Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies are soft, chewy rounds loaded with semi-sweet chips and festive red/green M&Ms, baked to golden edges with a hint of almond extract for holiday cheer—ideal for cookie swaps, Santa treats, or family baking with make-ahead dough and colorful sprinkles. This 40-minute recipe yields 3 dozen cookies, serving 12–18 at ~160 calories each, capturing classic chocolate chip warmth with seasonal pops of color. For more holiday baking, explore our Perfect Gingerbread Cookies Recipe, which complements these with spiced variety.
What is the Perfect Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe?
The Perfect Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe is a drop cookie dough creamed with butter, brown sugar, and eggs, mixed with flour, baking soda, and a blend of semi-sweet chips and holiday M&Ms for bursts of chocolate and color, baked to chewy perfection with optional red/green sprinkles—perfect for festive treats. This merry essential uses the classic Toll House method with M&Ms for kid appeal and almond extract for subtle nuttiness, creating cookies that hold shape without cakiness. If you’re craving holiday magic, follow the Perfect Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe to recreate this favorite at home. It’s a natural companion to spiced bakes like our Perfect Gingerbread Cookies Recipe, where chocolate chips add sweetness.
Why You’ll Love Perfect Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
These cookies charm with simple mixing and festive flair, making them a holiday baking staple.
Quick Drop-and-Bake Festivity
Mix in 10 minutes, bake 10–12—chill dough for shape. Ideal for swaps, like dough in our Perfect Sugar Cookie Recipe.
Chocolatey Holiday Cheer
Chips and M&Ms deliver melty sweetness with colorful crunch—customize sprinkles, akin to herb depth in the Lemon Herb Tahini Recipe.
Minimal Cleanup
One bowl and sheets; pantry staples like chips—stress-free, much like our Moist Applesauce Oatmeal Muffins.
Versatile Festive Treat
Yields 36; gluten-free with oat flour. Pairs with cocoa from our Fresh Herb Pasta Guide for contrast.
Balanced Indulgence
Chip-loaded at ~160 calories/cookie; merry yet portioned, like citrus in the Baby Lemon Impossible Pies Recipe.
Showstopper Simplicity
Golden rounds with colorful chips—add holiday shapes for flair, like layers in the Lemon Herb Tahini Recipe.
For gluten-free, see our Oat-Flour Pasta Experiment.
Perfect Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes (plus 15 minutes chilling)
Cook Time: 10–12 minutes per batch
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 12–18 (36 cookies)
Category: Dessert, Cookies
Method: Oven
Cuisine: American
Ingredients
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Cookie Dough
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract (optional, for nuttiness)
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup holiday M&Ms (red/green)
- 2 tbsp red/green sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Cream Dough: Beat ½ cup softened butter, ½ cup granulated sugar, and ½ cup brown sugar 2 minutes until fluffy. Add 1 egg, 1 tsp vanilla, and ½ tsp almond extract; mix well.
- Add Dry: In a bowl, whisk 1½ cups flour, ½ tsp baking soda, and ¼ tsp salt. Fold into wet until just combined. Stir in ¾ cup chocolate chips and ½ cup M&Ms.
- Chill: Scoop tablespoon balls onto parchment-lined sheets. Chill 15 minutes.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake 10–12 minutes until edges golden (centers soft). Add sprinkles if using during last 2 minutes. Cool on racks.
- Serve: Enjoy warm or room temp.
Nutrition (Per Cookie): ~160 calories.
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Detailed Ingredients Breakdown
Cookie Dough Ingredients
- Unsalted Butter (½ cup, softened): For tenderness; room temp for creaming.
- Granulated Sugar (½ cup) & Brown Sugar (½ cup): Sweetness and chew.
- Egg (1 large): Binding.
- Vanilla Extract (1 tsp) & Almond Extract (½ tsp, optional): Flavor warmth.
- All-Purpose Flour (1½ cups): Structure; oat for GF like in our Oat-Flour Pasta Experiment.
- Baking Soda (½ tsp): Lift.
- Salt (¼ tsp): Balance.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (¾ cup): Melty chocolate.
- Holiday M&Ms (½ cup): Festive color bursts.
- Sprinkles (2 tbsp, optional): Holiday sparkle.
These yield chewy, festive cookies.
How to Make Perfect Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Focus on creaming and even baking for essential chew.
Step 1: Dough Creaming
Beat butter/sugars fluffy—essential for texture.
Step 2: Flavor Addition
Mix in egg/extracts—binds without toughness.
Step 3: Dry Incorporation
Whisk dry; fold in to avoid overmixing, like in our Perfect Sugar Cookie Recipe.
Step 4: Add Chips
Stir in chips/M&Ms last for distribution.
Step 5: Bake
Scoop and bake until edges set—centers stay soft.
Inspired by holiday cookies? Our Make-Ahead Ravioli Freezer Guide offers dough chilling tips. For a classic external take, try this Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe from Allrecipes, which adds M&Ms for festive results.
Storage and Shelf Life
Room temp airtight 3–4 days; refrigerate up to 1 week (chips soften). Freeze baked up to 2 months (unglazed); thaw at room temp. Signs of spoilage: stale crumb, moldy edges—discard. (Pro tip: Like storing in our Perfect Peanut Butter Blossom Recipe, freeze for freshness.)
Tips and Variations
Use room-temp butter; chill dough to prevent spreading. Variations: Peppermint extract for minty twist, dark chips for bitterness. For vegan, use plant butter/egg replacer. Essential: Bake to golden edges only. Like chip balance in the Perfect Peanut Butter Blossom Recipe, adjust M&Ms.
Conclusion
Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies are a festive, chewy essential for holiday sweets—chocolatey, colorful, and simple. With key steps, it’s your go-to cookie. From picks to storage, success every bite. Bake ahead, decorate and share with loved ones! Pair with our Fresh Herb Pasta Guide for savory balance.