There’s something magical about pulling a tray of festive cookies from the oven — red and green M&Ms peeking through melted white chocolate, filling the house with that irresistible warm cookie aroma. Christmas M&M White Chocolate Chip Cookies have become my family’s most requested holiday treat, appearing at cookie exchanges, on Santa’s plate, and in countless gift boxes for neighbors and teachers.

What makes these cookies so special is their perfect balance of soft, chewy centers with slightly crisp edges, all studded with colorful M&Ms, creamy white chocolate chips, and festive sprinkles. The dough comes together in just 10 minutes, and within 20 minutes total you’ll have fresh-baked cookies that look like they came from a bakery. Whether you’re baking with kids who love the colorful candies or need a reliable recipe for holiday gatherings, these cookies deliver every single time. Let’s get baking!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Festive and colorful — red and green M&Ms make these instantly holiday-ready
Quick and easy — ready in just 20 minutes from start to finish
Soft and chewy texture — the combination of butter and two sugars creates the perfect cookie consistency
Kid-friendly — children love helping add the M&Ms and white chocolate chips
Perfect for gifting — these cookies look impressive and travel well in cookie tins or gift boxes

Ingredients You’ll Need

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature — must be soft but not melted for proper creaming
¾ cup granulated sugar — provides sweetness and helps create crispy edges
½ cup light brown sugar, packed — adds moisture and chewiness with a hint of molasses flavor
2 large eggs at room temperature — binds the dough and adds richness
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract — enhances all the flavors
2¾ cups all-purpose flour — the structure of your cookies
1 teaspoon baking soda — helps cookies spread and creates texture
½ teaspoon salt — balances the sweetness
1 cup white chocolate chips — adds creamy, sweet pockets throughout
1 cup Christmas M&Ms (red and green) — the festive star of the show
¼ cup Christmas sprinkles — optional but adds extra holiday cheer

Ingredient tip: Room temperature butter is crucial — it should be soft enough to leave an indent when pressed but not greasy or melted. Take it out of the fridge about an hour before baking.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preheat and prep. Set your oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Cream butter and sugars. Using a stand mixer or hand mixer with a large bowl, beat the butter with both sugars for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy. This step incorporates air and creates the perfect texture.
Add eggs and vanilla. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract, making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Mix dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
Combine wet and dry. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture until just incorporated. Don’t overmix or cookies will be tough.
Fold in the fun stuff. Using a wooden spoon or spatula (not the mixer, which can break the M&Ms), gently fold in the white chocolate chips, M&Ms, and sprinkles.
Scoop the dough. Use a tablespoon or cookie scoop to portion dough into balls, rolling them smooth, and place on lined baking sheets at least 2 inches apart.
Add extra toppings. Press a few extra M&Ms and white chocolate chips on top of each cookie ball for a beautiful presentation.
Bake. Bake for 10-13 minutes until edges are lightly golden and centers are just set. They’ll look slightly underdone in the middle — that’s perfect!
Cool properly. Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Serving Suggestions

Santa’s cookie plate — leave these out with milk on Christmas Eve for the perfect holiday tradition
Cookie exchange star — these colorful cookies always stand out at holiday swaps
Gift boxes — package in festive tins or clear cellophane bags tied with ribbon for teachers, neighbors, or coworkers
Holiday dessert table — arrange on a platter with other Christmas treats for parties and gatherings

Make It Yours (Variations)

All chocolate version — swap white chocolate chips for semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
Peppermint twist — add ½ teaspoon peppermint extract and crushed candy canes instead of sprinkles
Double chocolate — replace ¼ cup flour with cocoa powder for chocolate cookie dough
Nut lover’s delight — fold in ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts along with the chocolate and M&Ms
Sugar cookie base — skip the chocolate chips for a simpler M&M sugar cookie

Tips for Perfect Christmas Cookies

Don’t skip the chilling — if you have time, chill the dough for 15-30 minutes before baking for thicker cookies that spread less

Use a cookie scoop — this ensures uniform size so all cookies bake evenly

Don’t overbake — these cookies continue cooking on the hot pan after you remove them from the oven, so take them out when centers still look slightly underdone

Save M&Ms for decoration — reserve some M&Ms and white chocolate chips to press on top before baking for a bakery-style look

Room temperature ingredients matter — both butter and eggs should be at room temperature for proper mixing and texture

Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

At room temperature: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Place parchment paper between layers if stacking.

In the freezer: Baked cookies freeze beautifully for up to 3 months. Freeze in a single layer first, then transfer to freezer bags.

Make-ahead dough: You can chill the dough for up to 3 days in the refrigerator before baking. If chilling longer than 4 hours, let it sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before scooping.

Freeze cookie dough: Scoop dough into balls, freeze on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer to freezer bags for up to 3 months. Bake directly from frozen, adding 1-2 extra minutes.

More Recipes from mateorecipes.blog

If you love these festive cookies, try Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies for a year-round favorite with the same soft, chewy texture minus the holiday colors.

Looking for more Christmas treats? Gingerbread Cookies are perfect for cutting into shapes and decorating, giving you another fun holiday baking project.

Want to keep the M&M theme going? M&M Cookie Bars turn this same great flavor into an easy bar cookie that feeds a crowd with even less effort.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use different colored M&Ms?
Absolutely! This recipe works with any M&M color combination. Try pastels for Easter, orange and black for Halloween, or red and pink for Valentine’s Day.

Why do I need to use a wooden spoon to mix in the M&Ms?
The mixer can crack and break the M&M candy shells, so switching to a wooden spoon or spatula for this step keeps them intact and pretty.

Can I make these without white chocolate chips?
Yes! Use all M&Ms, or substitute with regular chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, or butterscotch chips.

My cookies spread too much. What went wrong?
Make sure your butter wasn’t melted, chill the dough before baking, and check that your oven temperature is accurate with an oven thermometer.

How do I keep the cookies soft?
Don’t overbake them, and store in an airtight container with a slice of bread to maintain moisture.

Can I use salted butter instead?
Yes, just reduce the added salt to ¼ teaspoon to avoid overly salty cookies.

Final Word

These Christmas M&M White Chocolate Chip Cookies are everything a holiday cookie should be — colorful, delicious, and guaranteed to make everyone smile. From the moment you pull them from the oven to that first warm, melty bite, they capture the joy and magic of the season. They’ve become such a beloved tradition in my home that my kids start asking for them the day after Thanksgiving.

Bake a batch this weekend and watch them disappear! I’d love to see your festive creations — share your decorated cookies with me!