Name: Santa's Favorite Christmas Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 11 min
Total time: 31 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened); 3/4 cup brown sugar (packed); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 large egg; 1 box (3.4 ounces) Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix (not sugar free); 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour; 1/4 cup red and green sprinkles (or any colors); 3/4 cup Christmas M&Ms (or any color of M&M)

There’s something truly magical about biting into a soft, sweet cookie dotted with festive colors and bursting with chewy goodness. That’s exactly why I’m excited to share the Santa's Favorite Christmas Cookies Recipe—a go-to treat that brings the holiday spirit right into your kitchen with every bite.

The image shows a group of six round cookies on a light wooden board placed on a white marbled surface. Each cookie is thick with a soft texture and is filled with colorful red and green candy pieces and small brown chocolate chips scattered evenly across the cookie surface. The cookies have a slightly cracked top showing a soft inside. There are a few extra candies placed around the cookies on the wooden board. The background is softly blurred with pink and white hues. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Santa's Favorite Christmas Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Santa's Favorite Christmas Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Santa's Favorite Christmas Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Honestly, Santa's Favorite Christmas Cookies Recipe has found a permanent place in my holiday baking lineup because it’s just so easy and fun. Plus, if you love soft, chewy cookies with a hint of vanilla pudding magic, these are going to be your new obsession.

Soft & Chewy Texture: The secret instant vanilla pudding mix keeps these cookies pillowy and moist every single time.
Festive and Fun: Packed with red and green sprinkles plus Christmas M&Ms, these cookies scream holiday cheer.
Simple Ingredients: Ingredients you probably already have, with one easy addition—pudding mix—that elevates the cookie game dramatically.
Chill-Then-Bake Method: Chilling the dough not only helps with flavor melding but also makes the dough easier to handle, reducing mess.

Ingredients & Why They Work

The ingredient lineup in Santa's Favorite Christmas Cookies Recipe is straightforward but thoughtfully chosen. Each one plays a crucial role in creating that perfectly soft, sweet, and colorful cookie you’ll crave.

Flat lay of a small square of soft unsalted butter, a small white ceramic bowl filled with packed brown sugar, a whole large egg with a clean shell, a small white ceramic bowl of pale yellow instant vanilla pudding powder, a small white ceramic bowl of fine all-purpose flour, a small white ceramic bowl of bright red and green round sprinkles, a small white ceramic bowl of colorful Christmas M&M candies, a small white ceramic bowl with clear vanilla extract liquid, a small white ceramic bowl of fine white salt, and a small white ceramic bowl of pale beige baking soda powder, all arranged in perfect symmetry, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Unsalted Butter: Using softened butter adds richness and tenderness, making sure the cookies melt in your mouth instead of being dry.
Brown Sugar: Its molasses content gives the cookies moisture, chewiness, and a depth of flavor you don’t get with white sugar.
Vanilla Extract: Classic flavor enhancer that rounds out the sweetness.
Egg: Binds everything together and adds to the cookie’s soft texture.
Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix: This is the magic ingredient that keeps the cookies soft, moist, and tender, even days after baking.
Baking Soda: Works as a leavening agent, helping cookies rise just enough without spreading too thin.
Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances all other flavors.
All-Purpose Flour: The structural backbone so the cookies hold their shape but still remain soft.
Red and Green Sprinkles: Adds festive visual appeal plus a little fun crunch.
Christmas M&Ms: Colorful pockets of chocolate that make every bite joyful and sweet, perfect for holiday spirit.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love how flexible Santa's Favorite Christmas Cookies Recipe is—you can easily swap out add-ins or tweak the sweetness level to fit your family's tastes. Over the years, I’ve played with different candies and sprinkles just for some fun variety.

Variation: One holiday I swapped M&Ms for mini peanut butter chips, and the cookies got a lovely nutty twist that was a big hit. If you prefer nuts, chopped walnuts or pecans add a nice crunch too.
Dietary Modification: For a gluten-free version, I used a 1:1 gluten-free flour mix—just make sure it includes xanthan gum for structure.
Seasonal Changes: Outside Christmastime, colorful sprinkles or seasonal candies like Halloween-themed mini chocolates work perfectly with this dough.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Santa's Favorite Christmas Cookies Recipe

The image shows a close-up view of soft cookies stacked in a pile on a white marbled surface. Each cookie has a light beige dough base densely dotted with small dark chocolate chips and larger red and green candy-coated chocolates spread evenly across the top. The cookies have rounded, slightly uneven edges and a soft texture with tiny cracks on the surface. The candies are bright and glossy, creating a colorful contrast and adding a festive look to the warm-toned dough. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Cream and Combine the Base

Start by softening your butter—it should be pliable but not melted. Using either a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or a hand mixer, cream together your butter and brown sugar until the mix looks light and fluffy. This usually takes about 3-4 minutes. Then, beat in the egg and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and glossy. This step sets the stage for a tender cookie, so don’t rush through it.

