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Festive Holiday Cookies

Snejana Andreeva - 1

By Snejana Andreeva

on Nov 11, 2022, Updated Dec 10, 2023

Add as a preferred source on Google - 2

These are the perfect 🎄 Festive Holiday Cookies. This cookie recipe takes 5 minutes to whip up and only a second to devour. If you love chocolate chip cookies, you will absolutely love this festive touch. The red and green Christmas M&M’s will get you into the holiday spirit. The only thing I ask of you when baking cookies is to enjoy the process and have FUN!

  • Why You’ll Love Festive Holiday Cookies
  • How to Prepare Festive Holiday Cookies
  • Nonna’s Tip 🍪
  • Variations and Substitutions for Festive Holiday Cookies
  • More Holiday Cookie Recipes
  • Common Questions
  • Holiday Cookies Recipe

Why You’ll Love Festive Holiday Cookies

These Festive Holiday Cookies with 🔴 M&Ms 🟢 are not only delicious but also so cute with their pop of color from the M&M’s. It is so easy to put these together in the mixer, and you can make a small batch or double (or triple!) it for a large crowd if you’re entertaining.

Even better? Have the 🧒 kids help! With how quickly this recipe comes together, you’ll be glad you had them help. Share the joy by baking a batch for your loved ones – simple, tasty, and sure to be a hit with friends and family. These Festive Holiday Cookies would be a great option for bringing to a party.

How to Prepare Festive Holiday Cookies

🔥 Preheat the oven to 350°F.

🧈 Use a handheld or stand mixer with a paddle attachment to cream the butter and sugars until smooth.

🥚 Add egg and vanilla extract, and then mix for about a minute on medium-low speed.

🧂 Gradually add flour, baking soda, a pinch of salt, and mix until a tacky dough forms.

🎄 Mix or fold in M&M’s.

🍪 Scoop 24 small cookies onto a parchment paper -lined baking sheet (or you could make 12 large cookies).

♨️ Bake for 12-15 minutes or until edges are golden.

❤️ Enjoy and share the recipe with your loved ones.

Nonna’s Tip 🍪

Feel free to use fillings such as walnuts, chocolate chips, and white chocolate, in addition to or instead of the M&Ms.

Festive Holiday Cookies - 3

Variations and Substitutions for Festive Holiday Cookies

These Festive Holiday Cookies 🎄 are delicious and can be modified for allergies or for what you have available in your pantry! Be sure to adjust quantities accordingly and have fun experimenting with these variations to suit your taste preferences!

  1. Instead of M&M’s, you can use 🍫 chocolate chips or chunks .
  2. Add chopped nuts such as walnuts, pecans, or almonds for a nutty crunch.
  3. Replace M&M’s with white chocolate chips for a sweeter, vanilla-flavored twist.
  4. Incorporate peanut butter chips 🥜 or swirl in peanut butter for a nice peanut butter and chocolate combo.
  5. Substitute all-purpose flour with a 1-1 gluten-free flour for a gluten-free version of these Festive Holiday Cookies.
  6. Add a pinch of cinnamon , nutmeg, or all-spice for some added 🔥 spice.
  7. For a vegan (or dairy-free) or 🌿 plant-based cookie, replace butter with vegan butter, use a flax egg instead of a regular egg, and ensure your M&M’s.

Don’t forget the Easy Gingerbread Cookies for 🎅 Santa!

A close-up of several round, white cookies coated in powdered sugar, arranged in a brown paper liner inside a red bowl. Perfect for any Apple Cookies Recipe, with a decorative red string visible in the upper left corner. - 4 A close-up of several round, white cookies coated in powdered sugar, arranged in a brown paper liner inside a red bowl. Perfect for any Apple Cookies Recipe, with a decorative red string visible in the upper left corner. - 5

Snowball Cookies

30 mins

A plate of Shortbread Butter Cookies topped with red, white, and green sprinkles, surrounded by small holiday gift boxes and pinecones on a white surface. - 6 A plate of Shortbread Butter Cookies topped with red, white, and green sprinkles, surrounded by small holiday gift boxes and pinecones on a white surface. - 7

