Description
Delight in Santa's Favorite Cookies, a soft and pillowy treat packed with rich brown sugar and festive Christmas candies. These easy-to-make pudding cookies combine vanilla pudding mix and brown sugar to create a uniquely chewy texture, decorated with colorful sprinkles and vibrant M&Ms perfect for holiday celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 3/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 1 3.4 ounces box Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix (not sugar free)
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
Decorations
- 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: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or using a hand mixer, cream together the softened unsalted butter and packed brown sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the egg and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Stir in the Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix, baking soda, and salt until fully combined. Gradually add the all-purpose flour and mix until incorporated.
- Mix in Decorations: Fold in the red and green sprinkles along with the Christmas M&Ms, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Shape and Chill Dough: Scoop 2 tablespoon-sized balls of cookie dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a Silpat baking mat. There’s no need to space the dough since it will be chilled. Cover the tray and refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or Silpat baking mats for easy removal and cleanup.
- Bake Cookies: Place the chilled cookie dough balls 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 11 minutes or until the edges just start to turn golden brown, maintaining a soft center.
- Cool and Store: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze for up to one month.
Notes
- Chilling the dough is essential to prevent spreading and to maintain the cookies’ soft, pillowy texture.
- Use a Silpat mat or parchment paper to prevent sticking and promote even baking.
- You can substitute the Christmas M&Ms with other festive candies or chocolate chips if preferred.
- These cookies freeze well; wrap them tightly before freezing to preserve freshness.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend of equal measure.
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
