Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
If you’re searching for that perfect festive treat to fill your home with warmth and joy, look no further than this Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe. These cookies are the epitome of holiday comfort—soft, chewy, and bursting with melty chocolate chips complemented by cheerful holiday sprinkles that bring a festive touch to every bite. Whether you’re baking for a crowd or just indulging yourself, this recipe strikes the perfect balance of sweet nostalgia and merry celebration, making it a standout addition to your holiday baking arsenal.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering the right ingredients is the first step toward cookie perfection. These simple yet essential components each play a vital role: from the creamy butter that creates tenderness to the sprinkles that add that unmistakable holiday cheer.
- Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create that slight crisp on the cookie edges.
- Brown sugar, packed: Brings moisture and a subtle caramel flavor that deepens the cookie’s richness.
- Unsalted butter, softened: The backbone of the cookie, ensuring soft, tender texture and buttery flavor.
- Large eggs: Provide structure and help bind the dough together for a perfect chew.
- Vanilla extract: Adds warm, aromatic notes that elevate every ingredient.
- All-purpose flour: The foundation giving your cookies their body and shape.
- Baking soda: Responsible for that lovely rise and lightness in texture.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the chocolate flavor.
- Chocolate chips (milk or semi-sweet): The irresistible pockets of chocolate that make these cookies truly special.
- Holiday sprinkles: Bright red, green, or multicolored to add visual fun and festive flair.
How to Make Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare
Begin by setting your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your baking sheets with parchment paper to ensure your cookies bake evenly and don’t stick, so you get those perfect golden bottoms every time.
Step 2: Cream the Sugars and Butter
In a large mixing bowl, beat together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and softened butter until the mixture looks fluffy and light. This step introduces air, which helps create that tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla
One at a time, beat in the eggs to the creamed mixture, ensuring they’re fully incorporated before adding the next. Then, stir in the vanilla extract to infuse the dough with warm, fragrant notes that complement the chocolate perfectly.
Step 4: Mix Dry Ingredients
Whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt together in a separate bowl to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning. Slowly add this mix to your wet ingredients, mixing just until combined—overmixing can make cookies tough, so gentle is key.
Step 5: Fold in Chocolate Chips and Sprinkles
Gently fold the chocolate chips and holiday sprinkles into the dough. The chips will melt into sumptuous pockets of chocolate, while the sprinkles give the cookies a festive personality that celebrates the season.
Step 6: Portion and Bake
Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto your prepared baking sheets, leaving about two inches between each cookie to allow them space to spread. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until the edges turn light golden but the centers remain soft, delivering that perfect chewy center.
Step 7: Cool and Enjoy
Allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheets for a couple of minutes after coming out of the oven to firm up slightly, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. This cooling time helps them set beautifully for a perfect bite.
How to Serve Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
To dress up your Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe for guests, consider a light dusting of powdered sugar for a snowy effect or a drizzle of melted white chocolate for extra decadence. Adding a sprig of fresh rosemary or a sprinkle of edible glitter can make them an eye-catching holiday centerpiece.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair wonderfully with a glass of cold milk, a warm cup of cocoa, or even a festive mulled wine or spiced tea. Each sip complements the sweet, buttery richness of the cookies, creating a cozy, indulgent holiday experience.
Creative Ways to Present
For gifting or party platters, stack your cookies tied with red and green ribbons or place them inside decorative tins lined with parchment paper. You can also arrange them on a festive plate alongside other holiday treats to create an inviting holiday spread sure to delight everyone.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Keep your Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay soft and delicious for up to a week—perfect for savoring throughout the holiday season.
Freezing
You can freeze baked cookies by placing them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze solid, then transferring them to a sealed freezer bag. They’ll keep for up to three months, allowing you to enjoy the festive joy anytime you want.
Reheating
To revive frozen or stored cookies, gently warm them in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 5 minutes. This refreshes their soft texture and melts the chocolate chips, making them taste freshly baked once again.
FAQs
Can I use dark chocolate chips instead in the Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe?
Absolutely! Dark chocolate chips add a rich and slightly bitter contrast to the sweetness of the dough, offering a sophisticated twist to this festive classic.
What’s the best way to make sure my cookies don’t spread too much?
Make sure your butter is softened but not melted and avoid overmixing once the flour is added. Chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking can also help maintain their shape.
Can I substitute the holiday sprinkles with something else?
Yes! You can use chopped nuts, dried cranberries, or even mini marshmallows to customize your Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe to your liking while keeping that festive spirit alive.
Are these cookies suitable for freezing before baking?
They sure are. Portion the dough onto baking sheets and freeze until firm, then transfer to freezer bags. When ready, bake straight from frozen, adding a minute or two to the baking time.
How do I make the cookies more chewy instead of crispy?
Using more brown sugar instead of granulated sugar and slightly underbaking the cookies will give you a chewier, softer texture that makes every bite divine.
Final Thoughts
There’s something truly magical about baking Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe — it’s a way to fill your home with the sweet smells of the holidays and create memories with every batch. Whether you’re sharing them with family, gifting them to friends, or sneaking bites yourself, these cookies capture the spirit of the season in the most delicious way. Give this recipe a try, and watch as it quickly becomes one of your cherished holiday traditions.
Print
Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 servings (about 24 cookies) 1x
Description
These Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies are festive, chewy, and loaded with chocolate chips and colorful holiday sprinkles. Perfect for holiday gatherings or sharing with loved ones, these classic cookies have a buttery, sweet flavor that is enhanced by the vanilla and a delightful crunch from the sprinkles.
Ingredients
Sugars and Butter
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
Wet Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Add-ins
- 2 cups chocolate chips (milk or semi-sweet)
- ½ cup holiday sprinkles (red, green, or multicolored)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare your baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Sugars and Butter: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and softened butter until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, which will help incorporate air for a tender texture.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time to ensure they are fully incorporated, then mix in the vanilla extract for a fragrant and rich flavor base.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning.
- Mix Dry into Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the dough and toughening the cookies.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips and Sprinkles: Gently fold the chocolate chips and holiday sprinkles into the dough to evenly distribute the festive add-ins without breaking them.
- Portion the Dough: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow room for spreading during baking.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges turn lightly golden while the centers remain soft and slightly underbaked for that perfect chewy texture.
- Cool the Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes to set, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- For best results, use room temperature butter and eggs to ensure proper mixing.
- You can substitute semi-sweet chocolate chips if you prefer a less sweet cookie.
- Adjust the baking time slightly if you prefer softer or crisper cookies.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
- Holiday sprinkles add visual appeal but can be omitted or substituted with nuts or other candies.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
