Holiday Magic: Festive Chocolate Cookies Recipe

Chocolate lovers rejoice – these festive chocolate delight cookies sparkle with irresistible seasonal magic.

Dark, rich cocoa mingles with sweet surprises in every delectable bite.

Soft centers and crisp edges create a perfect textural harmony that melts in your mouth.

Baking these treats fills your kitchen with warm, comforting aromas that beckon everyone closer.

Simple ingredients blend together to craft a dessert that looks impressive yet comes together with ease.

The delightful combination of chocolate and festive cheer makes these cookies an absolute crowd-pleaser.

You’ll want to share these decadent morsels with everyone around your holiday table.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 11 minutes

Total Time: 21 minutes

Calories: 200 kcal

Servings: 25

Chocolate Cookie Ingredients with a Festive Spin

• Chocolate Cake Mix: Provides the foundational flavor and texture for soft, rich cookies.
• Vegetable Oil: Ensures moistness and helps bind ingredients together smoothly.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and enhances the overall chocolate flavor profile.
• Eggs: Bind the ingredients and create a tender, soft cookie consistency.

• M&M Candies: Brings colorful bursts of sweetness and fun texture to the cookies.
• Chocolate Chips: Optional alternative that adds extra chocolate intensity and melty pockets.

• No Additional Ingredients Needed: The cookies are ready to enjoy straight from the cooling rack.

Tools for Baking Your Best Holiday Cookies Yet

• Large mixing bowl: Essential for combining all cookie ingredients and creating the dough.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Precise tools for accurately measuring ingredients like oil and vanilla extract.
• Baking sheet: Flat surface for placing cookie dough and baking cookies evenly.
• Cooling rack: Allows cookies to cool down and prevents bottoms from becoming soggy.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Perfect for mixing dough and incorporating M&Ms smoothly.
• Clean hands: Needed for rolling dough into balls and shaping cookies.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Chocolate Cookie Perfection

Festive Chocolate Delight Cookies

• Oven Preparation

Warm up the oven to create the perfect baking environment for your delightful treats.

• Dough Creation

Blend chocolate cake mix with rich oils and eggs until a smooth, tempting mixture forms.

• Candy Magic

Gently fold colorful candies throughout the dough, creating bursts of sweet surprises in every bite.

• Cookie Shaping

Lovingly roll the dough into bite-sized balls, placing them carefully on a baking sheet with gentle spacing.

• Baking Moment

Slide the sheet into the heated oven, watching closely as the cookies transform into golden, chocolatey delights.

• Cooling Adventure

Let the cookies rest briefly on the baking sheet before transferring to a cooling rack, allowing them to reach perfect texture and temperature.

Flavor Variations for Festive Cookie Batches

• Cookie Customization Magic: Swap out M&Ms for different colored candies during holiday seasons to match festive themes like red and green for Christmas or pastel colors for Easter.
• Texture Twist: For softer cookies, reduce baking time by 1-2 minutes and pull them out when edges are just slightly golden brown.
• Gourmet Add-Ins: Experiment with mix-ins like chopped nuts, white chocolate chips, or crushed peppermint candies to elevate the basic recipe and create unique flavor profiles.
• Storage Secrets: Keep cookies fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze for longer preservation – they'll stay deliciously soft and tasty.

Presenting Chocolate Cookies for Holiday Sharing

• Party Platter Perfection: Arrange these colorful chocolate cookies on a festive platter with a mix of heights using cake stands or decorative pedestals for a stunning dessert display.
• Sweet Gift Packaging: Stack cookies carefully in clear cellophane bags tied with ribbons matching the M&M colors, creating charming homemade gifts for friends and family gatherings.
• Dessert Companion Pairings: Serve alongside cold milk, creamy vanilla ice cream, or rich hot chocolate to enhance the chocolate experience and provide delightful complementary flavors.
• Celebration Enhancement: Use these cookies as colorful treats for birthday parties, holiday events, or casual get-togethers where guests will appreciate their vibrant appearance and delicious taste.

Storage Tips to Keep Cookies Soft and Fresh

• Quick Chilling Strategy: Slide the baked cookies onto a wire rack within 3 minutes of removing from the oven to maintain their delicate texture and prevent continued cooking on the hot baking sheet.
• Container Selection: Choose an airtight glass or ceramic container with a sealed lid to keep cookies fresh, preventing moisture and maintaining their soft, chewy consistency for up to 5 days at room temperature.
• Freezing Technique: Layer cookies between sheets of parchment paper in a freezer-safe container, which allows you to store them flat and freeze for up to 3 months without losing flavor or texture.
• Smart Portioning: Divide the batch into smaller groups before storing, ensuring you can thaw only the amount needed, keeping the remaining cookies perfectly preserved and preventing unnecessary repeated freezing.

Rich Chocolate Cookies Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 16 reviews

• Total Time: 21 minutes
• Yield: 25 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Festive chocolate delight cookies blend rich cocoa with holiday cheer. Chocolate lovers discover a perfect balance of sweetness and celebration, creating memorable moments for family gatherings.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 15.25 oz (432 g) chocolate cake mix (Devil’s Food)
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup M&M candies or chocolate chips
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350°F, establishing an ideal baking atmosphere for these delightful chocolate cookies.
2. Mixing: Combine chocolate cake mix, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and eggs in a large mixing bowl, blending until a smooth, consistent dough forms, then gently incorporate M&M candies throughout the mixture.
3. Shaping: Delicately roll the dough into 1-inch spheres, positioning them evenly on an ungreased baking sheet with sufficient spacing to allow for gentle expansion during baking.
4. Baking: Place the cookie sheet in the preheated oven, allowing the cookies to transform for 9-11 minutes until the edges develop a subtle crispness while maintaining a soft, tender center.
5. Cooling: After removing from the oven, let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes to stabilize, then meticulously transfer to a wire cooling rack, allowing them to reach complete coolness and develop their ultimate texture and flavor complexity.

Notes

• Precise Candy Distribution: Stir M&M candies gently to prevent color bleeding and ensure even spread throughout the dough for a visually appealing and consistent cookie.
• Temperature Sensitivity: Watch cookies closely during baking; ovens vary, so check at 9 minutes to prevent overcooking and maintain a soft, chewy center.
• Oil Selection Matters: Use neutral-flavored vegetable oil to preserve the chocolate’s rich taste and prevent unwanted additional flavors from interfering.
• Cooling Technique: Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet briefly before transferring to prevent breakage, helping them set and develop a perfect slightly crisp exterior.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 11 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 25
• Calories: 200
• Sugar: 12 g
• Sodium: 180 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 27 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 25 mg