December 10, 2020

Christmas M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies

Written by Bruce and Dina Miller in Christmas cookies, Cookies, Desserts, Featured

Baking warm, chewy Christmas M&M chocolate chip cookies is a surefire way to bring smiles all around. The process of baking them fills the kitchen with a cozy, sweet scent that gets everyone excited. As these cookies come out of the oven, their gooey centers and colorful M&M toppings make them irresistible. Sharing these delicious, freshly baked treats is bound to put a smile on everyone’s face, making for a simple yet delightful moment of happiness.

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Why you’ll love this recipe for Christmas M&M chocolate chip cookies:

Festive Appeal: The colorful M&M’s on top of each cookie create a cheerful and festive look, making them perfect for spreading holiday cheer and adding a vibrant touch to your Christmas celebrations.
Combination of Flavors: These cookies blend the classic flavors of chocolate chip cookies with the additional burst of chocolate from the M&M’s, offering a delightful and satisfying taste that appeals to both kids and adults during the holiday season.
Easy and Enjoyable: This recipe is straightforward and easy to follow, allowing you to whip up delicious homemade cookies without much hassle. Baking these cookies can be a fun activity for the family, spreading warmth and joy in the kitchen during the festive period.

Ingredients for Christmas M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies:

Butter (softened): Provides richness and flavor to the cookies. Softened butter helps create a desirable texture.
Shortening (Butter flavored Crisco): Adds moisture to the cook
ies and helps with texture. The butter-flavored variety enhances the overall taste.
Dark Brown Sugar: Adds moisture, flavor, and a chewy texture to the cookies due to its higher molasses content compared to regular sugar.
Eggs (Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs): Act as a binding agent, providing structure to the cookies. Organic eggs might offer a richer taste.
Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor profile of the cookies, adding depth and aroma.
Milk: Adds moisture to the dough, contributing to the texture and tenderness of the cookies.
Flour: Forms the base of the cookie dough, providing structure and bulk.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.
Baking Soda: Acts as a leavening agent, helping the cookies rise and achieve a desirable texture.
Chocolate Chips: Provide pockets of melty chocolate throughout the cookies, adding richness and flavor.
M&Ms: These colorful candies not only add a festive appearance but also introduce a burst of chocolate flavor and a delightful crunch to the cookies. They contribute to the visual appeal of the Christmas theme.

Instructions for making Christmas M&M Chocolate Chip Cookies:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. In a mixing bowl, combine the softened butter and Butter flavored Crisco. Cream them together until smooth.

3. Add the dark brown sugar to the creamed mixture and continue mixing until well combined. Then, beat in the eggs one at a time until fully incorporated. Follow by adding the vanilla extract and milk, mixing thoroughly.

4. In a separate bowl, sift or whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.

5. Gradually add the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed. Add the flour in increments, about one cup at a time, until fully combined. Ensure the baking soda and salt are evenly distributed in the dough.

6. Stir in the chocolate chips until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.

7. Set aside 1 cup of M&Ms and gently fold the remaining M&Ms into the cookie dough. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

8. Using a small ice cream scoop or spoon, portion out balls of cookie dough and place them about 2 inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Press 5 or 6 additional M&Ms onto the top of each cookie dough ball.

9. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 11-13 minutes. Remember to turn and rotate the baking sheets halfway through the baking time for even cooking. Look for a golden brown color on the edges to ensure they are baked to perfection. Avoid overbaking to keep the cookies chewy.

10. Once baked, allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack using a spatula. Let them cool completely on the rack.

11. Store the cooled cookies in a covered container at room temperature. They can be stored for up to 1 week.

How do I get my M&M cookies to look as good as a cookie shop?

Here are a few tips that will help you ho-hum cookies look more like those you see in the windows of the cookie shops and bakeries. They bake cookies all year long, so they know a few things that will get a customers attention

Chilling the Dough: Chilling the cookie dough before baking can help the M&M’s retain their shape and prevent them from sinking into the dough during baking, maintaining a prominent appearance on the baked cookies.

Christmas M&M chocolate chip cookie dough in a glass container, chilled

Adjusting Post-Baking: Sometimes, while the cookies are still warm and soft right after being removed from the oven, more M&M’s are gently pressed into the surface to enhance their appearance.
Using Reserved M&M’s: Some M&M’s are reserved specifically to be added on top of the cookies before baking, ensuring a generous display of M&M’s on each cookie.

pan of M&M covered chocolate chip cookie balls

Adjusting Post-Baking: Sometimes, while the cookies are still warm and soft right after being removed from the oven, more M&M’s are gently pressed into the surface to enhance their appearance.

Substitutions for M&M’s:

Chopped Candy Bars: Replace M&M’s with chopped pieces of your favorite candy bars like Snickers, Reese’s Cups, or Kit-Kats. They’ll add a variety of flavors and textures to the cookies.
Chopped Nuts: Use chopped nuts such as walnuts, pecans, almonds, or peanuts as an alternative to M&M’s. They add crunch and richness to the cookies.
Dried Fruit: Swap out M&M’s for dried fruits like cranberries, cherries, or raisins. They’ll provide a sweet and tangy flavor to complement the cookie dough.

Substitutions for Chocolate Chips:

Chocolate Chunks or Bars: Instead of chocolate chips, chop up chocolate bars into chunks and use them in place of chips. They will melt and create pockets of gooey chocolate in the cookies.
White Chocolate Chips or Chunks: Replace regular chocolate chips with white chocolate chips or chunks for a different flavor profile. They’ll add sweetness and a creamy texture to the cookies.
Caramel Chips or Chunks: Substitute chocolate chips with caramel chips or chopped caramel candies. They’ll bring a rich, buttery sweetness to the cookies.

Remember to adjust quantities as needed based on your preferences and the recipe you’re following. These substitutions can offer a variety of flavors and textures to your cookies, allowing you to tailor them to your taste or dietary preferences.

Adding M&Ms into the cookie dough, plus more on top before baking is KEY!

Chocolate chip M&M cookie dough on a blue cookie pan

And if you love cookies, be sure to check out a few of our other recipes!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookies

Pinwheel Cookies