Christmas Peanut Butter M&M Cookies
An easy recipe for Christmas Peanut Butter M&M Cookies that is a chewy peanut butter cookie with Christmas M&M's. These cookies are perfect for a Christmas cookie platter and for every peanut butter lover!
I love a good peanut butter cookie and what's better than the combination of peanut butter and chocolate?! These Christmas Peanut Butter M&M Cookies are a combination of chewy peanut butter cookie dough studded with chocolate M&M's. I used Christmas colored M&M's for these, making them festive looking and perfect for a holiday cookie.
These cookies were a huge hit with the family, and the boys loved that they were able to help me make them. They especially loved the Christmas colored M&M's, which got all of us in the holiday spirit. Looking for other recipes to put you in the holiday spirit? Check out my Andes Mint Cookies, Rolo Pretzel Turtles, Christmas Rice Krispie Truffles, or my Christmas Tree Brownies!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Filled with Peanut Butter - this recipe is mainly flavored by peanut butter! My Peanut Butter Oreo Pie is another favorite peanut butter dessert of mine!
Great for the Holidays - with the Christmas colored M&Ms, these cookies are perfect for a holiday cookie platter. They will go perfectly with my Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars!
Basic Ingredients - these cookies have pantry staple ingredients in them!
Ingredients
Peanut Butter - you can use creamy or chunky! I prefer chewy, but actually only had chunky on hand and they still turned out amazing.
Butter
Egg
Vanilla Extract
Brown Sugar - there's a higher ratio of brown sugar to sugar in these cookies, which lend to their chewiness.
Granulated Sugar
Flour - I use unbleached all-purpose flour for most of my cookie baking.
Baking Soda, Baking Powder, and Salt
Christmas M&M's - of course you can use any color of M&M's but Christmas M&M's make these extra festive! I used mini M&M's that I found in the baking aisle, but a bag of regular Christmas M&M's also works.
Variations
Use different colored M&Ms - you can use whatever color M&Ms you want for these cookies! You can use any type of seasonal M&Ms like Valentines Day, fall, and St Patricks Day to make easy festive cookies. If you love cookies with M&Ms, be sure to check out my Monster Cookies or Monster Cookie Oat Balls!
Use different type of M&Ms - these would be delicious with peanut butter M&Ms or mini M&Ms!
Step by Step Instructions
This peanut butter cookie recipe is a very simple and easy recipe to follow.
Photo 1. Add the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar to a large bowl.
Photo 2. Using an electric mixer, beat together until well combined. This usually takes around 2 minutes.
Photo 3. Add the egg and vanilla to the mixture and beat to combine.
Photo 4. Next, add the peanut butter.
Photo 5. Beat the peanut butter until well combined.
Photo 6. Add the baking soda, baking powder, salt, and flour.
Photo 7. Beat until the flour mixture is well combined.
Photo 8. Add the M&Ms and peanut stir in with a spatula.
Photo 9. Form the dough into approximately 2 tablespoon dough balls and place onto parchment paper lined baking sheets.
Photo 10. Bake at 350 degrees F for 9-11 minutes. You want the edges to be slightly golden but the centers should still be soft. They will set up as they cool. Be careful not to over bake them!
Expert Tips
Freezer Friendly - To do this, roll the dough into dough balls, and place them on a baking sheet. Put the baking sheet into the freezer for the dough to freeze for a couple of hours. Once they are frozen, you can put them into a tupperware or plastic baggie to store in the freezer.
Storage - store these cookies in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Recipe FAQs
You can. I have used natural peanut butter in this recipe and while they don't turn out *quite* as chewy, they are still very delicious!
Yep! I have done this many times and I love how they turn out.
Yes. You can freeze them after they have been baked, or as unbaked dough balls. To freeze the dough balls, form them into the dough balls and then place the balls on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Place in the freezer for 2 hours. Then place the frozen balls in a Tupperware or ziplock bag. Bake as directed, adding 1-3 more minutes to the baking time.
Other Christmas Recipes to Consider
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, or take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #greensnchocolate.
Christmas Peanut Butter M&M Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup peanut butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ¼ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 2 cups Christmas M&M's
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl with electric mixer, beat together the butter, sugar, and brown sugar until creamy, about 2 minutes.
- Add peanut butter and mix in until well combined, scraping down the edges with a spatula as needed.
- Add the egg and vanilla, beating until combined.
- Add the baking soda, baking powder, and salt, and mix until combined.
- Add the flour, mixing until just combined.
- Fold in the M&M's.
- Using a cookie dough scoop or a spoon, form into ~2 tablespoon sized cookie dough balls. I also roll them between my palms to make sure they look smooth once baked.
- Place on prepared baking sheets, about 2" apart.
- Bake in preheated oven for 9-11 minutes. They should be slightly golden around the edges but still pretty soft in the middle. They will set up as they cool.
- Cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes and then transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.
- Enjoy!
- Store in airtight container.
Please add peanut butter to the ingredient list. Also let us know how much peanut butter will be needed for this recipe.
Hi Crystal,
Peanut butter is on the ingredient list, right under brown sugar. 1/2 cup.