Simple to Bake Christmas Lights Cookies are Perfect for the Christmas Holiday! Have some fun with the kids and start a new holiday tradition. Everyone will love your M & M Christmas Cookies this year!
Why You’ll Love These Christmas Light Cookie
These Christmas cookies have to be one of the cutest holiday cookies you’ll make this season. Vanilla cake mix, creamy frosting, and M&M candies come together for a sweet and festive treat. I guarantee your gang will love them.
These cookies are easy to prepare and even easier to decorate. They are also customizable so you can change up the cookie flavor, change up the icing flavor and even change up the toppings.
We like to make these cookies for our holiday dessert table, but they also make the perfect cookie for a cookie exchange. Who wouldn’t love to get some of these bright, fun cookies? Don’t you agree?
These cheery cookies are great to send to school for end-of-year holiday celebrations and make a nice homemade teacher’s gift. You can even make a double batch and gift them to friends and neighbors or anybody else on your holiday list. Oh, and we think Santa may like one or two as well.
Easy Christmas Lights Cookies are perfect additional to the holiday season!
Recipe Ingredients to Make Christmas Light Cookies
- Vanilla Cake Mix – Any brand of cake mix will work to make these cookies. If you can’t find vanilla you can use a different flavor like Angel Food, Classic Butter or even a chocolate-flavored cake would work.
- Vegetable Oil – We like to use vegetable oil but any mild flavored oil will work such as grapeseed or canola.
- Eggs – We typically use large white eggs when I bake but any kind of egg will work. Always buy organic when possible.
- Mini M&M – We think the mini M&Ms look great but you could use the full-size ones and cut them in half. Or any small, colored candy will work.
- Black Icing – You can use store-bought black icing or make your own.
- White Icing– You can use store-bought white icing or make your own.
Helpful Tools to Make Christmas Lights Cookie
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Baking sheet
- Piping bag
- Silicone mat
- Cooling rack
Prep time: 20 minutes
How To Make Christmas Light Cookies
STEP 1. Preheat the oven to 350°Fahrenheit.
STEP 2. Line a large baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
STEP 3. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, oil, and eggs until combined.
STEP 4. Refrigerate the dough for 15-20 minutes.
STEP 5. Scoop the dough onto the prepared baking sheet using a 1- tablespoon measuring spoon.
STEP 6. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cookies are set.
STEP 7. Remove from the oven and transfer to a cooling rack.
STEP 8. Let the cookies cool before coating them with the white icing.
STEP 9. Using the black icing, draw a thin line on the top of the cookie.
STEP 10. Place the mini M&M onto the thin black line to create a string of colorful Christmas lights.
Variations of Christmas Light Cookies
· You can choose a different cake mix. There are so many different flavors available in the grocery store these days but any of them will work as a base for these cookies.
· Add flavor to the icing by pouring in a touch of almond, lemon or orange extract.
· Switch up the candies. Any small colored candy will work to replicate Christmas lights. Or try chocolate-covered nuts or seeds instead of candies.
· Use cookie cutters and create differently shaped cookies.
Tips & Tricks
· Bring the eggs to room temperature before you start baking.
· Make sure the cookies are completely cool before applying the icing.
· The M&Ms will adhere best if the icing is still slightly wet.
Start a new Tradition with these Awesome M & M Christmas Lights Cookies
- 1 15 oz Box Cake Mix
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 2 large Eggs
- Mini M&M
- Black Icing
- White Icing
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Preheat the oven to 350°F.
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Line a large baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
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In a large bowl, stir the cake mix, oil, and eggs until combined.
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Refrigerate dough for 15-20 minutes.
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Scoop the dough onto the baking sheet. 1 Tbs sized balls work perfectly!
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Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cookies are set.
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Remove from oven and transfer to a cooling rack.
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Let cookies Cool before coating in white icing.
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Using the black icing, draw on a light string.
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Place mini M&M onto the cookies to create Christmas lights.
How to Store Christmas Cookies
These Christmas cookies will keep for up to a week in an airtight container in the fridge. You can also freeze them uniced and then just ice and decorate them when you are ready to serve them.
FAQs
Can I make my cookies from scratch?
Yes, if you want to make cookies from scratch and not use the cake mix, I suggest you choose a simple sugar cookie recipe.
Can I use store-bought cookies to make these Christmas light cookies?
Yes, you can use store-bought cookies to make these cookies. Choose a simple wafer-like cookie that is easy to decorate.
Can I make these cookies in advance?
I know the holidays can be quite hectic and the more you can get off your to-do list the better. You can most definitely bake up these cookies a few days before you want to serve them and store them in the fridge or the freezer and decorate them before you serve them. Or, better yet get the kids to decorate them while you tackle something else on your list.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Yes, you can absolutely make these cookies gluten-free. You can prepare your own gluten-free cookie recipe or you can buy gluten-free cookies and decorate them. Just make sure the other ingredients you use are gluten-free. It is quite easy to make a gluten-free batch and a non-gluten-free batch using this recipe so everyone can enjoy a cookie, regardless of their dietary restrictions.
You will Also Enjoy Some of Our Other Sweet Recipes
Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies
Basic Oatmeal Raisin Cookies with Quaker Oats
