Christmas Cookie Recipe with M&Ms and Pretzels Recipe

If you’re on the hunt for that perfect holiday treat that’s a little sweet, a little salty, and packed with colorful fun, this Christmas Cookie Recipe with M&Ms and Pretzels Recipe is an absolute winner. Trust me, once you try these cookies, with their crunchy pretzels and crispy potato chip bits combined with festive M&Ms and melty white chocolate, you’ll be making them every holiday season (or whenever your sweet tooth calls). This cookie truly is a kitchen sink delight—packed with everything good and guaranteed to please a crowd.

this Recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need

Getting your ingredients right is key here for that perfect chewy yet crisp cookie. I always recommend using quality ingredients, especially for the mix-ins like M&Ms and pretzels—you’ll taste the difference. Plus, measuring your flour carefully makes or breaks the texture.

• All-purpose flour: Spoon and level for accurate measurement to keep your cookies light and chewy, not dense.
• Baking powder and baking soda: These help the cookies rise just enough.
• Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances flavor.
• Unsalted butter: Melted and cooled butter gives a wonderfully tender texture.
• Dark brown sugar and white granulated sugar: The brown sugar adds moisture and chew, while the white sugar adds crispness.
• Large eggs: Room temperature eggs help blend everything smoothly.
• Vanilla extract: Adds warmth and depth to the cookie flavor.
• M&M’s (red and green): Festive colors make these cookies a holiday standout; use lots to get those bursts of chocolate.
• White chocolate chips: They melt beautifully and complement the salty bits.
• Pretzels: Broken into small pieces, they add that satisfying crunch and saltiness.
• Potato chips: These add an unexpected salty crunch, just use good quality salted chips.
• Holiday sprinkles: I swear by jimmies—they hold up well in baking and add pretty pops of color.

Variations

I love how versatile this Christmas Cookie Recipe with M&Ms and Pretzels Recipe is. You can easily tweak it to your tastes or dietary needs, which I often do depending on what’s in my pantry or who I’m sharing these with.

• Dairy-Free Version: I’ve swapped out butter for coconut oil before, and while it changes the flavor slightly, it still bakes up soft and delicious.
• Nutty Addition: Tossing in chopped pecans or walnuts gives a lovely extra crunch and pairs great with the sweet and salty base.
• Chocolate Variation: Try swapping white chocolate chips for dark or milk chocolate if you prefer a more intense cocoa punch.
• Gluten-Free Twist: Using a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend works well if you’re careful with the mix-ins to ensure they’re gluten-free too.

How to Make Christmas Cookie Recipe with M&Ms and Pretzels Recipe

Step 1: Melt Butter and Prepare Dry Ingredients

Start by melting your unsalted butter and letting it cool to room temp—don’t rush this part because warm butter will mess with how the sugars incorporate. While that’s resting, whisk together your flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl so everything’s evenly combined and ready to go.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars Then Add Eggs and Vanilla

Pour the cooled melted butter into another bowl and whisk it vigorously with the brown and white sugar until smooth. The mixture won’t be fluffy like traditional creaming because you melted the butter, but it’ll blend nicely. Next, beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract. This step gives your cookies lift and flavor, so don’t skip it!

Step 3: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Slowly add your flour mixture to the wet ingredients, folding gently with a rubber spatula until everything is just combined. Overmixing here can make cookies tough, so stop as soon as you don’t see any more flour patches.

Step 4: Stir in the Festive Mix-Ins

Now comes the fun part—fold in the M&Ms, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, crushed potato chips, and holiday sprinkles. I love to add a handful extra M&Ms and pretzels on top right before baking to make them look extra inviting.

Step 5: Chill the Dough

Using a 1 ½ oz ice cream scoop, portion out the dough balls onto a parchment-lined sheet. Pop these in the fridge for at least an hour (or freeze for 30 mins if you’re short on time). Chilling prevents the cookies from spreading too much and helps the flavors meld together beautifully.

Step 6: Bake and Shape

Preheat your oven to 350°F, then bake 6 cookie dough balls at a time on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 13-15 minutes, turning the pan halfway to help your cookies brown evenly. When they come out, gently nudge them into perfect rounds with a large cookie cutter while warm, and add any extra M&Ms or pretzels on top for presentation.

How to Serve Christmas Cookie Recipe with M&Ms and Pretzels Recipe

Garnishes

I usually keep garnishes simple—extra M&Ms, pretzel bits, and holiday sprinkles pressed on top right after baking add a cheerful, colorful finish that I know kids and adults both adore. A tiny dusting of powdered sugar never hurts if you’re feeling festive!

Side Dishes

This cookie pairs perfectly with a cold glass of milk, cinnamon-spiced coffee, or even hot cocoa topped with whipped cream. For cookie exchanges or holiday parties, try arranging the cookies on a platter with fresh fruit or a bowl of nuts to complement all those sweet and salty vibes.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday gifting, I like to stack these cookies in a festive tin or box, layered with parchment paper to keep them from sticking. You can also tie a cute ribbon around small stacks as a charming homemade present. Another idea I love is serving them alongside a build-your-own hot chocolate bar for a cozy winter gathering.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

These cookies stay fresh when stored in an airtight container at room temperature for about 4-5 days. I usually stash mine in a cookie tin lined with parchment paper to keep them from getting smooshy. If you have pretzels and chips on top, avoid stacking too high to keep those crunchies intact.

Freezing

I often freeze the dough balls before baking; just scoop them onto a tray and freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. This makes it super easy to bake fresh cookies anytime with no extra prep. You can also freeze baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 months—just thaw at room temp before serving.

Reheating

If your cookies have lost a bit of their fresh-baked warmth, pop them in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes to bring back that just-out-of-the-oven softness and melty chocolate goodness. Avoid microwaving—they can get chewy or even tough.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

I absolutely love how this Christmas Cookie Recipe with M&Ms and Pretzels Recipe turns out every single time—soft and chewy, bursting with sweet and salty flavors and fun textures. When I first tried these kitchen sink style cookies, I knew they’d become my go-to for holiday celebrations and beyond. If you’re like me and want a cookie that’s both festive and full of surprises in every bite, you’re going to enjoy making (and eating!) this recipe as much as I do. So grab your mixing bowl, gather your M&Ms and pretzels, and get ready to create some holiday magic together!

Print