Name: Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 11 min
Total time: 31 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 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)

There’s something magical about the sparkle and sweetness of holiday treats. This Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe is one of those special gems that captures the festive spirit perfectly—soft, chewy, and bursting with colorful sprinkles and M&Ms. It’s a joy to bake and even more fun to share around the holidays!

A white plate full of round cookies stacked slightly on top of each other, each cookie light golden brown with a soft texture, decorated with red and green candy-coated chocolate pieces, white and dark chocolate chips, and red, green, and white sprinkles scattered across the surface. Around the plate, more candy pieces and festively colored ornaments are placed on a white marbled surface. In the background, a white bowl with red stripes is filled with red and green candy-coated chocolates. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

From the first time I made this Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe, I was hooked. The mix of brown sugar softness with the fun crunch of sprinkles and chocolate candies makes it a treat that both kids and adults rave about. It’s simple but feels special—just the way holiday baking should be.

Soft & Pillowy Texture: Thanks to instant vanilla pudding mix, these cookies stay tender and chewy, even days later.
Festively Colorful: Bright sprinkles and Christmas M&Ms make each cookie pop with joyful holiday colors.
Easy to Make: No fancy techniques or complicated steps—just straightforward, reliable baking that anyone can do.
Perfect for Sharing: These cookies are always the first to vanish at holiday gatherings and cookie exchanges.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe plays a role in creating that perfect balance of flavor and texture. I like to use classic pantry staples, plus a fun pop of festive sprinkles and candies to really brighten things up.

Flat lay of a small square of unsalted butter, a small white ceramic bowl filled with packed brown sugar, a whole clean large egg with a smooth shell, a small white ceramic bowl containing bright red and green round sprinkles, a small white ceramic bowl filled with colorful Christmas M&Ms, a small white ceramic bowl holding fine all-purpose flour, a small white ceramic bowl with fine white baking soda powder, a small white ceramic bowl of fine white salt, and a small white ceramic bowl with light amber vanilla extract placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Unsalted butter: Softened butter adds richness and helps create tender, chewy cookies without overpowering sweetness.
Brown sugar: Packed brown sugar gives the cookies their moist, caramel-like flavor and chewy texture.
Vanilla extract: A touch of vanilla rounds out the flavor and complements the sweetness beautifully.
Egg: Provides structure and binds ingredients together for perfect cookie dough consistency.
Instant vanilla pudding mix: This little secret ingredient keeps the cookies incredibly soft and moist long after baking.
Baking soda: Helps the cookies rise slightly and contributes to tenderness.
Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances flavors.
All purpose flour: The main structure of the cookie, adding just enough chew without toughness.
Red and green sprinkles: Adds classic Christmas color and festive fun in every bite.
Christmas M&Ms: Chocolatey bursts of color and flavor that everyone loves.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love to personalize this Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe depending on the mood or the crowd. The base dough is forgiving, so you can tweak the colors or mix-ins with ease. Honestly, it’s always a hit no matter how you make it!

Variation: One holiday season, I swapped the classic red and green sprinkles for blues and silvers to match a winter wonderland theme — just as festive and extra fun!

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe

A group of round cookies spread out on a white marbled surface, each cookie golden brown with a slightly crispy edge and soft center. The cookies are decorated with colorful red and green candy-coated chocolates embedded on top, along with white and dark chocolate chips scattered throughout. Festive red, green, and white sprinkles add texture and color, spread evenly across the cookies and scattered around them. The cookies have a slightly bumpy texture showing the mix of chips and candies in the dough. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugar Until Fluffy

The first step is simple but important: cream your softened butter together with the brown sugar until it’s light and fluffy. This usually takes about 3-4 minutes with a stand or hand mixer. You want the sugar well blended but not gritty—this sets the stage for those soft, pillowy cookies.

Step 2: Mix in Egg and Vanilla

Next, add the egg and vanilla extract into your butter-sugar mix. Beat everything together until you get a smooth, creamy mixture — no streaks! This ensures even flavor and perfect binding in the dough.

