Easy Christmas cookies for Santa are chewy, sweet treats filled with semi-sweet chocolate chips, red and green Christmas M&Ms, and crunchy mini pretzel pieces. The combination of sweet and salty makes them a holiday favorite—perfect for leaving out with a glass of milk.
A holiday tradition in many homes is baking cookies for Santa, and these are intentionally simple so the whole family can join in. Skip ornate cut-out cookies this year and make a batch of these easy, crowd-pleasing cookies that still look festive and taste delicious.
The dough is based on a classic chocolate chip cookie with pretzel pieces folded in for crunch and M&Ms for holiday color. They are straightforward to make, great for cookie swaps, and, most importantly, a treat Santa will love.
Ingredients
To make about 24 cookies you will need:
- All-purpose flour – 3 cups
- Baking soda – 1 teaspoon
- Salt – 1 teaspoon (or reduce if using salted butter)
- Unsalted butter – 2 sticks, softened
- Granulated sugar – 1/2 cup
- Brown sugar – 1 1/4 cups, packed
- Vanilla extract – 2 1/2 teaspoons
- Eggs – 2 large
- Mix-ins – 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, 1/2 cup Christmas M&Ms, 1/2 cup mini pretzels (chopped)
How to Make
These cookies come together quickly with a few simple steps:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with foil or spray lightly with nonstick spray.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, cream the softened butter with the granulated and brown sugars using an electric mixer until the mixture is light and creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla, and beat until smooth and combined.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a thick cookie dough forms.
5. Chop the mini pretzels into small pieces and fold them into the dough along with the chocolate chips and M&Ms.
6. Use a small cookie scoop to portion the dough, roll each portion into a ball, and place on the prepared baking sheet. Leave space between cookies for spreading.
7. Bake at 350°F for about 13 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers are set.
8. Remove the cookies from the oven and gently press each cookie down slightly with a flat spatula. Let them rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up.
9. Transfer cookies to a cooling rack to finish cooling. Serve on or before Christmas Eve with a glass of milk.
Storing
Store cooled cookies in an airtight container or cookie tin at room temperature for up to one week. For longer storage, freeze in a sealed container for up to three months; thaw at room temperature before serving.
Tips and Tricks
- If you use salted butter, reduce added salt to about 1/4 teaspoon so the cookies aren’t too salty.
- Swap semi-sweet chips for milk or dark chocolate depending on your preference.
- Allow cookies to set on the baking sheet before moving them to a rack to avoid breaking hot cookies apart.
- Line baking sheets with foil for easier cleanup, or use parchment paper for less sticking.
Other Christmas Cookie Ideas
These easy Christmas cookies for Santa are a festive, family-friendly option. If you’re looking to try more holiday cookies, consider switching up mix-ins or colors to match your celebration. Make these and enjoy the smiles they bring on Christmas Eve.
Easy Christmas Cookies For Santa
Ingredients
- 3 cups of flour
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 2 sticks of butter, softened
- 1/2 cup of sugar
- 1 1/4 cup of brown sugar
- 2 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup Christmas M&Ms
- 1/2 cup mini pretzels
Instructions
- Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl.
- In another bowl, cream butter with granulated and brown sugars until light. Add eggs and vanilla and mix until smooth.
- Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until a thick dough forms.
- Chop the pretzels into small bits and fold them into the dough with the chocolate chips and M&Ms.
- Use a small cookie scoop to portion the dough, roll into balls, and place on a prepared baking sheet.
- Bake at 350°F for about 13 minutes.
- Once baked, press cookies down slightly with a spatula and let rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes.
- Transfer to a cooling rack to finish cooling and serve with milk on or before Christmas Eve.
Notes
- If using salted butter, reduce the added salt to about 1/4 teaspoon.
- Milk or dark chocolate chips can be used as alternatives to semi-sweet.
- Let cookies set on the baking sheet before removing to avoid breaking them.
- Line your baking sheet with foil or parchment for easier cleanup.