Name: Christmas M&M Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 13 min
Total time: 28 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: ½ cup (114 grams) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature; ½ cup light brown sugar; ¼ cup white sugar; ¾ cup (180 grams) peanut butter; 1 large egg; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 cup all purpose flour; ¾ cup old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick oats); ½ teaspoon baking soda; ¼ teaspoon salt; ¾ cup Christmas M&M’s, mini or regular (plus more for topping); ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, mini or regular (plus more for topping)

Jump to Recipe· 4.4 from 14 reviews

If you’re looking for a festive, chewy treat that’s bursting with color, texture, and holiday cheer, then you are going to love this Christmas M&M Cookies Recipe. These cookies aren’t just any cookies—they’re a happy little celebration in every bite, packed with peanut butter, oats, chocolate chips, and of course, those iconic red and green M&Ms that scream Christmas. I can’t wait to share the secrets behind making these perfect holiday goodies that are as fun to bake as they are to eat!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Holiday Spirit in Every Bite: M&Ms in Christmas colors instantly make these cookies feel festive and fun.
Chewy and Chunky Texture: The combination of oats, peanut butter, and chocolate chips creates a cookie that’s satisfyingly chewy with bursts of melty chocolate.
Super Easy to Make: With simple ingredients and straightforward steps, you can whip these up even if you’re short on time or baking newbie.
Perfect for Sharing: These cookies hold up well for gift-giving or making a Christmas cookie platter that dazzles.

Christmas M&M Cookies Recipe - Recipe Step

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Christmas M&M Cookies Recipe plays a crucial role in delivering that delicious holiday bite. Plus, I always recommend grabbing good-quality peanut butter and fresh M&Ms to keep these cookies tasting their best.

Christmas M&M Cookies Recipe - Ingredients

Unsalted butter: Softened butter ensures a tender and rich crumb without overpowering saltiness.
Light brown sugar: Adds acidity and moisture, which helps keep the cookies chewy and gives that caramel-like depth.
White sugar: Balances sweetness and promotes a slight crisp edge.
Peanut butter: The star nutty flavor—make sure it’s creamy and unsalted for best texture and taste.
Egg: Binds the dough together and helps with a soft, chewy texture.
Vanilla extract: Brings warmth and rounds out flavors beautifully.
All-purpose flour: The base structure for the cookie, providing that perfect chew without being cakey.
Old-fashioned rolled oats: Adds rustic chewiness and wholesome texture (don’t swap with quick oats—they’re too fine).
Baking soda: Gives lift and slight browning to the cookie edges.
Salt: Enhances all the sweetness and deepens flavors.
Christmas M&M’s: The colorful, crunchy highlight—a Christmas cookie wouldn’t be complete without them!
Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Melty bites of chocolate that pair beautifully with peanut butter and oats.

Note: Exact ingredients and measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

Make It Your Way

I love playing around with the Christmas M&M Cookies Recipe, especially when I want to make them a little more adult-friendly or allergy-conscious. You can easily swap the peanut butter for almond butter or sunflower seed butter if you’re avoiding peanuts, and they still turn out delicious!

Swap peanut butter: Tried it with almond butter and was surprised how wonderfully it changed up the flavor while keeping the texture perfect.
Mix up the candies: Add mini Reese’s Pieces or crushed peppermint for an unexpected twist during the holidays.
Make it gluten-free: Substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend and check your oats for gluten-free labeling to suit allergy needs.
Add nuts: I sometimes toss in chopped pecans for extra crunch and an earthy note – totally yummy!

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas M&M Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Cream the Butters and Sugars Until Fluffy

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat—it really makes cleanup a breeze. Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the softened butter, light brown sugar, and white sugar together on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. This is key because creaming incorporates air that helps your cookies rise beautifully while keeping them tender inside.

Step 2: Add Peanut Butter, Egg, and Vanilla

Next, add the peanut butter, egg, and vanilla extract to your butter and sugar mixture. Beat on low speed just until the ingredients come together—it’s easy to overmix here, and you want to keep your dough soft and tender. This is where the peanut butter magic happens, infusing every bite with its nutty richness.

Step 3: Mix in the Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, old-fashioned rolled oats, baking soda, and salt. Then, add this dry mixture to your wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. It’s important not to overmix here—stirring until you don’t see any more flour patches is enough. The oats give these cookies their lovely chew and texture, making them feel homemade and cozy.

