Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 3/4 cup salted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup granulated white sugar
- 2 egg yolks, at room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla bean paste or extract
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
Add-ins
- 1/2 cup red and green M&M’s
- 1/3 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup pretzel pieces
- 1/3 cup potato chip pieces
- 2 tbsp red and green jimmies
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside to prepare the cookie dough.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, combine the softened salted butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Using an electric mixer, beat together for about two minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy, incorporating air for a tender cookie.
- Add Egg Yolks and Vanilla: Mix in the egg yolks and vanilla bean paste or extract on medium speed for two minutes, or until the mixture becomes pale and fluffy, which helps with the cookie’s texture.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this to the wet mixture and mix until all ingredients are just combined to avoid overmixing.
- Fold in Mix-ins: Gently fold in the M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, potato chip pieces, and sprinkles using a spatula, ensuring an even distribution without breaking the chips and pretzels too much.
- Scoop Dough: Use a cookie scoop or spoon to portion out the dough into 20 balls. Place them two inches apart on the prepared baking sheets to allow for spreading.
- Optional Topping: For an enhanced festive look, sprinkle a few extra mix-ins on top of the dough balls before baking.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. Baking for 10 minutes yields chewier centers; baking closer to 12 minutes produces crisper edges.
- Optional Shaping: Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, use a large circular cookie cutter and gently swirl around each cookie to shape them into perfect circles, ensuring the mix-ins stay neatly bundled.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes to set, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely for another 10 minutes.
- Store: Place any leftover cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to three days.
Notes
- Using room temperature egg yolks helps the mixture blend smoothly and contributes to the cookies’ rich texture.
- Gently folding in the mix-ins helps retain their shape and texture within the cookies.
- Adding extra mix-ins on top is optional but adds an attractive festive appearance.
- Using a cookie cutter after baking helps achieve perfectly round cookies, ideal for presentation.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days for best taste and texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