Shortbread Butter Cookies

27 mins

A plate of thumbprint cookies filled with orange jam and dusted with powdered sugar, these treats offer the same buttery delight as Shortbread Cookie Bars, beautifully arranged in sunlight on a white plate. - 8 A plate of thumbprint cookies filled with orange jam and dusted with powdered sugar, these treats offer the same buttery delight as Shortbread Cookie Bars, beautifully arranged in sunlight on a white plate. - 9

Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies

25 mins

A stack of three powdered almond cookies on a wooden surface. The top cookie has a bite taken out, revealing a soft interior. Whole almonds are scattered around, with more cookies blurred in the background. - 10 A stack of three powdered almond cookies on a wooden surface. The top cookie has a bite taken out, revealing a soft interior. Whole almonds are scattered around, with more cookies blurred in the background. - 11

Italian Amaretti Cookies

25 mins

Common Questions

You are more than welcome to try making these gluten-free by using a 1-1 gluten-free baking all-purpose flour instead.

Yes, vegan butter will work if you don’t want to use regular butter.

Feel free to use any fillings such as walnuts, chocolate chips, white chocolate, or anything else instead if you don’t have M&Ms

While 1 cup of flour weighs 160g in my kitchen, it might weigh anywhere from 120 to 180g in your kitchen and there’s a few reasons for that. The weight of ingredients may vary due to the brand of ingredients, the brand and style (wet vs dry) of measuring cups and spoons, and the technique for measuring into cups: scooping and leveling versus spooning the ingredients into the cup measure. For best results, go by the weight listed in the recipe.

A New Recipe Card!!

  1. Check off each step in instructions!
  2. Add ingredients to your shopping list!

Video

Equipment

  • ▢ Baking Sheet
  • ▢ Cookie Scoop
  • ▢ Measuring Cups + Spoons
  • ▢ Stand Mixer
  • ▢ Mixing Bowls

Ingredients

  • ▢ 1 stick butter , (1/2 cup) softened
  • ▢ ⅓ cup white sugar
  • ▢ ½ cup brown sugar
  • ▢ 1 egg
  • ▢ 1 teaspoons vanilla
  • ▢ ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ▢ 1 pinch salt
  • ▢ 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • ▢ ½ cup m and m’s , or festive sprinkles

Instructions

  • ▢ Preheat the oven to 350°F. You are more than welcome to use a handheld mixer or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment.
  • ▢ In the stand mixer, cream the butter and the sugars together until nice and smooth.
  • ▢ Add the egg and pure vanilla extract, mix for about a minute again on medium-low speed.
  • ▢ Gradually add the flour, baking soda, pinch of salt, and mix on medium low speed until a tacky dough forms.
  • ▢ Mix or fold in the m and m’s and take a spoon or an ice-cream scoop and scoop out 24 small cookies onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. You can also make 12 large cookies as well but the baking time may increase.
  • ▢ Bake for 12 minutes or until the edges are golden.

My Notes

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Home › Recipes › Cookies & Snacks

Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies

Snejana Andreeva - 12

By Snejana Andreeva

on Dec 15, 2022, Updated Nov 08, 2023

Add as a preferred source on Google - 13

My lemon cheesecake thumbprint cookies melt in your mouth . This recipe is one of those recipes that you’ll need to triple, because it’s THAT good. 🍋Whether you’re a lemon lover or simply looking for a unique and delicious cookie, these Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies are a must-try. They’re perfect for any occasion, from a casual afternoon tea to a fancy dessert spread.

  • Why You’ll Love Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies
  • How to Prepare
  • Nonna’s Tip 🍋
  • Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies Variations and Substitutions
  • Other Holiday Recipes
  • More Holiday Cookies
  • Common Questions
  • Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies Recipe

Why You’ll Love Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies

These lemon cheesecake thumbprint cookies are ideal for anyone who cannot tolerate 🥚 eggs as they are completely egg-free . The dough takes 5 minutes to whip up, so these cookies are easy enough for anyone who is not even a baker. They’re only 5 ingredients , which you probably already have on hand. I can honestly say that this is one of those cookie recipes that you cannot get enough of.

How to Prepare

🥣 Use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or a hand-held mixer and bowl to cream butter and cream cheese for about 2 minutes until smooth.

🍋 Add sugar and lemon extract and mix until smooth . Then add flour, and mix until a sticky dough forms. Scrape down the sides to fully incorporate any remaining flour.

🧊 Cover the cookie dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour.