Step 4: Fold in the M&M’s and Chocolate Chips

Now comes the fun part: gently folding in those Christmas M&Ms and semi-sweet chocolate chips. I recommend saving a few extra candies and chips to press on top of the cookie dough balls before baking — it makes the cookies look irresistible when they come out of the oven and gives you a pop of festive color with every cookie.

Step 5: Scoop and Bake

Using a medium cookie scoop, grab about 2 tablespoons of dough and place the cookie balls spaced at least 2 inches apart on your baking sheet. I usually fit 6-8 cookies per tray. Press a few extra M&Ms and chocolate chips on top of each ball for decoration. Bake for 10-13 minutes, or until the edges are just turning golden brown—don’t worry if the centers look a little undercooked; they will set as they cool.

Step 6: Cool and Enjoy

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This step helps them set properly while keeping the insides wonderfully chewy. Repeat with the remaining dough, and before you know it, you’ll have a tray full of perfectly festive Christmas M&M cookies ready to eat or share.

Pro Tips for Making Christmas M&M Cookies Recipe

Don’t Overbake: I’ve learned that pulling these cookies out when edges just brown ensures they stay chewy—if you wait until the centers are dry, they’ll be less tender.
Use Room Temperature Butter: Soft butter blends better with sugars, giving you that light, fluffy dough texture I mentioned.
Press Extra Candies on Top: It makes the cookies look festive and inviting—perfect for when you’re hosting or gifting.
Don’t Skip the Oats: I once tried making these without oats and missed that chewy texture that makes this cookie stand out.

How to Serve Christmas M&M Cookies Recipe

Christmas M&M Cookies Recipe - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually serve these cookies just as they are — colorful and festive enough on their own. But if you want to dress them up, a light dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of white chocolate makes them sparkle. For parties, you could stick a mini candy cane beside each cookie for a fun Christmas touch.

Side Dishes

Pair these cookies with warm drinks like hot cocoa, spiced apple cider, or even a peppermint latte for the full cozy holiday vibe. They also go great alongside a cheese board if you’re serving an assorted snack spread during the holidays.

Creative Ways to Present

For gifting or parties, I love stacking these Christmas M&M Cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with twine and a festive tag. Or set them on a holiday platter with sprigs of fresh rosemary or holly for an extra-special presentation that wows your guests.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

These cookies keep beautifully in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. I usually stack them with parchment paper layers in between to keep them from sticking together. If you want to keep them longer, refrigerate them for up to a month, but I recommend enjoying them sooner for the best taste and texture.

Freezing

I’ve frozen both baked cookies and raw cookie dough balls with great results. For the dough, I freeze the scooped balls on a tray until hard (about 1-2 hours), then transfer them to a sealed freezer bag for up to three months. When ready to bake, just thaw them overnight in the fridge and bake as usual. Baked cookies freeze well too—wrap them tightly to avoid freezer burn.

Reheating

For that fresh-baked warmth any time, pop a leftover cookie in the microwave for 10-15 seconds until just warm. This melts the chocolate a little and brings back the pillowy-soft feel—like they just came out of the oven.

FAQs

Can I use quick oats instead of old-fashioned rolled oats in the Christmas M&M Cookies Recipe?

Quick oats aren’t ideal here because they’re finer and can make the cookie texture mushy rather than chewy and chunky. Sticking with old-fashioned rolled oats gives those perfect rustic, chewy morsels that pair wonderfully with the peanut butter and chocolate.
Can I substitute other nut butters for peanut butter in this recipe?

Absolutely! Almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter can be great alternatives, especially if you have allergies or want a different flavor profile. Just use creamy versions and note the slight change in taste and texture.
Should I refrigerate the cookie dough before baking?

This recipe doesn’t require chilling the dough before baking, which is great if you need to make them quickly. However, if you have extra time, refrigerating can help the flavors meld and prevent too much spreading while baking.
How do I prevent the M&Ms from melting too much while baking?

Pressing extra M&Ms on top of the cookie dough balls right before baking helps keep them visible and intact. Also, avoid overbaking, and use mini M&Ms if you’re worried about size—they tend to hold shape better.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas M&M Cookies Recipe has become one of my go-to holiday favorites because it just nails that balance between festive fun and delicious comfort. I’m guessing once you try it, you’ll want to make these cookies year after year too—they’re foolproof, shareable, and make any cozy moment feel a little brighter. So grab those M&Ms, roll up your sleeves, and let’s bake some magic happen!