decoration.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Keep your Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature and they’ll stay soft and delicious for up to 5 days. Slip a slice of bread into the container to help maintain moisture and keep the cookies at their chewy best.

Freezing

You can freeze both the baked cookies and the raw dough! Freeze unbaked dough balls on a tray, then store them in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. When ready to bake, just add an extra minute or two to the baking time—no need to thaw. Frozen baked cookies thaw beautifully at room temperature.

Reheating

If you love warm, gooey cookies, reheat a cookie or two in the microwave for about 10 seconds. This will melt the chocolate just enough to make every bite feel like it’s fresh from the oven. If you’ve frozen your cookies, allow them to come to room temperature or pop them in the oven at 300°F for a couple of minutes.

FAQs

Can I use different kinds of chocolate chips?

Absolutely! While semi-sweet chips create that classic flavor, feel free to experiment with dark, milk, or even white chocolate chips for a customized holiday twist on your Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies.

What’s the best way to keep cookies chewy?

Don’t overbake them—pull the cookies from the oven when edges are golden but centers are still soft. Also, store with a slice of bread in your container to lock in that magical chewiness.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes! Make the dough, scoop it into balls, and refrigerate for up to 48 hours. Chilling actually deepens the flavors and helps the cookies bake up thick and chewy.

Do I have to add the sprinkles?

Not at all! The sprinkles are optional for extra color and festive texture. If you prefer, you can stick with just M&M’s and chocolate chips for deliciously classic Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Can I make these cookies gluten-free?

Substitute a good quality 1:1 gluten-free flour blend for the all-purpose flour and ensure your mix-ins are gluten-free. The results are still wonderfully soft and full of holiday spirit!

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking to fill your home with the aroma of joy and create memories that taste as good as they feel, these Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies have you covered. Baking (and sharing!) a batch is pure holiday happiness—so tie on your apron and give this festive favorite a try. Your cookie jar will thank you!

Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

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4.6 from 18 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 36 cookies 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

These Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies are the perfect festive treat to make during the holiday season. Packed with chocolate chips, colorful M&M’s, and optional sprinkles, these cookies are sure to delight both kids and adults alike.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Mix-Ins:

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup red and green holiday M&M’s
1/2 cup festive sprinkles (optional)

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Instructions

Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Prepare dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
Cream butter and sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
Add eggs and vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract and mix until combined.
Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined.
Stir in mix-ins: Fold in the chocolate chips, M&M’s, and sprinkles if using.
Bake: Scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until golden around the edges and soft in the center.
Cool and enjoy: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

For an extra festive touch, press a few extra M&M’s or chocolate chips on top of each cookie before baking.
Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American