🥄 Remove dough from the refrigerator, use a small ice-cream scooper to portion the cookies, rolling each in a touch of flour to prevent sticking.

🍓 Place rolled cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper . Flatten each with your thumb, creating an indent, and add a teaspoon of preferred jam/preserve to the center.

🔥 Preheat the oven to 350°F and bake the lemon cheesecake thumbprint cookies for 13-15 minutes or until the edges are light and golden brown .

❄️ Allow the cookies to cool completely and optionally dust with icing sugar. They can be stored at room temperature for up to a week.

Nonna’s Tip 🍋

You MUST refrigerate the cookie dough for at least one hour and you have to use a touch of flour to roll each one as they will stick.

Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies - 14

Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies Variations and Substitutions

  • Try adding a decorative topping like chopped nuts or a sprinkle of coarse sugar for holiday decoration.
  • I have not tried this recipe with gluten-free flour , but feel free to experiment with a gluten-free 1-1 replacement and let me know how it goes!
  • Instead of lemon extract , you could try almond, vanilla, orange or another you have on hand.
  • Feel free to experiment with different jams or preserves , for example, you could use strawberry, raspberry, apricot or even marmalade.
  • You could try dairy-free or vegan alternatives to the butter and cream cheese if you or your guests have allergies.

Other Holiday Recipes

A round platter forms an Antipasti Christmas Wreath, with skewers of mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes, grapes, olives, prosciutto, and rosemary arranged in a circle; raspberries fill the center and two gold forks rest on the side. - 15 A round platter forms an Antipasti Christmas Wreath, with skewers of mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes, grapes, olives, prosciutto, and rosemary arranged in a circle; raspberries fill the center and two gold forks rest on the side. - 16

Antipasti Christmas Wreath

10 mins

A close-up of a wooden serving board styled as a Holiday Butter Board, topped with whipped cheese, assorted fruit jams, chopped nuts, fresh herbs, and a decorative cheese knife. - 17 A close-up of a wooden serving board styled as a Holiday Butter Board, topped with whipped cheese, assorted fruit jams, chopped nuts, fresh herbs, and a decorative cheese knife. - 18

Holiday Butter Board

20 mins

Two tall champagne flutes filled with an orange-pink Holiday Candy Cane Prosecco, each rimmed with crushed red, green, and white candy, stand on a white countertop with scattered candy. Cozy kitchen background. - 19 Two tall champagne flutes filled with an orange-pink Holiday Candy Cane Prosecco, each rimmed with crushed red, green, and white candy, stand on a white countertop with scattered candy. Cozy kitchen background. - 20

Holiday Candy Cane Prosecco

5 mins

A Holiday Cheese Board featuring various cheeses, salami roses, fresh figs, grapes, cherry tomatoes, olives, crackers, grapefruit slices, rosemary sprigs, and bowls of jam is artfully arranged on a white surface with a linen cloth. - 21 A Holiday Cheese Board featuring various cheeses, salami roses, fresh figs, grapes, cherry tomatoes, olives, crackers, grapefruit slices, rosemary sprigs, and bowls of jam is artfully arranged on a white surface with a linen cloth. - 22

Holiday Cheese Board

20 mins

More Holiday Cookies

Looking for an even fancier-looking cookie? Try my puff pastry cookies .

A plate of Easy Gingerbread Cookies shaped like people, adorned with white icing details, red and green candy buttons, cinnamon sticks, and colorful candies, set on a white surface with a red ribbon and white cloth. - 23 A plate of Easy Gingerbread Cookies shaped like people, adorned with white icing details, red and green candy buttons, cinnamon sticks, and colorful candies, set on a white surface with a red ribbon and white cloth. - 24

Easy Gingerbread Cookies

3 hrs 23 mins

A stack of three powdered almond cookies on a wooden surface. The top cookie has a bite taken out, revealing a soft interior. Whole almonds are scattered around, with more cookies blurred in the background. - 25 A stack of three powdered almond cookies on a wooden surface. The top cookie has a bite taken out, revealing a soft interior. Whole almonds are scattered around, with more cookies blurred in the background. - 26

Italian Amaretti Cookies

25 mins

Close-up of 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookies cooling on a black wire rack. The cookies are round, golden, and have a slightly rough texture from sugar crystals. A pinkish surface is visible in the background. - 27 Close-up of 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookies cooling on a black wire rack. The cookies are round, golden, and have a slightly rough texture from sugar crystals. A pinkish surface is visible in the background. - 28

3 Ingredient Sugar Cookies

20 mins

A plate of Shortbread Butter Cookies topped with red, white, and green sprinkles, surrounded by small holiday gift boxes and pinecones on a white surface. - 29 A plate of Shortbread Butter Cookies topped with red, white, and green sprinkles, surrounded by small holiday gift boxes and pinecones on a white surface. - 30

Shortbread Butter Cookies

27 mins

Common Questions

Feel free to use any jam or preserve you enjoy. I love fig or apricot but you are more than welcome to use any you have on hand.