Step 3: Add Pudding Mix, Baking Soda, and Salt

Here’s where the magic really begins: add the instant vanilla pudding mix, baking soda, and salt. These keep your cookies tender and help them rise just right. Mix everything until fully combined, but don’t overwork the dough.

Step 4: Stir in Flour, Sprinkles, and M&Ms

Gently fold in the all-purpose flour until you just see the dough come together. Then stir in your festive sprinkles and Christmas M&Ms. This part is my favorite — those bright colors just shout holiday cheer!

Step 5: Chill the Dough

This recipe needs some chill time. Scoop 2-tablespoon balls of dough onto a parchment or silicone-lined baking sheet, cover, and chill for at least 30 minutes. This step helps the cookies hold their shape and develop better flavor.

Step 6: Bake to Warm, Golden Perfection

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Place chilled dough balls about 2 inches apart on cookie sheets lined with parchment or silicone mats. Bake for 9-11 minutes, watching carefully for the edges to just start turning golden. Let them cool on the sheet 5 minutes before moving to a rack to cool completely.

Top Tip

Over the years of baking these cookies, I’ve learned a few tricks that really make a difference in texture and flavor, and help avoid common cookie hurdles.

Use Room Temperature Butter: It creams easier with the sugar for fluffier dough, ensuring soft cookies instead of dense ones.
Don’t Skip the Chill: Chilling the dough prevents the cookies from flattening and helps blend the flavors beautifully.
Watch Your Bake Time: Baking just until edges start to brown keeps them tender inside instead of crunchy, which is what you want here.
Evenly Space Chilled Dough: Placing dough balls 2 inches apart gives them enough room to spread without merging together.

How to Serve Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe

Christmas Sprinkle Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually keep it simple with extra sprinkles lightly pressed on top before baking for that pretty festive finish. If you’re feeling fancy, a quick drizzle of white chocolate or a dusting of powdered sugar adds a lovely touch without overpowering the cookie.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair fabulously with a cold glass of milk or a warm cup of hot cocoa. At holiday parties, I love setting them alongside spiced cider or creamy eggnog for a complete cozy treat experience.

Creative Ways to Present

For gift-giving, I line a festive tin with parchment and layer the cookies separated by wax paper. Or, arrange them on a pretty holiday platter with a few sprigs of evergreen and candy canes for an eye-catching centerpiece everyone will admire (and snack on!).

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftover Christmas Sprinkle Cookies stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. The texture stays wonderfully soft, and the candies keep their color and crunch.

Freezing

I often freeze the cookie dough balls before baking — they hold up really well. Just scoop onto a tray, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. When you want fresh cookies, bake straight from frozen (adding a minute or two). This saved me more than once during busy holiday weeks!

Reheating

If you want to warm up leftover cookies, a quick 10-15 second zap in the microwave or 3-4 minutes in a 300°F oven does the trick without drying them out. This revives their soft texture and brings back that freshly baked feeling.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I substitute the instant vanilla pudding mix?

The instant vanilla pudding mix is what keeps these cookies incredibly soft, so I recommend using it if possible. However, if you can’t find it, you could try cornstarch as a thickener, but the texture might be a bit different.

Why do I need to chill the dough?

Chilling the dough firms it up so the cookies don’t spread too much while baking. It also helps the flavors meld and makes the texture tender and perfect — skipping this step often leads to flatter cookies.

Can I make these cookies gluten-free?

You could try substituting a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend that contains xanthan gum, but be aware that the texture may vary slightly. It’s best to experiment with small batches first to see how you like the results.

How long will these cookies stay fresh?

Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these Christmas Sprinkle Cookies stay soft and fresh for about 4 days. Beyond that, you might want to freeze any extras to keep them tasting their best.

Final Thoughts

Honestly, the Christmas Sprinkle Cookies Recipe is one I go back to year after year. They bring a perfect blend of nostalgia and holiday fun to my kitchen, and I hope they do the same for you. So grab your mixing bowl, invite the family in, and start a new sweet tradition with these festive, soft, and colorful cookies. You’ll love the smiles they bring!