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Santa’s Favorite Cookies

Santa’s Favorite Cookies

The ultimate holiday treat, Santa’s Favorite Cookies are a delicious blend of sweet and salty flavors. These easy-to-make cookies, filled with chocolate chunks, M&Ms, and marshmallows, are perfect for sharing or enjoying yourself. Bake a batch tonight and experience the joy!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 20 cookies
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American
Calories: 150

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Unsalted Butter softened (2 sticks)
  • 3/4 cup Brown Sugar
  • 1/4 cup White Sugar
  • 2 large Large Eggs plus 1 egg yolk
  • 3.4 ounces Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix One box, must be instant
  • 2 1/2 cups Flour
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/4 cup Chocolate Chunks semisweet, or chips plus extra for decorating
  • 1/4 cup M&Ms red and green, plus extra for decorating
  • 1/4 cup Mini Marshmallows plus extra for decorating
  • 1/4 cup Pretzel Pieces plus extra for decorating

Equipment

  • Mixing Bowl
  • Baking Sheet
  • Frying Pan
  • Oven

Method
 

  1. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar and white sugar with an electric mixer until well mixed.
  2. Add the eggs, extra egg yolk, and vanilla instant pudding mix and mix until combined.
  3. Pour in the flour, baking soda, and salt and mix to combine.
  4. Add this dry mixture to the wet mixture and mix with an electric mixer until a dough forms.
  5. Fold in the chocolate chunks and M&Ms and mix into the dough.
  6. With a silicone spatula to keep the pretzel pieces from crushing too much, fold in the mini marshmallows and pretzel pieces, mixing until just combined.
  7. Chill the dough for at least 1 hour, but can be overnight.
  8. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  9. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  10. With a medium cookie scoop, portion the dough into two tablespoon dough balls. Leave at least two inches between cookies when placing on the prepared cookie sheet.
  11. Top each cookie dough ball with several extra chocolate chips, marshmallow pieces, pretzel pieces, and M&Ms.
  12. Bake the cookies for 9 to 10 minutes, until they set at the edges and lightly browned on top.
  13. Let the cookies cool for 2 to 3 minutes on the pan, then transfer the cookies to a wire cooling rack to finish cooling completely.

Notes

  • Toppings: I love the addition of the gooey marshmallows and slightly salty pretzels, but if you prefer, you can substitute them for more M&Ms or chocolate chunks in this recipe.
  • Marshmallow Baking Tips: Marshmallows melt wherever they touch the pan. This gives the cookies a delicious caramelly flavor, but can look a little messier. I try not to put the marshmallows that are in the dough straight on the pan. After the cookies cool, you can break off any of the caramelized bits that hit the pan.
  • Presentation: If you add the marshmallows to the top of the cookie right after baking while the cookies are still warm, the marshmallows will hold their shape and look pretty.
  • Baking Timing: You can also add the marshmallows to the top of the cookie in the last 1 to 2 minutes of baking to get marshmallows that have a little golden brown on them without melting too much.