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These Elf Cookies are much like the ever-popular “Monster Cookies” but we decided to kick them up a notch by making them “Christmas Style”. What elf wouldn’t want a cookie filled with tons Christmas candy?
Featured with this Recipe
Cookie Dough
Everyone needs a good base cookie dough recipe. You know, one of those easy cookie recipes that you have memorized but make different each time depending on the mix-ins. We have tried this cookie dough recipe with several different mix-in ideas, but we think we found the best mix-in…. Christmas candy! And LOTS of it!
Ingredients in Elf Cookies
- Butter or shortening
- Granulated sugar
- Packed brown sugar
- Egg
- Egg yolk
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Baking soda
Mix-Ins Not To Miss
These would be great with any kind of Christmas candy, but the mix-ins we chose, specifically, include: Candy-coated chocolate candies (M&M’s), chocolate dinner mints (creme de menthe mints), white chocolate peppermint bark, and Christmas SPRINKLES! Here are some other mix-in ideas that even Buddy from the movie Elf would approve of:
- Mini Marshmallows
- Pecans, almonds, or walnuts
- chopped up chow mein noodles or pretzels
- Drizzle some chocolate syrup, or melted chocolate over the top with a piping bag
- Frost with some chocolate frosting
Make Elf Cookies Part of the Party
This would be such a fun recipe to use for a “family night” activity. Have all the kids make their own recipe creations by dividing up the dough and letting them choose which Christmas candies they want in their Elf Cookies. Have all the Christmas candy out in bowls and give them an allotted amount of “scoops.” So many possibilities! Kids love being able to come up with their own creations in the kitchen. This is the perfect opportunity to let them do just that!
Not only would this be a fun “family night” activity, but a fun activity for a birthday party or holiday party for kids or teenagers. Make sure to offer lots of choices so they can be creative: chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, toffee bits, crushed chocolate cookies, chopped up candy bars, marshmallow bits, chopped graham crackers, etc. Everyone loves homemade cookies, especially when they are warm out of the oven. Serve them up with a tall glass of cold milk or a hot mug of cocoa. Does a party get any better than that?
This recipe can be made a day or two ahead or frozen for later use, which makes it even more convenient for holiday gatherings or parties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Push the sides of the cookie very lightly with a spatula or butter knife. If the edge stays firm and doesn’t fall inwards, then your cookies are done. If you leave a noticeable indentation, then your cookies need a few more minutes to cook.
Cookies can stay good for up to two weeks, but taste best fresh. If I make them for an event, I like to make them within 24 hours of when I need to serve them. Or, if I want to make them way ahead, I will make them and freeze them.
Tightly wrap leftover dough in Saran wrap. Place the wrapped dough in a freezer bag and freeze dough for up to two months. OR you can also freeze fully cooked cookies in a freezer bag.
Read Next: Christmas Cookie Recipes
More Holiday Treat Recipes
If you are looking for even more Holiday treats, we have desserts that make perfect gifts or simply make your home a little sweeter this time of year.
- Christmas Dessert Ideas
- Easy Fudge Recipes
- Chocolate Cherry Mice
- Muddy Buddies
- Mom’s Traditional Christmas Caramels
- Peanut Clusters
- Hot Cocoa Mix
How to Make Elf Cookies
Elf Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter or shortening softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder optional, for chocolate cookies
- 1/2 cup white chocolate peppermint bark
- 1/2 cup chocolate candy coated candies
- 1/2 cup chocolate dinner mints creme de menthe mints, chopped
- 1/3 cup sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°. Mix brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, egg, egg yolk and vanilla in large bowl until well mixed.
- Stir in flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda until blended.(Dough will be soft and creamy.) If making chocolate cookies, add cocoa powder (optional) and mix until smooth.
- Add peppermint bark, chocolate candies, chocolate dinner mints, and sprinkles into the dough until well mixed.
- Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets 3-inches apart.
- Bake 10 to 12 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Cool 1 minute on wire rack; remove from baking sheets and cool completely.
Notes
- Tightly wrap leftover dough in Saran wrap.
- Place the wrapped dough in a freezer bag.
- Freeze dough for up to two months.
- OR you can also freeze fully cooked cookies in a freezer bag.
I loved how there was peppermint IN the cookie! Such a great idea!
Love these cookies! They have great flavor and are so fun and festive!
These cookies are so fun & colorful! They have so many yummy ingredients!!
SO excited to make these cookies for the Christmas time! I just know my kids will LOVE them!
LOVE how festive these cookies are! Beautiful yet simple! I can’t wait to try them!
how many cookies will this batch make?
It should make 4-5 dozen cookies depending on how big you make them. Hope this helps!
Silly question, I have never used Country Crock before. What difference might I notice with this recipe if I substituted unsalted butter for the Country Crock? Thanks!
The nice thing about using the Country Crock is that it is PERFECTLY softened… which sometimes it is tough to do with regular butter. You could try using butter but I can’t guarantee it will turn out the same. Do you have Country Crock available at your store?
Thanks for writing, Erica! I will check and see if my store carries Country Crock. Is there just one variety of it?
We use Country Crock on everything and I never thought about baking with it. Excited to try these!
Right? To be honest this was my first time using it to bake and it worked out awesome. You don’t have to wait for it to soften, it is already the perfect consistency for baking!