Step 2: Add the Magic and Dry Ingredients

Next, sprinkle in the instant vanilla pudding mix, baking soda, and salt. Mix just until incorporated, then gradually add your flour. Don’t overmix here—stir gently until the dough just comes together. Over mixing can make your cookies tough, and we definitely want soft and pillowy cookies instead. Finally, fold in your festive sprinkles and colorful M&Ms by hand with a spatula to evenly distribute them without breaking the candies.

Step 3: Chill for Flavor and Control

This is a key step in the Santa's Favorite Christmas Cookies Recipe that often gets overlooked. Scoop out 2-tablespoon balls of cookie dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicone mat. It’s okay if they’re close together for now because we’ll chill them. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Chilling the dough helps prevent spreading in the oven and deepens the flavors. I find the cookies hold their shape better and have a better texture this way.

Step 4: Bake to Perfection

When the dough balls are chilled, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Arrange the dough balls on parchment-lined sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, watching closely for when the edges just begin turning golden brown. My trick? Take them out just before they look fully done—this keeps them soft and chewy after cooling. Let the cookies cool on the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Top Tip

Making these cookies over the years, I’ve learned how important chilling the dough is for nailing that soft yet structured texture. Plus, little tips I picked up make a big difference in your cookie-baking success!

Soft Butter is Key: Too cold and it won’t cream properly, too melted and your dough will be greasy. Aim for room temperature, easily poked but not sticky or shiny.
Don’t Skip Chilling: Patience here means flavor develops and cookies bake evenly without spreading too thin.
Watch Your Oven Time: Every oven runs differently. Start checking at 9 minutes—the cookies can quickly go from perfect to overbaked.
Mix-ins Last: Fold in sprinkles and M&Ms last by hand gently to keep their color and shape intact.

How to Serve Santa's Favorite Christmas Cookies Recipe

Garnishes

I like to sprinkle a few extra red and green nonpareils on top of the cookie dough balls before baking for that extra festive touch. It gives the cookies a professional look and adds a subtle crunch that surprises your guests in the best way.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair beautifully with a warm cup of spiced hot cocoa or classic eggnog to really capture holiday vibes. At parties, I also love grouping them with an assortment of caramel or peppermint bark for a colorful dessert spread.

Creative Ways to Present

One year, I baked this recipe and then stacked the cookies in a clear glass jar with red and green ribbon tied around the lid—it made a fantastic holiday gift. Fresh cookies arranged on a festive platter with sprigs of pine or cinnamon sticks instantly make the table more inviting.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, layering them between sheets of parchment paper to keep their texture perfect. They stay soft and delicious for at least 4 days—if they last that long!

Freezing

For longer freshness, I freeze baked cookies in freezer-safe containers separated by parchment paper. You can also freeze the dough balls after chilling and bake straight from frozen—just add a couple of extra minutes to the baking time.

Reheating

To enjoy leftover cookies warm, I pop them in a 300°F oven for about 5 minutes. This softens them slightly and revives that fresh-baked feeling without drying them out.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What makes this Santa's Favorite Christmas Cookies Recipe different from regular sugar cookies?

The addition of instant vanilla pudding mix is the game-changer here—it keeps the cookies incredibly soft and moist, unlike many sugar cookie recipes that can turn out crisp or dry. This recipe also uses brown sugar for a richer flavor and M&Ms plus sprinkles for festive fun.

Can I make this recipe without instant pudding mix?

While the pudding mix adds unique moisture and softness, you can try omitting it and adding a tablespoon of cornstarch or custard powder for a similar effect, though the texture won't be exactly the same. The pudding mix really is the key to these cookies' signature softness.

How long does the cookie dough need to chill?

At least 30 minutes is necessary for the dough balls to firm up, which helps control spreading in the oven and enhances flavor. If you have more time, chilling for an hour or even overnight is fine and often recommended for even better results.

Will these cookies stay soft after baking?

Yes! Thanks to the instant pudding mix and brown sugar, these cookies stay soft and chewy for days when stored properly. Just keep them in an airtight container at room temperature, and layer with parchment paper if stacking to maintain texture.

Final Thoughts

These cookies have become a beloved holiday tradition in my home, bringing back memories of cozy evenings baking with family and the excitement of sharing sweet treats with friends. Santa's Favorite Christmas Cookies Recipe is my secret weapon for stress-free baking that still impresses everyone. I can't wait for you to try them and see how these soft, colorful delights bring a little extra magic to your holidays too.