Description
Santa's Favorite Cookies are soft and pillowy brown sugar pudding cookies loaded with festive Christmas M&Ms and colorful sprinkles. These easy-to-make cookies have a delightful vanilla and brown sugar flavor with a chewy texture, perfect for holiday celebrations and gifting.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 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)
Instructions
- Cream Ingredients: Cream the softened butter and brown sugar together in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or use a hand mixer. Then mix in the egg and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Add the instant vanilla pudding mix, baking soda, and salt to the creamed mixture. Mix until combined.
- Incorporate Flour and Mix-ins: Mix in the all-purpose flour until incorporated, then gently stir in the red and green sprinkles and the Christmas M&Ms.
- Chill Dough: Scoop the dough into 2-tablespoon balls and place them onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silpat baking mat. No need to space them apart. Cover the cookie sheet and chill the dough for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
- Prepare Oven and Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silpat baking mats. Space the chilled dough balls 2 inches apart on the cookie sheets. Bake for 11 minutes or until the edges just start to turn brown.
- Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store Properly: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze for up to one month.
Notes
- Chilling the dough is important to achieve the right texture and prevent spreading during baking.
- You can substitute sprinkles and M&Ms with any holiday-themed candies or chopped nuts for variation.
- Use parchment paper or silpat mats to prevent sticking and promote even baking.
- For softer cookies, bake closer to 9 minutes; for slightly crisper edges, bake the full 11 minutes.
- These cookies keep well and can be frozen for longer storage.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 127 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 57 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 18 mg
