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The holiday season is here, and what better way to celebrate than with festive baking? Get ready to make the most delightful cookies that taste like pure joy. These Santa’s Cookies are incredibly soft, wonderfully chewy, and packed with a double dose of chocolate chips and vibrant M&M candies. This recipe is super easy, making it perfect for bakers of all skill levels to whip up a batch for Santa or your loved ones.
Why You’ll Love These Santa’s Cookies
You’ll adore these cheerful cookies for many reasons, making them a holiday tradition.
- Incredibly Soft and Chewy Texture: Each bite delivers a melt-in-your-mouth experience thanks to a special ingredient.
- Visually Festive with Red & Green: The vibrant M&Ms instantly bring holiday cheer to your cookie platter.
- Simple, Common Pantry Ingredients: You likely have most of what you need already on hand.
- Quick and Straightforward to Make: This recipe is perfect for busy parents and beginner bakers alike.
- Perfect for Holiday Gifting: Package these beautiful treats for friends, family, or neighbors.
- Santa’s Favorite! Legend says Santa absolutely adores these delicious Santa’s Cookies.
Ingredients
Gather your ingredients to create these irresistible holiday cookies.
Wet Ingredients:
- ¾ cup butter, softened
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 small box instant vanilla pudding mix (one 3.4 ounce box, dry, not prepared)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Mix-ins:
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 cup red and green M&M candies
Notes & Substitutions
Achieve the perfect cookie by paying attention to these tips. For the best texture, ensure your butter is genuinely softened, not melted, to properly cream with the sugars. Use only the dry instant pudding mix, do not prepare it. It adds incredible chewiness and softness to these Santa’s Cookies. Feel free to swap semi-sweet chocolate chips for milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or use all one kind. For other festive mix-ins, try chopped peppermint candies, sprinkles, or even mini marshmallows.
Equipment
You’ll need a few basic kitchen tools for these delicious Santa’s Cookies.
- Large mixing bowl
- Medium mixing bowl
- Electric mixer (handheld or stand mixer)
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mats (optional, but recommended)
- Wire cooling rack
- Measuring cups and spoons
Instructions
Follow these simple steps to bake a batch of amazing Santa’s Double Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies.
In a large bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar for 1 to 2 minutes until light and fluffy. Next, add the vanilla extract and the egg, mixing thoroughly until everything is well combined.
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, the dry instant vanilla pudding mix, baking soda, and salt. Make sure these dry ingredients are fully combined.
Gradually add the whisked dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Mix until just incorporated; avoid overmixing. Stir in most of the chocolate chips, reserving a few chocolate chips and all the M&Ms for later. Cover the cookie dough and chill it in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
The science behind chilling cookie dough, as explained by Crave Cookies, shows how this step allows the dough to develop a thicker texture, resulting in a softer, chewier cookie with a more controlled spread during baking.
This step is crucial for perfect Santa’s Cookies.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a baking sheet or line it with parchment paper. Roll about 3 tablespoons of cookie dough into a ball, roughly the size of a golf ball, and place it on the prepared baking sheet. Gently press the reserved chocolate chips and M&M candies onto the tops of the cookie dough balls. This ensures they are visible and vibrant after baking.
Bake for 9 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers still look slightly underdone and soft. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the sheet for at least 10 minutes. This helps them set up and prevents crumbling. Finally, transfer the cooled Santa’s Cookies to a wire cooling rack to finish cooling completely. Store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
Pro Tips & Troubleshooting
Ensure perfect cookies every time with these helpful hints.
- Pro Tips for Soft Cookies:
- Always use instant pudding mix (dry) in your recipe; it’s the secret to their incredible softness.
- Avoid overmixing dough once the flour is added; this can make cookies tough.
- Slightly underbake cookies for a chewy center; they will continue to cook on the hot baking sheet.
- Cool properly on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a rack.
- Store in an airtight container to maintain freshness and softness for days.
- Troubleshooting Dry/Crumbly Dough:
- Measure flour accurately using the spoon-and-level method, as too much flour causes dryness.
- Ensure butter is perfectly softened at room temperature for proper incorporation.
- If dough is very dry, add an extra egg white or a splash of milk, one teaspoon at a time.
- Sometimes, kneading the dough gently by hand for a minute helps to bring it together.
Serving, Storage & Variations
These festive cookies are perfect for any occasion and store beautifully.
- Serving Suggestions:
- Enjoy warm with a cold glass of milk for the ultimate treat.
- Arrange them on a beautiful holiday cookie platter for guests.
- Use them as a delicious base for homemade ice cream sandwiches.
- Storage:
- Store baked Santa’s Cookies at room temperature in an airtight container.
- They will stay fresh and soft for up to 5 days, though they rarely last that long!
- Freezing:
- Freeze baked cookies: Once completely cooled, place them in a single layer in a freezer bag or container. They last up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature.
- Freeze raw dough balls: Scoop dough, press M&Ms, then freeze solid on a baking sheet. Transfer to a freezer bag and bake from frozen, adding 2-3 minutes to bake time.
- Variations:
- Experiment with different M&M colors for various holidays, like pastel for Easter or orange and black for Halloween.
- Add a handful of chopped walnuts or pecans for a nutty crunch, or festive sprinkles for extra sparkle.
- Swap vanilla extract for almond extract or peppermint extract for a different flavor profile.
Nutrition
These Santa’s Cookies are a delightful treat. The nutritional values provided below are approximate and based on standard ingredient calculations. Always remember that actual nutritional content can vary based on specific brands and exact measurements used. This information is for general guidance only.
| Nutrient | Amount Per Serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 230 |
| Total Fat | 12g |
| Saturated Fat | 7g |
| Cholesterol | 30mg |
| Sodium | 180mg |
| Total Carbs | 29g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1g |
| Total Sugar | 20g |
| Protein | 3g |
Conclusion
These Santa’s Double Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies are truly the perfect treat for spreading holiday cheer. With their irresistible softness, chewy texture, and festive appearance, they embody everything wonderful about holiday baking. They are simple to make, yet yield spectacular results that everyone will love. So, roll up your sleeves, gather your ingredients, and bake a batch of these magical cookies for your loved ones or for Santa himself. We hope you enjoy this festive recipe! Please share your creations and rate the recipe below!
FAQ
Got questions about these delightful Santa’s Double Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies? We have answers.
How do I prevent cookies from spreading too much?
Ensure your dough is thoroughly chilled for at least an hour; warm dough spreads faster. Also, make sure your butter isn’t too warm or melted when you start, and measure your flour accurately.
Can I omit the pudding mix?
You can, but the instant pudding mix is key for the super soft and chewy texture of these Santa’s Cookies. Omitting it will result in a less soft and potentially drier cookie.
Do M&Ms melt in the oven?
The candy shell of M&Ms helps them hold their shape better than chocolate chips. To keep them looking their most vibrant, press some extra M&Ms onto the warm cookies immediately after removing them from the oven.
Santa’s Double Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a large bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar for 1 to 2 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and egg, mixing until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, pudding mix, baking soda, and salt until combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Mix until just combined. Stir in most of the chocolate chips. Reserve some chips and all M&Ms for topping. Chill dough for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare baking sheet with parchment. Roll 3 tbsp dough balls and place on the sheet. Press remaining chips and M&Ms on top.
- Bake for 9 to 12 minutes until edges are set and centers look slightly underdone. Cool on sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for longer storage.
