Christmas M&M Sugar Cookies

Christmas M&M Sugar Cookies are a favorite of kids and grown-ups alike! Soft sugar cookies are loaded with festive candy-coated chocolate.

A Christmas Cookie Favorite

Anytime we bake these colorful Christmas M&M Sugar Cookies they are among the first cookies on the dessert table to get eaten. Grownups love them just as much as the kids!

These festive cookies bake up soft and tender with M&M candies in every bite!

The trick to achieving the perfect soft cookie texture is to use all-vegetable shortening rather than butter in these cookies; sometimes the water content in butter causes cookies to spread. You can use butter-flavored shortening like we did for golden colored cookies, or original shortening, which will yield a cookie that is more pale in color.

Today’s recipe is a Christmas version of our Soft M&M Cookies recipe, but we made them smaller in size for the holidays so there are more cookies to go around.

• These classic cookies are extra festive with red and green M&Ms for the holidays, but you can bake a batch anytime of the year with other colored M&Ms.
• They are soft and tender cookies with colorful M&M candies mixed in – a perfect cookie to leave for Santa on Christmas Eve.
• You can mix the cookie dough ahead of time, then bake them just before serving.

• All-Purpose Flour
• Baking Soda
• Salt – We think table salt is the best salt for baking because the small crystals quickly and easily dissolve into the cookie dough.
• Vegetable Shortening – For best results and the most tender texture use shortening; don’t be tempted to swap in butter instead. Butter is a combination of milk fat and water which will change the texture and level of browning in this cookie recipe.
• Light Brown Sugar – Either light or dark can be used, but the light brown sugar will keep these cookies lighter in color.
• Granulated Sugar
• Eggs
• Vanilla Extract
• M&Ms – You’ll need a cup and a half of red and green (or any other color) M&M candies, plus extra to press on top of the cookies before baking.

1. Whisk dry ingredients together in a bowl. Set aside.
2. Cream shortening and both sugars in a mixing bowl.
3. Add eggs and vanilla and mix again.
4. Add dry ingredients to the bowl with butter and sugar, mixing well until the dry ingredients are fully incorporated.
5. Fold in the M&Ms with a spatula or wooden spoon, evenly mixing throughout the cookie dough.
6. Refrigerate the cookie dough for several hours or overnight.
7. When ready to bake, position the rack in the upper third of the oven. Preheat the oven.
8. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
9. Scoop out the dough into portions, then roll into smooth balls.
10. Position the cookie dough balls on a prepared cookie sheet (we baked 8 cookies per cookie sheet), pressing down slightly to flatten, then place additional M&Ms on top of each cookie.
11. Bake until lightly golden brown around the edges (the centers may still be a little soft).
12. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack to cool completely.

• Can I make Christmas M&M Sugar Cookies ahead of time?  Yes – you will need to chill the cookie dough before baking so you can make it the day before baking.
• How do I store leftover cookies? Keep these cookies in an airtight container for up to three days. If you need to store them for longer, freeze them.
• Can I freeze?  Yes. These cookies freeze very well. We suggest freezing them in a single layer, then once frozen solid, transfer the cookies to a plastic freezer bag or container for storage up to three months.

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