Peanut butter + M&Ms + Christmas magic = cookie heaven. Seriously, these Christmas Peanut Butter M&M Cookies are everything you need to kick off the holiday season in the sweetest way possible.
They’re soft, chewy, and packed with rich peanut butter flavor and crunchy, colorful M&Ms that make them as festive as they are delicious. Whether you’re baking for a cookie exchange, prepping a treat for Santa, or just want something to snack on while binge-watching holiday movies, these cookies are a must.
Let’s get into it—because the only thing better than looking at these cookies is eating them!
Why You Will Love this Recipe
- No chill time required, heck yes!!
- Festive & Fun: Perfect for holiday vibes with colorful M&Ms and peanut butter goodness.
- Chewy Perfection: Soft, chewy texture in every bite.
- Peanut Butter Lovers' Dream: Packed with rich peanut butter flavor.
- Easy to Make: No complicated steps—just mix, bake, and enjoy!
- Customizable: Swap in your favorite mix-ins or use holiday-themed candies.
Christmas Peanut Butter M&M Cookies Ingredients
- Creamy peanut butter: the star of the show! This recipe works best when using smooth, creamy peanut butter like Jif or Skippy. Do not use natural peanut butter as it tends to dry out the cookie or create a weird texture with the extra oils.
- Unsalted butter: make sure the butter are room temperature so you can cream them together properly.
- Egg + egg yolk: my favorite combo for cookies! This adds moisture and helps with chewiness.
- Granulated sugar: sweetness and a crispness t othe cookie edges.
- Brown sugar: adds a carmel-like flavor and moisture making this cookie chewier.
- All purpose flour: the structure for the cookies. To measure it correctly, use a spoon to fill your measuring cup with flour, then level it off with the flat edge of a knife. This method prevents overpacking the flour, which can lead to dense cookies.
- Chocolate & M&Ms: a must for this recipe. I try to use Ghirardelli or Guittard chocolate for the best quality.
Variations and Substitutions
- Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top
- Holiday sprinkles: mix in some green and red sprinkles for some holiday fun
- Dip em: once the cookies are cooled, dip half the cookies in melted chocolate
- Nuts: add chopped peanuts or pecans for an added crunch.
- Nut free: Replace the penaut butter with something fun like cookie butter!
Expert Tips
- Creaming: Cream the pb, butter, and sugars together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This allows for a lighter texture in finished cookies.
- When the cookies are still warm, place a round drinking glass or cookie cutter around one of the cookies and swirl the cookie inside. The glass or cookie cutter should be larger than the cookie. Swirling the cookie should give them a perfectly round finish!
- Flatten the dough slightly after rolling them into balls.
- Add a few extra m&ms on top before putting them in the oven for that bakery look.
- Don't overcrowd the baking sheet: I typically put 6 cookies per baking sheet. Overcrowding can lead to cookies merging together and creating one big blob.
Storage and Freezing
Store these cookies in an airtight container at room temp for 5 days or in the freezer for 3 months.
- To freeze: scoop your dough into balls and freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet or airtight container for up to 3 months. To bake the frozen cookie dough, add an extra minute or two to your bake time.
more christmas cookies to try
If you make these Christmas Peanut Butter M&M Cookies, I would really appreciate a comment and rating down below, under the recipe card. Don’t forget to take a picture and tag me over on Instagram, Tik Tok, or Pinterest. For more ideas, check out my Holiday Recipes page.
Christmas Peanut Butter M&M Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2/3 cup packed, light brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup M&Ms
- 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, use a hand or stand mixer to cream together the softened butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
- Mix in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract, ensuring the mixture is smooth and well-combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Gently fold in the M&Ms and chocolate chips (if using).
- Scoop about 1.5 tablespoons of dough (a medium cookie scoop works perfectly) and roll into balls and press down slightly. Place them onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie. For a bakery-style look, press a few extra M&Ms on top of each ball of dough.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers still look slightly soft. Do not overbake – they will continue to firm up as they cool.
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