Santa's Cookies Recipe

A plate of Santa's favorite cookies served with milk.

5 from 5 votes

Santa’s Cookies are made for glittery nights and twinkling lights. They’re soft, festive, and exactly what belongs on a Christmas Eve plate next to a glass of milk.

Prep Time15

Cook Time10

Total Time25

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegetarian

Servings: cookies

Calories: 177kcal

Author: Andrea

Equipment

Ingredients

3/4 cup unsalted butter ( 1 1/2 sticks) softened
3/4 cup brown sugar packed
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp coarse kosher sea salt
1 cup M&Ms
1/4 cup festive sprinkles

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer or a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer, cream butter on medium speed for 1 minute. Add the sugars and mix on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla; mix until combined.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
With the mixing speed on low, gradually add the dry ingredients until a few streaks remain. Fold in the M&M's and sprinkles with a spatula.
Using a standard-size cookie scoop, portion the dough and roll into smooth balls. Place on the prepared cookie sheet.
Bake the cookie dough balls for 10–12 minutes or until the edges turn golden brown. Remove from the oven and let rest on the sheet for 3 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Notes

-For a prettier look, reserve 2 tablespoons of M&Ms and 1 tablespoon of sprinkles to press on top of the cookie dough balls after scooping and rolling.

STORE Santa Christmas Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days—they’ll stay soft and chewy. To FREEZE, roll the dough into balls and place them on a large baking sheet. Once firm, transfer the frozen dough balls to a freezer-safe Ziploc bag.

When you’re ready for fresh, festive cookies, bake straight from the freezer or let them sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes. No need to fully thaw. If the cookies are already baked, store them in an airtight container and REHEAT briefly in the microwave for that fresh-from-the-oven feel.

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