If I could only have one sweet treat for the rest of my life, it would hands-down be Chocolate Chip Cookies. They’re absolute perfection. I’ve been making the same Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe for nearly 12 years. A few years back, I gave it a festive makeover by adding white chocolate chips, extra cinnamon, and red-and-green sprinklesç
These cookies are special to me. The original recipe has been in my life longer than my husband, Eric, which says a lot! I’ve kept it a secret for so long, but y’all must be pretty special because I’m finally sharing it. They strike the perfect balance of sweet and salty, with an ooey-gooey, chewy texture I can’t get enough of. The cinnamon is part of the original recipe, but doubling it up for these gives the cookies a warm, holiday vibe. Christmas and cinnamon go hand in hand for me, probably because my mom always decorated with those cinnamon-scented pinecones when I was growing up.
Christmas Cookie Traditions
Every year, my mom and I bake up a storm, dividing cookies into trays and tins for friends and family. This year, things are different. With our move to Tennessee, we’re now 500 miles apart. I almost skipped the tradition entirely but decided to keep it alive—and I’m so glad I did!
Normally, I wouldn’t share my cookie adventures here since they don’t fit my usual “skinny-ish” recipe theme. But after sharing some baking updates with my dog, Pepper, on social media, the response was overwhelming. So many of you asked for the recipes! I promise this blog won’t turn into a cookie fest, but a few festive treats each year feel like a good balance.
Looking Ahead
Next year, I hope to be back in the kitchen with my mom and Pepper, baking cookies together again. Despite dedicating two full days to baking this year, I barely made half of what we usually do—and I missed my mom’s guidance every step of the way.
In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we do. These Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies are a little different from my usual posts, but don’t worry—regular content resumes soon. Until next holiday season, enjoy this festive twist on a classic!
Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies
The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe with a Festive Holiday Twist!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chocolate chip cookies, Christmas cookies, cookies
Yield: 14 cookies
Ingredients
1 stick (1/2 cup) salted butter (melted in the microwave for about 25 seconds or until fully melted)
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 large egg
2 tsp vanilla extract
1⅔ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon (use ¼ or ½ tsp if you prefer a subtler cinnamon flavor)
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1/4 cup Christmas sprinkles (flat confetti sprinkles are softer and work best, but any will do)
Directions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Stir well with a fork to evenly distribute.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, mix together the melted butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until combined. Add the egg and mix well, followed by the vanilla extract.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until fully combined.
- Add Mix-Ins: Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, fold in the chocolate chips and sprinkles until evenly distributed.
- Portion Dough: Scoop the dough into 2-tablespoon portions (use a cookie scooper or roll into mounds) and place them on the prepared cookie sheet. You should get about 16 cookies.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 11 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow them to rest on the cookie sheet for at least 10 minutes to continue “baking” as they cool. The cookies will be soft but will firm up as they cool.
- Optional Adjustments: If you prefer slightly less gooey cookies, bake for 12 minutes, then let them rest on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
- Cool and Serve: Once cooled, transfer the cookies to a cooling rack and enjoy!