Gluten Free Christmas M&M Cookies (Chewy and Soft)
These gluten free Christmas M&M cookies have crisp golden edges, soft chewy middles, and red and green M&Ms in every bite, all made with gluten-free flour.
I tested a LOT of combinations to get these right, and this is the one. Buttery, brown sugar-y, a little crisp around the edges and soft in the middle, with those festive red and green M&Ms all through them.
Gluten free Christmas M&M cookies are chewy cookies made with gluten-free all-purpose flour, butter, brown and white sugar, and red and green holiday M&Ms. The scooped dough goes in the freezer for 20 minutes so the cookies don’t spread, then bakes at 350°F for 9 to 12 minutes. The recipe makes 15 cookies.
Why You’ll Love These Gluten Free Christmas M&M Cookies
- The flavor. Butter and brown sugar with candy-coated chocolate in every bite.
- The texture. Golden, slightly crisp edges with a soft, chewy center.
- Everyone eats them. They disappear just as fast with people who don’t eat gluten-free.
Ingredients for Gluten Free M&M Cookies
- Gluten-free all-purpose flour: make sure your blend has xanthan gum in it. I use Bob’s Red Mill.
- Baking soda and baking powder: both, for lift and a little spread.
- Salt: less than a teaspoon. If you use salted butter, skip it.
- Unsalted butter: softened, for creaming with the sugar.
- White and brown sugar: the white gives you crisp edges, the brown keeps the middles chewy.
- Egg and vanilla extract: one large egg and a good splash of vanilla.
- Red and green M&Ms: milk chocolate, regular or mini. The holiday packs make them Christmas. Save a handful for the tops.
- Kosher salt: optional, a sprinkle on top.
How to Make Gluten Free Christmas M&M Cookies
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Whisk the gluten-free flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together.
- Cream the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until creamy.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until just combined.
- Fold in the M&Ms.
- Scoop the dough onto the baking sheet with a tablespoon or cookie scoop.
- Press a few extra M&Ms into the tops.
- Freeze the scooped dough for 20 minutes.
- Bake for 9 to 12 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden and crisp.
- Let the cookies cool before moving them.
Tips for Chewy Cookies
- Pull them early. Take them out when the edges are golden and the centers still look a little underdone. They finish setting on the hot pan.
- Don’t skip the freeze. Twenty minutes in the freezer is what stops them from spreading into flat discs.
- Stick with an all-purpose gluten-free blend. Coconut flour makes these dry and hard.
Variations
- Valentine’s Day: swap in red and pink M&Ms.
- Add-ins: chopped nuts or white chocolate chips folded in with the M&Ms.
- Peppermint: a little peppermint extract in the dough.
Are M&Ms Gluten-Free?
Plain milk chocolate M&Ms don’t contain gluten ingredients, but Mars doesn’t label or certify any M&Ms as gluten-free, and they’re made in facilities that also handle gluten. Some varieties DO contain gluten, like Pretzel and Crispy M&Ms, and seasonal holiday packs can have different formulas. Always check the bag. If you’re baking for someone with celiac disease, read the label every single time.
Storage and Make-Ahead
Room temperature: keep them in an airtight container for about a week. Tuck a slice of bread in the container to keep them soft.
Freezer: freeze the baked cookies in a single layer until solid, then move them to a freezer container with parchment between layers. Thaw at room temperature.
Make the dough ahead: refrigerate the dough for up to 48 hours. Let it come to room temperature before scooping.
Gluten Free Christmas M&M Cookies (Chewy and Soft)
Ingredients
- 1 ⅓ cups gluten-free all-purpose flour (with xanthan gum) sifted
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- ⅓ cup white sugar
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup red and green holiday M&M candies plus extra for topping
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until creamy. You can use an electric mixer on medium-high speed or mix by hand with a wooden spoon.
- Add the large egg one by one and the vanilla extract to the mixing bowl and continue to mix until fully combined.
- Gradually add in the dry ingredients from step 2 to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Fold in the M&M’s candies, making sure they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Using a tablespoon or cookie scoop, drop the cookie dough by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving about 2 inches of space between each cookie. Add extra M&M’s to the top of the cookie.
- Freeze the cookies for 20 minutes. This will help them from spreading.
- Bake the cookies for 9-12 minutes or until they have lightly golden brown crisp edges. Baking time will vary depending on if you made smaller cookies or giant cookies.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Enjoy your freshly baked M&M cookies!
Notes
- Use a gluten-free all-purpose blend with xanthan gum. Coconut flour won’t work.
- Check your M&M bag. Mars doesn’t label M&Ms gluten-free, and some varieties contain gluten.
- Dough keeps in the fridge up to 48 hours.
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided is calculated based on industry-standard software and should be used as a general guide only. The information may vary depending on ingredient substitutions, cooking techniques, and individual serving sizes. It is the responsibility of the reader to ensure the accuracy and appropriateness of the nutritional information provided. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized medical or nutritional advice.
More Gluten Free Christmas Cookies
- Gluten Free Sugar Cookie Bars
- Healthy Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars
- Gluten Free Oreo Balls
- Salted Gluten Free Brownie Cookies
- Vegan Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Soft and Chewy M&M Cookies, the classic version
If you bake these, leave a star rating and a comment below, it helps other gluten-free bakers find the recipe. Tag @basicswithbails on Instagram so I can see your cookie tray.
About Bailey
I love to bake, cook, exercise, and document all of the above. Nutrition is not low fat. It is not low calorie. It’s not feeling deprived or being hungry all the time. It’s nourishing your body with real, whole foods so that you are consistently satisfied and energized to live your life to the fullest! Read more…
