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Christmas Cookie Dough, 4 Ways

TODAY
Cook Time:
25 mins
Prep Time:
20 mins
RATE THIS RECIPE
(10)

Chef notes

I love this versatile cookie dough recipe because you can get so many flavors and cookies out of just one batch of dough. You can really customize the cookies to your tastes and make them whatever you want them to be. This recipe is an easy way to satisfy a lot of different preferences without having to bake 4 separate batches of cookies — because who has the time for that, especially during the holiday season?.

Here’s how to make it: to start, you’ll make a basic dough that resembles the makings of a classic chocolate chip cookie (minus the chocolate). There are no surprises here—just melted butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, all-purpose flour, baking soda and salt. Once the dough is ready, separate it into four separate bowls—this is when the real fun begins. We have recipes for four different kinds of Christmas cookies: Triple Chocolate-Chunk, Spicy Hot Cocoa, White Chocolate-Orange-Cranberry and M&M.

From here, you can shape and roll the dough to form individual cookies, but we actually love the idea of making a giant sheet pan cookie. Place all four types of dough side-by-side and bake until golden brown. Slice them up into individual pieces for the easiest holiday dessert ever. You get the satisfaction of four different types of cookies with the ease of just one recipe. 

Swap Option: You can add other ingredients to your dough to make your cookies what you want. Try something salty like chopped pretzels or potato chips, or lean into the holiday with peppermint extract folded into the dough and a little cocoa powder sprinkled on top! 

Technique Tip: You can make this cookie dough in advance and store it in the refrigerator for up to one week, or in the freezer for up to three months.

Ingredients

Base Dough
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • cup packed light brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookies
  • 1/4 recipe base dough
  • 2 tablespoons chopped white chocolate
  • 2 tablespoons chopped milk chocolate
  • 2 tablespoons chopped dark chocolate
Spicy Hot Cocoa Cookies
  • 1/4 recipe base dough
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne red pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
White Chocolate-Orange-Cranberry Cookies
  • 1/4 recipe base dough
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries
  • 2 tablespoons white chocolate chips
  • 1 teaspoon orange extract
M&M's Explosion Cookies
  • 1/4 recipe base dough
  • 1/3 cup M&M's
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Preparation

For the base dough:

1.

Preheat oven to 350 F.

2.

Beat butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar together in a medium bowl until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat into the mix until incorporated, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the dry ingredients and stir into wet mixture by hand until dough forms.

3.

Dive the dough into four even sections to prepare the following batches.

For the Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookies:

1.

Add chocolate chunks to dough and fold in using a spatula.

2.

Dump dough ball onto pan and shape into a square 1/4 the size of the pan.

For the Spicy Hot Cocoa Cookies:

1.

Add cocoa powder, cayenne pepper, cinnamon and dark chocolate chips to dough and fold in.

2.

Dump dough ball onto pan and shape into a square 1/4 the size of the pan.

For the White Chocolate-Orange-Cranberry Cookies:

1.

Add cranberry, orange extract and white chocolate to dough and fold in.

2.

Dump dough ball onto pan and shape into a square 1/4 the size of the pan.

For the M&M's Explosion Cookies:

1.

Add M&M's to dough and fold in.

2.

Dump dough ball onto pan and shape into a square 1/4 the size of the pan.

To bake:

1.

Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, until the top is golden brown.

2.

Take the pan out of the oven and place on a cooling rack. Let the cookies cool completely before cutting.

3.

Use a sharp knife or bench scraper to cut the cookies into bars, then serve!