The lemon extract is optional so don’t worry if you don’t have any on hand. You can also use pure vanilla extract, or almond extract, or leave them plain. Or, if you don’t have pure lemon extract, but still want the flavor, you can also use the zest of a lemon in the recipe.

You MUST refrigerate the cookie dough for at least one hour and you have to use a touch of flour to roll each one as they will stick.

Feel free to freeze the cookie dough tightly wrapped for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and shape as usual.

The cream cheese and butter must be softened in order for the cookies to bake correctly.

You can use salted or unsalted butter. I have made them with both and both results are delicious.

While 1 cup of flour weighs 160g in my kitchen, it might weigh anywhere from 120 to 180g in your kitchen and there’s a few reasons for that. The weight of ingredients may vary due to the brand of ingredients, the brand and style (wet vs dry) of measuring cups and spoons, and the technique for measuring into cups: scooping and leveling versus spooning the ingredients into the cup measure. For best results, go by the weight listed in the recipe.

A New Recipe Card!!

  1. Check off each step in instructions!
  2. Add ingredients to your shopping list!

Video

Equipment

  • ▢ Measuring Cups + Spoons
  • ▢ Mixing Bowls
  • ▢ Baking Sheet
  • ▢ Parchment Paper

Ingredients

  • ▢ ½ cup cream cheese , softened
  • ▢ ½ cup white sugar
  • ▢ 1 stick softened salted butter
  • ▢ 1.5 teaspoons lemon extract , optional if you don’t have any on hand
  • ▢ 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour , + 2 extra tablespoons for rolling the balls
  • ▢ 18 teaspoons jam , I used fig preserve

Instructions

  • ▢ In a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, cream the butter and cream cheese together for about 2 minutes or until smooth. You can also use a hand-held mixer and a bowl as well.
  • ▢ Once creamy, add the sugar and lemon extract and mix until smooth. Add in the flour and mix until a sticky dough forms. If there’s any flour on the sides, you can scrape it down and mix again until fully incorporated.
  • ▢ Cover the cookie dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour. After an hour, take out the dough, remove the plastic and use a small ice-cream scooper to scoop out the cookies. I scoop each cookie, roll it in a touch of flour as it will stick to your hands if you don’t.
  • ▢ Repeat this step for all 18 cookies. Place each rolled cookie onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Press each one down with your thumb to make an indent. Add a teaspoon of any jam/preserve you like to the middle.
  • ▢ Preheat the oven to 350F and bake until the edges are light and golden brown. This should take 13-15 minutes depending on the oven.
  • ▢ Let them cool completely and optionally dust with icing sugar. These are perfectly stored at room-temp for up to a week.

My Notes

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Holiday Cookies

Equipment

  • Baking Sheet
  • Cookie Scoop
  • Measuring Cups + Spoons
  • Stand Mixer
  • Mixing Bowls

Ingredients

  • 1 stick butter (1/2 cup) softened
  • ⅓ cup white sugar
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoons vanilla
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup m and m’s or festive sprinkles

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. You are more than welcome to use a handheld mixer or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment.
  • In the stand mixer, cream the butter and the sugars together until nice and smooth.
  • Add the egg and pure vanilla extract, mix for about a minute again on medium-low speed.
  • Gradually add the flour, baking soda, pinch of salt, and mix on medium low speed until a tacky dough forms.
  • Mix or fold in the m and m’s and take a spoon or an ice-cream scoop and scoop out 24 small cookies onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. You can also make 12 large cookies as well but the baking time may increase.
  • Bake for 12 minutes or until the edges are golden.

Video

Nutrition

Holiday Cookies https://themodernnonna.com/holiday-cookies/ November 11, 2022