Description
Santa's Cookies are soft and chewy double chocolate chip cookies packed with festive red and green M&M candies and a touch of instant vanilla pudding mix for extra moisture and flavor. These delightful holiday cookies combine semi-sweet and white chocolate chips for a rich, colorful treat perfect for any festive occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- ¾ cup butter (softened)
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 small box instant vanilla pudding mix (3.4 ounces, dry)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Mix-ins and Topping
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 cup red and green M&M candies
Instructions
- Cream the Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream the softened butter, brown sugar, and white sugar together for 1-2 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Add Vanilla and Egg: Mix in the vanilla extract and egg until well combined and smooth.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, instant vanilla pudding mix, baking soda, and salt.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry mixture into the wet ingredients and mix until just combined to form the cookie dough.
- Add Chocolate Chips: Stir most of the semi-sweet and white chocolate chips into the dough, reserving some chips and M&Ms for pressing on top later. Cover the dough and chill it in the refrigerator for at least one hour to firm up.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a baking sheet by misting with cooking spray and wiping with a paper towel to prevent sticking without excess oil.
- Form Cookie Dough Balls: Roll about 3 tablespoons of chilled dough into balls roughly the size of a golf ball. Place them spaced apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- Add Toppings: Gently press the reserved chocolate chips and red and green M&M candies onto the tops of each dough ball to ensure they remain visible after baking.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies for 12 minutes, or until they are set but still slightly soft in the center to maintain chewiness.
- Cool and Store: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature to preserve freshness.
Notes
- For best texture, chill the dough for at least one hour before baking to help cookies hold their shape.
- Use instant vanilla pudding mix (not cook-and-serve) for the moistest, softest cookies.
- The gentle method of greasing the baking sheet prevents excessive spreading without sticking.
- Pressing M&Ms and chocolate chips on top after shaping ensures a festive appearance after baking.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- These cookies are perfect for holiday gift-giving or festive gatherings.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 238 kcal
- Sugar: 26 g
- Sodium: 186 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 13 mg
