The very first time I made these Santa’s Favorite Pudding Cookies, my entire kitchen smelled like pure Christmas magic—warm vanilla, buttery dough, melted chocolate, and just a hint of toasted pretzels. I remember pulling the first tray out of the oven and thinking, “These are the kind of cookies you want to leave out for Santa… and maybe sneak two or three for yourself.” They came out soft, thick, gooey in the middle, and packed with all the colorful, crunchy mix-ins that make holiday baking feel so joyful. Every time I bake a batch now, that same cozy feeling fills the room.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
You’re going to love these Santa’s Favorite Pudding Cookies because they combine everything you adore in a soft holiday cookie—chewy centers, lightly crisp edges, melty chocolate, festive M&Ms, salty pretzels, and little pockets of marshmallow magic. The instant pudding mix makes them unbelievably soft, and the dough requires zero chilling, which means you get cookies faster. Whether you’re baking for Santa, for the kids, or for yourself, these cookies always disappear within hours.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 (3.4-oz) box instant vanilla pudding mix
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup holiday M&Ms
- 1 cup chopped pretzel pieces
- 1 cup mini marshmallows
- Optional: extra chocolate chunks or extra M&Ms for topping
I love how flexible this cookie dough is. Instant vanilla pudding is essential—the mix makes the cookies soft and flavorful, and skipping it simply doesn’t give the same cloud-soft texture. If you don’t have pretzels, potato chips also work for that salty crunch. You can use semi-sweet chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, or a mix. Mini marshmallows tend to melt into gooey pockets, but if you prefer more structure, use the tiny dehydrated kind found in hot cocoa mix. Red-and-green M&Ms are perfect for the holidays, but any variety works beautifully.
Equipment Needed
- Mixing bowls
- Electric hand mixer or stand mixer
- Rubber spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cookie scoop (tablespoon or medium size)
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper or silicone baking mats
- Cooling rack
I always prefer using a stand mixer for this recipe because the dough gets thick, but a hand mixer works perfectly fine if that’s what you have. A cookie scoop ensures perfectly round, evenly sized cookies, which helps them bake consistently, especially with all the mix-ins. Parchment paper makes cleanup easy and helps prevent the marshmallows from sticking to the tray. A cooling rack is important—if the cookies stay on the hot baking sheet too long, the marshmallows can over-melt.
Step-by-Step Instructions
The first step is beating the butter and sugars together until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. This is one of those steps I never rush. When I first tested this recipe, I under-mixed the butter and sugar, and the cookies turned out denser than I wanted. Now I let the mixer run for a good two to three minutes until the mixture looks pale and creamy—it makes such a difference.
Next, I add the eggs and vanilla. The dough immediately becomes smooth and glossy, and at this stage, the kitchen already starts to smell like holiday baking. Then I mix in the instant vanilla pudding mix. The dough thickens almost instantly, and that’s how I know I’m on the right track. The pudding mix is the secret ingredient that gives the cookies their irresistible softness.
In a separate bowl, I whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. I gently fold these dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing only until everything is incorporated. Over-mixing at this stage can make the cookies tough, and I learned that the hard way the first time I got a little too enthusiastic with the mixer. Once the dough comes together, I fold in the chocolate chips, M&Ms, pretzel pieces, and mini marshmallows. The dough becomes chunky, colorful, and so fun to work with.(See the next page below to continue…)