If you’re after a cookie recipe that captures all the sights, scents, and pure joy of the holiday season, these Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies are about to become your new favorite tradition. With a chewy, golden edge, a perfectly soft center, and a generous tumble of chocolate chips alongside festive red and green candies, each bite tastes like holiday magic. The colorful sprinkles make them merry and bright, the brown sugar gives them a warming depth, and every batch vanishes in record time—whether you’re hosting a party, setting out treats for Santa, or simply celebrating with family over mugs of cocoa.

Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

The beauty of these Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies lies in their familiar ingredients, working together to create something truly festive. Each component brings its own personality—crunch, chew, color, or classic flavor—so don’t skip a thing!

All-purpose flour: Provides the structure for the cookies, keeping them soft, tender, and sturdy enough for gifting.
Baking soda: Ensures your cookies rise just the right amount and stay fluffy in the center.
Salt: Enhances all the sweet flavors and balances the richness from butter and chocolate.
Unsalted butter, softened: Adds incredible flavor and gives each cookie its luxurious, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Granulated sugar: Delivers crisp edges and that sweet, classic cookie taste everyone loves.
Brown sugar, packed: Brings moisture and a hint of caramel flavor for perfectly chewy centers.
Large eggs: Bind the dough together and help give your cookies the perfect texture.
Vanilla extract: Amplifies all the buttery, chocolatey notes for a truly memorable cookie.
Semisweet chocolate chips: Give every bite genuine chocolate chip cookie nostalgia—because Christmas means comfort.
Red and green candy-coated chocolates (like M&M’s): Add pops of color and an extra crunch for instant holiday cheer.
Holiday sprinkles: Because nothing makes cookies look and feel more celebratory than a burst of sparkly, festive sprinkles!

How to Make Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies

Step 1: Prep Your Oven and Pans

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) to guarantee that perfectly even bake. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper—this simple step means your Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies will never stick, and cleanup is a breeze.

Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients

Grab a medium bowl and whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. This may seem like a quick, simple step, but mixing these dry ingredients separately ensures your cookies have just the right amount of rise and an even texture throughout.

Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugars

In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Beat until the mixture is light, fluffy, and smells incredible. This process traps air in the butter for that irresistible, slightly puffy cookie bite.

Step 4: Add Eggs and Vanilla

Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each egg is fully mixed in before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract for a hint of warm, aromatic sweetness that makes your Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies extra special.

Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry

Gradually add the flour mixture to your wet ingredients, mixing slowly until just combined. Don’t overmix—it’s okay if you see a few streaks of flour. This helps keep the cookies tender and soft.

Step 6: Fold in the Fun

Stir in the semisweet chocolate chips, candy-coated chocolate pieces, and the holiday sprinkles. Folding these in by hand ensures every cookie is packed with colorful holiday goodness and pockets of melty chocolate.

Step 7: Scoop and Bake

Using a cookie scoop or a tablespoon, portion out rounded balls of dough and place them on your prepared pans, about 2 inches apart. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes—until the edges are barely golden and the centers still look a little soft. The cookies will finish setting as they cool for that perfect texture.

Step 8: Cool and Enjoy

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This keeps them chewy and stops them from breaking. Try to resist sneaking one before they’re cool—Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies are worth the wait!

How to Serve Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies

Garnishes

For a magical finishing touch, sprinkle warm cookies with a pinch of extra holiday sprinkles or a dusting of powdered sugar just before serving. Not only does it add sparkle, but it also makes your cookies look straight out of a storybook bakery.

Side Dishes

Pair your Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies with big mugs of hot cocoa brimming with whipped cream, or serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a hot-and-cold dessert experience. They’re wonderful alongside a fruit tray or even a holiday cheese board if you’re hosting a snack-friendly gathering.

Creative Ways to Present

Stack cookies on a festive platter decorated with holly and ribbons, or package them up in clear cellophane bags tied with jute string and gift tags for an adorable edible gift. For cookie swaps, try layering the cookies in a cute holiday tin with parchment paper between the layers to keep them looking perfect.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once fully cooled, keep your Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay soft and delicious for up to a week—if you can keep them around that long!

Freezing

The dough and baked cookies both freeze beautifully. For the dough, scoop into balls and freeze on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. For baked cookies, layer between parchment in an airtight container. Both will last up to three months, giving you fresh-from-the-oven cookies on demand.

Reheating

If your cookies have lost their just-baked warmth, pop them in a 300°F oven for 2-3 minutes or give them a quick zap in the microwave for a few seconds. They’ll be bakery-soft with melting chocolate once again.

FAQs

Can I use different kinds of chocolate chips or candies?

Absolutely! Swap in white chocolate, dark chocolate, or even mint chips for a twist. You can also use any color candy-coated chocolates to match other holidays or occasions.

Is it okay to chill the cookie dough before baking?

Chilling isn’t necessary, but if you have time, it does help intensify flavor and make chunkier cookies. Chill for 30 minutes to an hour if desired, and bake as usual.

My cookies come out too flat. What am I doing wrong?

This can be caused by overly soft or melted butter or not enough flour. Make sure your butter is just softened, not liquid, and measure your flour correctly by spooning and leveling for accurate results.

Can I double this recipe for a party?

Definitely! This recipe easily doubles to feed a crowd. Just be sure to mix the dough in a large enough bowl and rotate baking sheets for even cooking if your oven is busy.

Are Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies safe for people with nut allergies?

This recipe does not include nuts, but always check your chocolate chips and candy ingredients for manufacturing warnings, especially if serving to anyone with allergies.

Final Thoughts

Sharing a batch of Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies is one of my favorite ways to spread happiness during the holidays—you can taste the cheer in every sprinkle and chocolatey bite! Give these a try, make them your own, and enjoy making sweet memories with every delicious pan.

Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

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4.8 from 13 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 36 cookies 1x
Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

Indulge in the festive spirit with these Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies. Packed with chocolate chips, colorful candy-coated chocolates, and holiday sprinkles, these cookies are a delightful treat for the holiday season.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Mix-ins:

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup red and green candy-coated chocolates (like M&Ms)
1/2 cup holiday sprinkles

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Instructions

Preheat and Prepare: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream softened butter with granulated and brown sugars until light and fluffy.
Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla extract.
Combine and Stir: Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture and mix until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips, candy-coated chocolates, and sprinkles.
Bake: Using a cookie scoop, drop dough onto baking sheets. Bake for 9–11 minutes until lightly golden. Cool on sheets before transferring to a wire rack.

Notes

For extra festive flavor, consider adding a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the dough.
Variety can be introduced by substituting white chocolate chips or peppermint chips.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American