Name: Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 22 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature; ½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar; 6 tablespoons granulated sugar; 1 large egg; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 ½ cups semisweet chocolate chips (Guittard semi-sweet chocolate chunks recommended); 1 cup white chocolate chips; ½ cup M&Ms (red and green); ⅓ cup red and green sprinkles

Jump to Recipe· 4.5 from 354 reviews

If you’re on the hunt for a festive, crowd-pleasing treat this season, look no further than this **Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe**. I absolutely love how these cookies come out perfectly soft, chewy, and speckled with holiday colors that just make you smile. Whether you’re baking for a party, gifting neighbors, or sneaking a few for yourself late at night, this recipe is your new go-to because it’s so easy to get right and tastes like pure Christmas magic.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Festive and Fun: The mix of red-and-green M&Ms and sprinkles makes these cookies instantly festive and perfect for holiday gatherings.
Soft & Chewy Texture: I used to struggle with crunchy cookies around the holidays, but this recipe nails that chewy middle every single time.
Simple Ingredients: You likely already have everything in your pantry, which means zero last-minute runs to the store.
Customizable: You can swap out chocolate chunks or sprinkles for your favorite festive mix-ins to make it your own.

Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe - Recipe Step

Ingredients You’ll Need

These ingredients come together beautifully to create that perfect cookie dough — rich butter, just the right amount of sugar, and plenty of chocolate to keep things indulgent. Trust me, picking quality chocolate chips and fresh butter really turns these into something special.

Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe - Ingredients

All-purpose flour: Choose a good quality, unbleached flour for best texture; too much flour can toughen cookies, so measure carefully.
Baking soda: Acts as a leavening agent for lightness — make sure it’s fresh for a nice rise.
Salt: Enhances flavor and balances the sweetness.
Unsalted butter: Use room temperature — not melted! This keeps the dough from spreading too thin and creates tender, chewy cookies.
Light brown sugar: Gives that lovely moist chewiness and depth of flavor typical in holiday cookies.
Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness and helps with slight crisp edges.
Large egg: Binds everything and adds moisture.
Vanilla extract: Always use pure vanilla; it lifts the entire flavor profile beautifully.
Semisweet chocolate chips or chunks: I swear by Guittard chunks — they melt just right without losing texture.
White chocolate chips: These add sweetness contrast and a pretty look in the dough.
Red and green M&Ms: Adds festive color and crunch that both kids and adults love.
Red and green sprinkles: Just enough holiday sparkle to make these cookies feel special.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I love making this Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe my own by tweaking mix-ins or even the sweetness levels. Don’t hesitate to play around with it — that’s half the fun in the kitchen, especially around the holidays when creativity runs high!

Nutty Variation: Add chopped pecans or walnuts for crunch; my family loves that extra texture and flavor contrast.
Dark Chocolate Lover’s Version: Replace white chocolate chips with dark chocolate chunks for a richer bite — I sometimes do this when I want a less sweet cookie.
Gluten-Free Twist: Swap all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend; just make sure to chill your dough well so the texture holds.
Spiced Up: Add a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the dry ingredients for a subtle warmth that feels so cozy.

How to Make Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Step 1: Prep Like a Pro

First things first — preheat your oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper (trust me, parchment is the secret to getting cookies that release easily and bake evenly). While the oven warms up, sift or whisk together your flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. This ensures your leavening is evenly distributed and you get those perfectly tender cookies.

Step 2: Cream That Butter and Sugar

Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat your room temperature butter with both brown and granulated sugars until smooth and creamy — about 2-3 minutes. This step is where the magic starts for that light, fluffy base. It’s important not to skip this or rush it because it affects the cookie texture big time.

Step 3: Egg and Vanilla Time

Add in the egg and vanilla extract and mix on low speed just until combined. You don’t want to add too much air here, or your cookies might puff up oddly. Just a quick stir until everything’s incorporated.

