Description
Classic Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies are a festive twist on the beloved traditional cookie. These soft, buttery cookies studded with semi-sweet chocolate chips and colorful holiday sprinkles or red and green M&M’s are perfect for celebrating the holiday season. With easy-to-follow steps and a balanced blend of sweet flavors, they make an ideal treat to share at Christmas gatherings or enjoy with a glass of milk by the fire.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- Pinch of salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
Add-ins
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup festive colored sprinkles or red/green M&Ms (optional, for a holiday twist)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it reaches the right temperature while you prepare the dough.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and a pinch of salt until evenly combined. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the room temperature unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar together until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Then stir in the pure vanilla extract for flavor depth.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed or folding with a spatula until just combined to avoid overworking the dough.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips and Sprinkles: Gently fold the semisweet chocolate chips and festive sprinkles or M&Ms into the dough, ensuring they are evenly distributed without breaking them up.
- Scoop Dough onto Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Using a cookie scoop or spoon, drop rounded tablespoons of dough about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 9-11 minutes or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are set but still soft.
- Cool Cookies: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on it for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents them from breaking apart.
- Serve and Enjoy: Once cooled, serve the cookies with a glass of milk or your favorite holiday beverage. Store any leftovers in an airtight container to keep them fresh for several days.
Notes
- For softer cookies, underbake by a minute or two. For crispier edges, bake a bit longer.
- Using room temperature butter helps achieve a creamier dough and better texture.
- Substitute festive sprinkles with chopped nuts or white chocolate chips if desired.
- Ensure not to overmix the dough after adding flour to avoid tough cookies.
- These cookies can be frozen in dough form for up to 3 months; bake from frozen, adding a couple of extra minutes to the baking time.
