These festive red and green M&M Christmas cookies are perfect for gifting or Santa’s cookie plate! These easy Christmas cookies have a soft and chewy center, crisp edges and are bursting with chocolate flavor.

Love cookie recipes? Don’t miss my original M&M cookies and chocolate m&m cookies.

The best M&M Christmas Cookies on a plate.

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Table of Contents

  • The pop of color from the M&M’s make them the perfect Christmas cookies to add to your holiday cookie platter.
  • These M&M Christmas cookies are perfect to make for Santa or bring to a cookie exchange or holiday party.
  • You can even gift the cookie mix in a jar with a cute holiday tag and ribbon. They are always the first dessert gone and get rave reviews by those who try them.
M&M Christmas Cookie Ingredients on counter.

How to Make M&M Christmas Cookies

  1. DOUGH. Start by creaming the butter and sugars together with an electric mixer until creamy and fluffy. Then mix in the eggs and vanilla just until combined. Mix in the dry ingredients, then fold in the chocolate. Chill the dough for 15-30 minutes if you have the time.
  2. SCOOP. Use a large cookie scoop to scoop the dough onto a lined baking sheet. Place about 2 inches apart, so the cookies have enough room to spread a little in the oven.
  3. BAKE. Bake at 375°F for about 7 to 10 minutes. The edges should be barely golden brown when you remove them. Let set on the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Showing how to make Christmas M&M cookies in a 4 step collage.

Tips for Perfect Christmas M&M Cookies

  • Chill the dough. To achieve a super thick and delicious texture, chill your dough for 15 to 30 minutes before baking.
  • Chocolate chips. Use a mix of semi-sweet and white chocolate chips to add even more flavor.
  • Extras on top. For an extra pretty cookie, add a few more M&M’s on top of the cookie dough balls before baking. Alternatively, you can also press more M&M’s on top of the baked cookies as soon as they come out of the oven.
  • Don’t overbake. Remove from the oven when the edges are barely golden (but the center is still soft). They may look a little underdone, but they’ll continue to set as they cool. This will give them the perfect soft and delicious centers!
  • Other sizes. Make M&M cookie bars by scooping the dough into a 9×13″ pan, then baking for 30 to 35 minutes. For bite sized mini M&M cookie recipe use mini M&M’s and a small cookie scoop.
M&M Christmas cookie dough in bowl.

Freezing M&M Christmas Cookies

  • Prepare dough as directed, then use a large cookie scoop to scoop onto a baking sheet. Then flash freeze the cookie dough balls in the freezer for about 30 minutes so they don’t stick together.
  • Once hardened, place in a freezer bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months.
  • When ready to bake, place on a cookie sheet and set on top of the oven while it warms. Then bake according to directions. They may need to bake for a few extra minutes, so be sure to keep a close eye on them!
Stack of M&M Christmas cookies.

Love easy Christmas desserts? You gotta try this cute reindeer cookies recipe and our favorite Christmas crack!

More Festive Christmas Cookies

Stack of M&M Christmas cookies.

M&M Christmas Cookies

4.98 from 136 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Refrigerate: 15 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 24
Thick and chewy M&M Christmas cookies with crispy edges, a soft center and bursting with chocolate flavor. These are the ultimate cookie recipe to make this holiday season! 
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Ingredients 

  • 1 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup light brown sugar (packed)
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (more if desired)
  • 1 cup Christmas M&M’s (more for tops if desired)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line two baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper and set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars with beaters. Mix for 1-2 minutes, or until creamy and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix just until combined.
  • Add the flour, baking soda and salt and mix just until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips and M&M’s. Refrigerate dough for 15 to 30 minutes if time allows.
  • Using a large cookie scoop (about 3 Tablespoons), scoop the cookie dough onto the baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Place any extra chocolate chips or M&M’s on the top of the cookies if desired.
  • Bake for 7-10 minutes, or until the edges are barely golden brown. Allow cookies to set on pan for 2-3 minutes, and then remove to a cooling rack.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Storage: Store once cooled in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Freeze for up to 3 months. Remove from freezer and hour before ready to serve or microwave for 10 to 15 seconds.

Nutrition

Calories: 266kcal, Carbohydrates: 36g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 36mg, Sodium: 158mg, Potassium: 68mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 23g, Vitamin A: 278IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 28mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.