Christmas MM Cookies Recipe
Just like Santa's elves craft magical gifts, you'll soon master the art of Christmas MM Cookies that'll make your kitchen smell like holiday cheer. You'll want to grab your mixing bowl and get ready for a festive baking adventure that transforms simple ingredients into colorful, chocolatey delights. These cookies aren't just treats; they're edible memories waiting to happen. Curious about how a few pantry staples can create such joy? Keep scrolling, and you'll uncover the sweet secrets that'll make your holiday baking legendary.
Recipe Highlights
- Use festive red and green M&Ms to create colorful, holiday-themed chocolate chip cookies that capture the Christmas spirit.
- Cream butter and brown sugar, then gradually add eggs and flour to create a soft, chewy cookie base perfect for seasonal baking.
- Bake cookies at 350°F for 10-12 minutes, ensuring golden brown edges while maintaining a soft center for optimal texture.
- Decorate cookie tops with reserved M&Ms to enhance visual appeal and create a vibrant, festive look for holiday gatherings.
- Store cooled cookies in an airtight container or freeze for up to one month, making them an ideal make-ahead treat for Christmas celebrations.
History
While chocolate chip cookies have been a beloved American treat for decades, the festive Christmas MM Cookies represent a delightful modern twist on a classic dessert.
You'll find that these colorful treats emerged in the late 20th century, coinciding with the rise of holiday-themed baking trends. The incorporation of seasonal M&Ms transformed traditional chocolate chip cookies into a festive staple for Christmas celebrations.
Key historical developments include:
- M&M's seasonal color variations in the 1990s
- Growing home baking culture
- Increased interest in visually appealing desserts
The recipe's popularity surged with the advent of social media and food blogs, allowing home bakers to share their creative holiday cookie designs.
Your connection to this tradition links you to a rich culinary heritage of festive home baking.
Recipe
Christmas MM Cookies embody the joyful spirit of the holiday season, combining the warmth of freshly baked cookies with the colorful charm of festive M&Ms. These delightful treats bring a burst of cheer to any Christmas gathering, offering a perfect blend of sweet chocolate and buttery cookie goodness.
The magic of these cookies lies in their simplicity and visual appeal, with red and green M&Ms creating a festive palette that instantly evokes holiday memories. Each bite promises a delectable combination of soft, chewy cookie and crisp chocolate candy.
Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup red and green M&Ms
Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare ungreased baking sheets. In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for the cookies.
Add eggs and mix thoroughly, ensuring a uniform consistency. Gradually incorporate the flour into the mixture, stirring until fully combined.
Gently fold in most of the M&Ms, reserving some for topping. Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the baking sheets, then carefully press the remaining M&Ms on top of each cookie to create a festive appearance. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
For the best results, allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks. This resting period helps them set and prevents breaking.
To maintain optimal texture and flavor, store the cookies in an airtight container and consume within 5 days. For a perfect batch, ensure butter is at room temperature and avoid overmixing the M&Ms to prevent cracking during baking.
Cooking Steps
You'll kick off your Christmas MM Cookies by creaming softened butter and brown sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for your festive treat.
Next, you'll gradually incorporate eggs and flour, carefully folding in those vibrant red and green M&Ms that'll make your cookies pop with holiday cheer.
Finally, you'll drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto baking sheets, press a few extra M&Ms on top for visual appeal, and bake until the edges turn a delicate golden brown.
Step 1. Cream Butter and Sugar
Grab a large mixing bowl and prepare to transform softened butter and brown sugar into a creamy, fluffy base for your Christmas MM Cookies.
You'll want to start with room-temperature butter, which ensures smooth incorporation and optimal texture. Use an electric mixer or stand mixer on medium speed, beating the ingredients for 3-4 minutes until the mixture becomes light, pale, and significantly increased in volume.
Key creaming techniques include:
- Use unsalted butter at 65-70°F
- Beat until mixture looks almost white
- Scrape down bowl sides periodically
- Stop mixing when butter appears fluffy and peaks form
Watch for visual cues: your mixture should look smooth, glossy, and have increased approximately 25% in volume.
