Santa’s Holiday Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Introduction
These festive Santa’s Cookies are a delightful holiday treat bursting with chocolate chips, colorful M&M’s, and sprinkles. Perfect for sharing at parties or leaving out for Santa, they combine buttery richness with a chewy, soft texture.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 cup holiday (red/green) M&M’s candy
- ¼ cup holiday (red/green) jimmies (sprinkles)
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter together with the light brown sugar and granulated sugar for about 2 minutes until the mixture is light, fluffy, and fully blended.
- Step 3: Mix in the eggs and vanilla extract and beat until everything is well combined and smooth.
- Step 4: Add the all-purpose flour, kosher salt, and baking soda to the wet mixture. Beat just until all ingredients are fully combined, careful not to overmix to maintain cookie tenderness.
- Step 5: Gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, red and green M&M’s, and holiday jimmies (sprinkles) evenly throughout the dough.
- Step 6: Using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop, drop dough balls onto the prepared parchment-lined cookie sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow room for spreading.
- Step 7: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 11-13 minutes until the edges are lightly browned but the centers remain soft.
- Step 8: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for several minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Tips & Variations
- For extra festive flair, add a few crushed peppermint candies to the dough or sprinkle on top before baking.
- Use a mix of different chocolate chips (dark, milk, or white) to vary flavor and texture.
- If you prefer a softer cookie, take them out of the oven slightly earlier at around 10 minutes.
- To make the cookies nut-free, ensure your M&M’s and chocolate chips are processed in a nut-free facility.
Storage
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, freeze them for up to 3 months. To reheat, warm cookies in a low oven (about 300°F) for 5 minutes or microwave briefly for a soft, fresh-baked feel.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted butter?
Yes, but reduce or omit the added kosher salt in the recipe to avoid oversalting your cookies.
Can I prepare the dough ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can refrigerate the dough for up to 24 hours before baking. This helps enhance the flavors and keeps the cookies chewy.
Print
Santa’s Holiday Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 28 minutes
- Yield: 36 servings 1x
Description
These festive Santa’s Cookies are a delightful holiday treat, combining the rich flavors of buttery dough with semi-sweet and white chocolate chips, as well as colorful red and green M&M’s and sprinkles. Perfectly soft-centred and lightly browned at the edges, these cookies bring joy to any holiday gathering with their vibrant look and delicious taste.
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
Add-ins
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 cup Holiday (red/green) M&M’s candy
- ¼ cup holiday (red/green) jimmies (sprinkles)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and line cookie sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter together with the light brown sugar and granulated sugar for about 2 minutes until the mixture is light, fluffy, and fully blended.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Mix in the eggs and vanilla extract, beating until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Add the all-purpose flour, kosher salt, and baking soda to the wet ingredients. Beat just until all ingredients are combined without overmixing, which helps maintain cookie tenderness.
- Fold in Chocolate and Candies: Gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, red and green M&M’s, and holiday jimmies (sprinkles) evenly throughout the dough.
- Scoop Dough: Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to drop dough balls onto the prepared parchment-lined cookie sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow room for spreading during baking.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 11-13 minutes until the edges are lightly browned but the centers remain soft.
- Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for several minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Do not overmix the dough after adding flour to keep the cookies tender.
- Spacing the dough balls about 2 inches apart prevents them from merging into one big cookie during baking.
- Letting the cookies cool on the baking sheet before moving helps them set and maintain shape.
- You can substitute the holiday M&M’s and jimmies with regular chocolate chips or your favorite candy for different seasonal variations.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week for best freshness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 13 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Holiday cookies, Christmas cookies, chocolate chip cookies, festive cookies, Santa’s cookies, easy cookie recipe
