Celebrate the holiday season with these delightful Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies, adorned with festive red and green M&M’s. This recipe takes the classic chocolate chip cookie and dresses it up in holiday cheer, making it the perfect treat for Christmas parties, family gatherings, or as a thoughtful homemade gift. The combination of creamy chocolate chips and colorful M&M’s not only tastes wonderful but also looks cheerful and inviting.
The Perfect Holiday Treat
These cookies are not only easy to make but also fun to decorate. Involve kids in the baking process for a festive family activity. Here’s how to ensure your cookies turn out perfectly every time.
Pro Tips for Perfect Christmas Cookies
- Creaming Butter and Sugars: Start with softened butter to ensure it creams nicely with the sugars, creating a light and fluffy base for your cookies.
- Adding Eggs: Add eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each before adding the next, to help create a smooth, well-emulsified dough.
- Mixing the Dry Ingredients: Whisking the flour, baking soda, and salt together before adding them to the wet ingredients prevents clumping and ensures even distribution of the leavening agents.
- Folding in Add-Ins: Stir in the chocolate chips and M&M’s gently to avoid crushing the candies and ensure they are evenly spread throughout the dough.
- Baking Until Just Done: Bake the cookies until the edges are just turning golden but the centers still look slightly underdone; they will continue to cook on the sheet after being removed from the oven.
Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe:
- Preparation time: 15 minutes
- Cooking time: 9-11 minutes per batch
- Serving: Makes about 24 cookies
- Equipment: Baking sheets, parchment paper
Get ready to fill your home with the sweet aroma of baking cookies and holiday joy.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup red and green M&M’s
Directions:
- Prepare Oven and Baking Sheets: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and to make cleanup easier.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This creates a smooth and creamy foundation for your cookies.
- Incorporate Vanilla and Eggs: Beat in the vanilla extract, then add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this to the butter mixture, stirring until just combined to maintain a tender texture.
- Add Chocolate Chips and M&M’s: Fold in the chocolate chips and M&M’s until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Form and Bake Cookies: Drop the dough by rounded tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are golden but the centers are still soft.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 2 minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
Enjoy and Share
These Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies are a wonderful way to spread festive cheer. Serve them at your next holiday event, or package them up beautifully for a homemade gift that’s sure to be appreciated. Enjoy the process of baking and sharing these sweet, festive treats this holiday season!
