Chocolate Christmas Cookies are soft, chocolatey cookies filled with chopped red and green M&Ms and topped with even more candy. They’re delicious and the extra chocolate-y version of our classic M&M Cookies.
Not only are these cookies festive, but they’re easy to make, and perfect for Christmas cookie trays, class parties, and holiday baking days (which is a classic Luna family tradition). We love that these cookies start with our tried and true chocolate cookie dough base and get the flavor enhancer of M&Ms all through out. If you’re looking for a simple, tasty and chocolate-y cookie, then I think this is the one to try this year!
For more festive holiday cookies, try our Christmas Snickerdoodles, Christmas M&M Cookies, and Christmas Sugar Cookies.
Why you’ll love it + Why it works:
- M&Ms Addition: Chopped M&Ms add color, texture, and chocolate candy flavor inside the dough.
- Mixes Up in Minutes: Simple dough and quick bake time make them easy for busy holiday baking.
- Chopped M&Ms Mix in Easily: They spread color and candy crunch throughout the cookie dough.
- Topping Before Baking Helps Them Stick: Pressing M&Ms on before the cookies bake keeps them in place better than adding them afterward.
Chocolate Christmas Cookie Ingredients
- Red and green M&Ms, divided (2 cups): Adds Christmas color, candy crunch, and chocolate flavor inside and on top of the cookies.
- Butter, softened (1 cup): Creates a rich, tender cookie base and helps the dough cream smoothly with the sugar.
- Granulated sugar (1 ½ cups): Sweetens the cookies and helps create a soft texture.
- Eggs (2): Binds the dough and help the cookies bake up soft and chewy.
- Vanilla extract (2 teaspoons): Adds warm flavor and balances the cocoa.
- Flour (2 cups): Gives the cookies structure and helps them hold their shape.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder (⅔ cup): Adds rich chocolate flavor.
- Baking soda (¾ teaspoon): Helps the cookies rise and spread properly.
- Salt (½ teaspoon): Balances the sweetness and deepens the chocolate flavor.
How to Make Chocolate Christmas Cookies
PREP. Preheat oven to 350°F. Chop 1/2 cup M&Ms in a nut chopper and set aside.
BATTER. In a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla, mix until fluffy.
Add flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt and mix until combined. Fold in chopped M&Ms.
BAKE. Scoop cookies out onto a greased cookie sheet and top with red & green M&Ms. Bake for 8-10 minutes.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- We ALWAYS add chopped M&Ms to our M&M cookies and this one is no different. It makes sure there’s candy in every bite!
- I would not recommend topping the cookies with M&Ms after they are cooked. They tend not to stay on the cookie.
- Bake just until the cookies are set, about 8 to 10 minutes, so they stay soft.
- Make-ahead tip: Make the dough ahead and refrigerate it, or bake the cookies and freeze them for holiday trays later.
Chocolate Christmas Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups red and green M&Ms, divided
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups flour
- ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Chop 1/2 cup M&Ms in a nut chopper and set aside.
- In a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until fluffy.
- Add flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt and mix until combined.
- Fold in chopped M&Ms.
- Scoop cookies out onto a greased cookie sheet and top with red & green M&Ms. Bake for 8-10 minutes.
- NOTE: I would not recommend topping the cookies with M&Ms after they are cooked. They tend not to stay on the cookie.
Notes
- Soften the butter before mixing so it creams smoothly with the sugar.
- Chop some of the M&Ms for the dough so the candy spreads through every bite.
- Add the whole M&Ms on top before baking so they stay on the cookies.
- Bake just until the cookies are set, about 8 to 10 minutes, so they stay soft.
- I would not recommend topping the cookies with M&Ms after they are cooked. They tend not to stay on the cookie.
- Make-ahead tip: make the dough ahead and refrigerate it, or bake the cookies and freeze them for holiday trays later.
Nutrition
Recipe FAQ
Baked cookies need to cool completely on a wire rack, then store in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. Adding a piece of white bread to the container will help keep the cookies soft.
Place 1-2 cookies in fold top sandwich bags, place them together in a freezer Ziploc. You can also wrap them individually with plastic wrap, a fold top sandwich bag, or layer using parchment paper in between. They can keep in the freezer for 2 months.
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This recipe was first published December, 2023.
