Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies Recipe

If you’re anything like me, the holidays just aren’t complete without something sweet and festive to nibble on. That’s why I’m so excited to share this Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies Recipe with you — these cookies are big, soft, and perfectly festive with a mix of dark and white chocolate chips plus colorful sprinkles. When I first tried this recipe, I couldn’t believe how easy it was to get bakery-style cookies right at home, and trust me, your family will go crazy for them too.

this Recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need

I love how these ingredients come together for a classic cookie base with a holiday twist. Using melted butter gives the dough a tender texture, while mixing brown and granulated sugars adds depth and the perfect balance of chewiness and crisp edges.

• Salted Butter: Melted butter makes the dough soft and helps cookies spread nicely—don’t skip the salt, it balances the sweetness.
• Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and a subtle caramel flavor that I think is essential for chewy cookies.
• Granulated Sugar: Gives a bit of crispness to the edges—you want this combo for ideal texture.
• Egg: Binds all ingredients and adds richness.
• Vanilla Extract: Brings out the warm, sweet flavors—always use pure vanilla if you can.
• All-Purpose Flour: The base of the dough, absorbs moisture and supports the structure.
• Baking Soda: Helps cookies rise and spread to that perfect bakery look.
• Salt: Enhances all the other flavors and cuts sweetness.
• Dark Chocolate Chips: I adore the rich pockets of dark chocolate that contrast nicely with the white chocolate.
• White Chocolate Chips: Adds creamy sweetness and fun color contrast.
• Red and Green Sprinkles: Adds holiday cheer—and if you don’t have these, chopped nuts or dried cranberries are great swaps.

Variations

What I love most about this Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to make your own. Whether you want to add a little twist or need to adjust for allergies, there’s room to play.

• Nutty Upgrade: Sometimes I toss in chopped walnuts or pecans for a crunchy surprise that pairs perfectly with the melty chocolate.
• Gluten-Free Version: I’ve swapped the all-purpose flour for a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend with great success—just watch baking time closely.
• Spiced Cookies: Adding a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg gives a cozy warmth that ramps up the holiday feeling.
• Mini Cookies: If you’re serving these at a party, making smaller cookies works well—just reduce baking time to 8-9 minutes.

How to Make Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Get That Oven Hot and Your Butter Ready

First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F. I like to get this done right away so the oven is fully heated when the dough is ready. Meanwhile, melt your salted butter — I do this gently in the microwave or on the stove, careful not to boil it, just until it’s liquid but still warm.

Step 2: Mix Sugars and Butter Until Smooth

In your stand mixer bowl, add the melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Beat them together until well combined and smooth. The brown sugar really adds moisture and depth here, so make sure no clumps remain for an even cookie texture.

Step 3: Beat in Egg and Vanilla Extract

Next, add the egg and vanilla extract to the sugar-butter mixture and beat again until incorporated. This creates a nice creamy mixture that the dry ingredients will blend into easily.

Step 4: Add Dry Ingredients and Mix Gently

Dump in the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix just until everything comes together—don’t overmix here, or the cookies might get tough. Your dough will be on the soft side, and that’s exactly what you want for giant, chewy cookies.

Step 5: Fold in Chocolate Chips and Sprinkles

This is the fun part: stir in the dark and white chocolate chips along with those festive red and green sprinkles. The mix of chocolates keeps every bite interesting, and the sprinkles give that unmistakable holiday pop.

Step 6: Portion and Bake

Divide the dough into 9 large balls—you’ll want these to be generous so you get those bakery-style thick cookies. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for exactly 11 minutes. Here’s a little secret: the cookies will look a tiny bit underdone when you pull them out, and that’s perfect. They actually finish setting as they cool.

Step 7: Cool and Enjoy

Let your cookies rest on the baking sheet for at least 5 minutes—that step helps them firm up without losing softness inside. Once cooled, they’re ready to eat or pack up for gifting!

How to Serve Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies Recipe

Garnishes

I usually keep it simple—and that’s the beauty. The red and green sprinkles are already festive, so I rarely add extra garnishes. Sometimes I’ll dust them lightly with powdered sugar for that snowy Christmas look, which is always a hit with guests.

Side Dishes

These cookies are perfect alongside a big mug of hot cocoa or your favorite holiday latte. I’ve also served them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream as a decadent dessert at Christmas dinners, and it never disappoints.

Creative Ways to Present

If you want to get creative, line a festive tin with parchment and stack the cookies neatly with peppermint sticks tucked between layers. I’ve even wrapped small stacks in cellophane with a red ribbon for gifting—they look so cute and everyone asks for the recipe!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once completely cooled, I keep my leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay soft and fresh for up to five days. If you find they’re firming up too much, a slice of bread in the container helps keep them moist.

Freezing

I like to freeze either the dough balls or fully baked cookies. For dough, I portion them out on a tray, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag—this way you can bake fresh cookies anytime in about 11-12 minutes. Baked cookies freeze well too if wrapped tightly.

Reheating

To warm leftovers, I pop cookies in a 300°F oven for about 5 minutes to revive that fresh-baked softness. You can also microwave briefly, but be careful not to overheat or they’ll get too chewy.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

I absolutely love how these Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies Recipe turn out because they check all the boxes: big, soft, festive, and easy to make. I used to struggle getting cookies that were both chewy and full of flavor, but this recipe nailed it for me. If you want a stress-free treat that feels like a warm hug during the holidays, give this a try—I’m sure you’ll find it becomes a new favorite in your holiday rotation, just like it is in mine.

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