Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies Recipe
These Chocolate Chip Christmas Cookies are a festive twist on the classic favorite, bursting with rich chocolate chips and a hint of holiday cheer. Perfectly soft and chewy, these cookies make an ideal treat for holiday parties, gift-giving, or cozy nights by the fire.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: About 36 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Holiday Extras
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Colored sugar or sanding sugar for decorating (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease baking sheets or line them with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and ground cinnamon until evenly combined.
- Cream butter and sugars: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes. This step ensures your cookies have a tender crumb.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract for that classic cookie flavor.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter and sugar mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies tender.
- Stir in chocolate chips and nuts: Fold in the chocolate chips and optional chopped nuts evenly using a spatula or wooden spoon.
- Shape the cookies: Drop rounded tablespoonfuls of dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. If desired, sprinkle with colored sanding sugar for a festive look.
- Bake: Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven and bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until the edges are golden and centers look set but still soft.
- Cool: Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely. This helps them set perfectly.
Notes
- You can substitute half the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for a nuttier flavor and added fiber.
- For a gluten-free version, use a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend instead of regular flour.
- Adding a pinch of salt on top of the cookies before baking enhances the chocolate flavor.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze for longer storage.
- For softer cookies, slightly underbake and allow them to cool on the sheet.
Keywords: Chocolate chip cookies, Christmas cookies, holiday baking, festive cookies, soft cookies, chewy cookies
