These festive Christmas cookies are packed with the perfect mix of sweet and salty goodness! Featuring pretzel and potato chip pieces, red and green M&M’s, white chocolate chips, and holiday sprinkles, they’re a guaranteed hit for the holiday season.
Looking for more holiday cookie recipes? Check out my Chocolate-Dipped Peppermint Sugar Cookies, Spritz Cookies, Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies, or Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies!
Why You’ll Love These Christmas Cookies
✔️ Perfect sweet & salty combo – Crunchy pretzels and salty potato chips balance out the sweetness of white chocolate and M&M’s. ✔️ Fun to make – A great baking project for kids, thanks to all the mix-ins! ✔️ Quick & easy – No chilling required, and they’re ready in just 30 minutes!
Ingredients
- Sugars: Mostly light brown sugar with some granulated sugar for balance.
- Butter: Softened, salted butter for a rich flavor.
- Eggs: Two egg yolks for a tender texture.
- Vanilla: Vanilla bean paste for the best flavor, or vanilla extract as an alternative.
- Flour: All-purpose flour provides the perfect chewy consistency.
- Leavening Agents: Baking soda and baking powder help the cookies rise.
- Salt: Enhances all the flavors.
- Mix-ins:
- Red & Green M&M’s – Classic festive touch!
- White chocolate chips – Opt for high-quality chocolate like Ghirardelli.
- Pretzel pieces – Adds a satisfying crunch.
- Crushed potato chips – A salty surprise in every bite.
- Red & Green Sprinkles – Jimmies work best to hold their shape.
Step-by-Step Instructions
STEP 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
STEP 2: In a large bowl, cream the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together with an electric mixer for 2 minutes, until light and fluffy.
STEP 3: Add in the egg yolks and vanilla, mixing on medium speed for another 2 minutes, until pale and fluffy.
STEP 4: Mix in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until just combined.
STEP 5: Gently fold in the M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, potato chip pieces, and sprinkles with a spatula.
STEP 6: Scoop the dough into 20 balls and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Optionally, press a few extra mix-ins on top for a picture-perfect look.
STEP 7: Bake for 10-12 minutes (10 minutes for a chewy center, 12 minutes for crispier edges).
STEP 8: While still warm, use a large circular cookie cutter to gently swirl around each cookie, making them perfectly round.
STEP 9: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. Enjoy!
FAQs
Can I swap out some of the mix-ins? Yes! You can substitute one of the mix-ins with other fun ingredients like butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips, nuts, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate chips.
Can I make the dough ahead of time? Absolutely! The dough can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 weeks. Just bring it to room temperature before baking.
Pro Tips for the Best Cookies
✅ Measure your flour properly. Always spoon flour into the measuring cup and level it off with a knife. Even better—use a kitchen scale (1 cup = 125g) for accuracy!
✅ Shape your cookies after baking. For picture-perfect cookies, swirl a large cookie cutter around them while still warm to round out the edges.
✅ Top with extra mix-ins before baking. This makes them extra festive and visually appealing.
✅ Whip the eggs properly. Beat the egg yolks into the butter and sugar mixture until pale and fluffy—this gives the cookies their ideal texture.
Try More Christmas Cookie Recipes!
- Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
- Chocolate-Dipped Peppermint Sugar Cookies
- Double Chocolate Peppermint Cookies
If you make these cookies, please leave a review! Tag me on Instagram @inbloombakery_ so I can see your creations. Follow me on Pinterest for more delicious holiday treats!