This crucial step builds air into the dough, guaranteeing tender, soft cookies.
Step 2. Add Eggs Gradually
After successfully creaming the butter and sugar into a light, fluffy mixture, carefully introduce eggs to your Christmas MM Cookie dough. Crack eggs one at a time into the bowl, whisking thoroughly between each addition to ensure complete integration and prevent potential curdling.
You'll want to beat each egg until it's fully incorporated, watching for a smooth, homogeneous texture that signals proper mixing.
Key egg-adding techniques:
- Use room temperature eggs
- Add eggs slowly
- Mix at medium speed
- Scrape bowl sides between additions
Watch for visual cues that indicate proper mixing:
- No visible egg streaks
- Consistent, pale yellow color
- Slightly increased volume in mixture
Stop mixing immediately once eggs are evenly distributed to maintain the dough's delicate structure.
Step 3. Mix Flour Gradually
When incorporating flour into your Christmas MM Cookie dough, precision matters most for achieving that perfect texture.
You'll want to gradually add the flour to prevent clumping and ensure a smooth, consistent mixture. Start by measuring 2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour carefully, using the spoon-and-level method to avoid compacting.
Slowly introduce the flour into your wet ingredients, stirring steadily with a wooden spoon or electric mixer on low speed. Mix until just combined—overmixing can develop excess gluten, resulting in tough cookies.
Watch for these key signs:
- Flour is fully integrated
- No visible dry streaks remain
- Dough looks uniform and slightly sticky
- Texture feels soft but not wet
Stop mixing the moment these conditions are met, ensuring your Christmas MM Cookies will be tender and delicious.
Step 4. Fold in M&Ms Carefully
Gently cascade your vibrant red and green M&Ms into the cookie dough, ensuring an even distribution that will create a festive mosaic in every bite.
Pause and fold the candies with a light touch, using a rubber spatula to prevent crushing the delicate shells. Reserve approximately 1/4 cup of M&Ms for strategic topping, which will enhance the visual appeal of your cookies.
Key folding techniques:
- Use sweeping, gentle motions
- Rotate the bowl while mixing
- Avoid aggressive stirring
- Distribute candies uniformly
When incorporating M&Ms, work quickly to maintain dough temperature. Press reserved candies onto cookie tops just before baking, positioning them strategically for maximum color and chocolate coverage.
This careful approach ensures each cookie looks professionally crafted and tastes wonderfully festive.
Step 5. Bake Until Golden Brown
Once you've carefully folded those festive M&Ms into your cookie dough, the moment of baking magic arrives.
Slide your baking sheet into the preheated 350°F oven, positioning the rack in the center for even heat distribution.
Watch closely as the cookies transform: edges will turn a delicate golden-brown in 10-12 minutes, signaling they're perfectly done.
Keep an eye out for slight color changes—you're looking for a light, uniform golden hue that indicates precise doneness.
When removing the sheet, the cookies should look slightly underbaked in the center, as they'll continue cooking while cooling.
Let them rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, allowing residual heat to complete the cooking process and set the texture.
This crucial resting period ensures your Christmas MM Cookies maintain their irresistible chewy center.
Final Thoughts
Because Christmas cookies bring joy to so many holiday celebrations, these festive M&M treats will become a cherished tradition in your home.
When baking these delightful cookies, remember that presentation matters as much as taste. Press reserved M&Ms gently onto cookie tops to create a vibrant, festive look that'll wow your guests.
Pay attention to baking time, ensuring edges are golden but centers remain soft and chewy. Cool cookies completely on wire racks to maintain their perfect texture.
Store in an airtight container, layering between parchment paper to prevent sticking. Pro tip: These cookies freeze beautifully for up to one month, allowing you to prepare ahead of your holiday gatherings. Your family and friends will appreciate the love and care you've baked into every delicious bite.