Step 4: Bring in the Flour Mix

Gradually add the flour mixture to your wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined — and here’s a critical tip: don’t overmix! Overworking the dough can lead to tough cookies, so once the flour disappears, stop mixing.

Step 5: Fold in the Festive Goodies

Time for the stars — fold in the semisweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, M&Ms, and sprinkles gently with a spatula. The colors and textures add that festive spirit to each bite. Again — no overmixing! You want them evenly spread through the dough, but don’t beat it like crazy.

Step 6: Scoop and Bake

Use a small or large ice cream scoop or a heaping tablespoon to drop dough balls onto your prepared baking sheets — I usually go for 6-8 per pan to leave enough room for spreading. Bake one sheet at a time for best heat distribution.

Small cookies bake for 8-10 minutes; large cookies take 10-13 minutes. The goal is lightly golden edges, firm tops, but still soft centers. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks so they set perfectly without breaking.

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Pro Tips for Making Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Butter at Room Temperature: Don’t rush this step! Soft butter creams better with sugars and controls spreading, giving you thicker, chewier cookies.
Chill the Dough if Needed: If your kitchen is warm and the dough feels sticky, pop it in the fridge for 30 minutes before baking to avoid flat cookies.
One Sheet at a Time: Cookies bake more evenly when you bake one pan in the center rack rather than crowding two pans.
Don’t Overmix: Once the flour goes in, mix just until combined — overmixing develops gluten and makes cookies tough.

How to Serve Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe - Serving

Garnishes

I keep garnishing simple here: a light dusting of powdered sugar gives these festive cookies a snowy, holiday look that’s cozy and charming. Sometimes, I press a few extra M&Ms on top right after baking while they’re still warm for extra color pop.

Side Dishes

Pair these Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies with a glass of cold milk — classic for a reason — or for a grown-up twist, a warm cup of spiced chai or peppermint hot chocolate makes the perfect holiday pairing in my kitchen.

Creative Ways to Present

For gifting or parties, I like stacking these cookies on a decorative plate lined with festive napkins and topping with a sprig of rosemary or holly for a rustic-chic vibe. Wrapping a few cookies in clear cellophane with a red ribbon is another quick and beautiful way to share the joy.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. To keep them soft, I add a slice of bread in the container, which helps maintain moisture — a trick I discovered that works like a charm!

Freezing

If you want to prep ahead, you can freeze the dough balls on a baking sheet, then transfer to a sealed bag once solid. When you’re ready to bake, skip thawing and just add a minute or two to the baking time. Frozen baked cookies also freeze well — just wrap tightly and thaw at room temp.

Reheating

To refresh day-old cookies, I pop them in a preheated 300°F oven for 5 minutes to bring back that fresh-baked softness. Avoid microwaving if you want to keep the edges crisp and centers chewy.

FAQs

Can I use salted butter in this Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe?

Yes, but I recommend reducing or omitting the added salt to balance the flavors. Unsalted butter lets you control the salt level better, but salted butter will still yield delicious cookies.
What if I don’t have red and green M&Ms or sprinkles?

No worries! You can substitute any colorful candies or even just use extra chocolate chips for a simpler look. The cookies will still taste amazing.
How do I prevent my Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies from spreading too much?

Make sure your butter is at room temperature—not melted—and chill your dough if your kitchen is warm. Also, using parchment paper for baking prevents excessive spreading and sticking.
Can I make this recipe vegan or dairy-free?

Yes! Swap butter for a plant-based margarine or coconut oil and use a flax or chia egg substitute. Dairy-free chocolate chips are widely available to keep the festive spirit intact.
How long do these cookies last if stored properly?

Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies stay fresh for about 5 days. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe has become a beloved staple in my holiday baking — it’s easy, festive, and always a hit at every family gathering. I hope you’ll give it a try and share it with those you love. There’s just something so heartwarming about biting into a soft, chocolate-studded cookie with holiday colors wrapped inside. It’s the little joys like this that make the season feel extra special. Happy baking!