If you’re on the hunt for a cookie that truly captures the festive spirit with a little bit of everything delicious, you’re going to love this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe. It’s jam-packed with sweet, salty, crunchy, and colorful mix-ins that make every bite an adventure. I absolutely love how these cookies turn out—soft, chewy, and loaded with surprise ingredients you might not expect but will definitely crave. Keep reading because I’m sharing everything from my favorite tweaks to pro tips to help you nail this recipe every single time.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Loaded with Flavors: This cookie has everything from sweet chocolate chips to salty pretzels and potato chips for a perfect balance.
- Fun and Festive Look: Red and green M&M’s and sprinkles make these cookies pop on any holiday platter.
- Customizable: You can easily swap mix-ins based on your family’s favorites or dietary needs.
- Perfect Texture: Soft in the middle with slightly crisp edges, just the way I like my holiday cookies.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe lies in its clever use of ingredients that bring sweetness, saltiness, and crunch all at once. These aren’t your usual chocolate chip cookies! Each mix-in adds its own texture and flavor, making every bite unique and satisfying.
- Salted Butter: Using salted butter helps enhance those other flavors, but you can adjust salt in the dough if you use unsalted.
- Light Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and a subtle molasses note, which keeps the cookies soft and flavorful.
- Granulated Sugar: Balances sweetness and helps with spreading during baking.
- Egg Yolks: They add richness and help the cookies stay tender and chewy.
- Vanilla Bean Paste or Extract: I prefer vanilla bean paste for those tiny vanilla flecks and deeper flavor.
- All-Purpose Flour: Measured properly to avoid cakey or dry cookies—this is key!
- Baking Powder & Baking Soda: These leavening agents work together to give just the right lift and texture.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and brings out the other flavors in the cookie.
- Red and Green M&M’s: Classic festive touch that adds fun color and sweet bursts.
- White Chocolate Chips: Melt into sweet pockets that contrast nicely with the M&M’s.
- Pretzel Pieces: I love the salty crunch these bring—it’s such a delightful surprise.
- Potato Chip Pieces: This might sound wild, but trust me—it adds the perfect salty edge and crunch.
- Red and Green Jimmies (Sprinkles): Totally optional but such an easy way to make the cookies extra festive.
Variations
I love how forgiving this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe is because you can really make it your own. Over the years, I’ve swapped out some mix-ins based on what I had in my pantry or specific cravings—experimenting is half the fun!
- Nut-Free Variation: I’ve replaced pretzels and potato chips with crushed cereal and gluten-free crackers for a similar crunch, perfect for allergy-friendly treats.
- Dark Chocolate Lovers: Swap white chocolate chips for dark chocolate chunks to add a richer, slightly bitter contrast against the sweet M&M’s.
- Festive Flavor Twist: Adding a teaspoon of cinnamon or holiday spices gives the cookies a warm seasonal touch.
- Vegan Adaptation: Using vegan butter and flax egg replacement works surprisingly well if you want a plant-based cookie.
How to Make Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Cream Butter and Sugars until Fluffy
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining your baking sheets with parchment paper—I can’t stress how much parchment saves you from sticky messes! Then, take the softened salted butter and both sugars, and cream them together with an electric mixer for about two minutes. You want the mixture light and fluffy—that’s what makes these cookies so tender later on.
Step 2: Add Egg Yolks and Vanilla
Next, add the room-temperature egg yolks and vanilla bean paste (or extract if that’s what you have). Beat at medium speed for two more minutes. You’ll notice the batter turn pale and even fluffier—this airiness is a big part of what makes these cookies the perfect chewy treat.
Step 3: Mix Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This helps everything distribute evenly. Then, add this dry mix to your wet ingredients and stir just until combined. Be careful not to overmix here; you want tender cookies, not dense.
Step 4: Fold in All the Goodies
Now for the fun part—the mix-ins! Add the M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, potato chip pieces, and those festive red and green jimmies. I like to fold everything gently with a spatula so the colorful bits stay intact and evenly spread in the dough.
Step 5: Scoop and Bake
Scoop the dough into 20 balls and arrange them about two inches apart on the baking sheets. If you want your cookies to look as cute as mine, sprinkle a few extra mix-ins on top of each ball before baking. Bake for 10-12 minutes—go for 10 if you prefer a chewier center, or 12 if you like a bit more crunch on the edges.
Step 6: Shape and Cool
Here’s a little trick I learned: right when the cookies are out of the oven, use a large circular cookie cutter and gently swirl it around each cookie. This pushes everything together so the cookies have that perfect round shape instead of spreading unevenly. Let the cookies cool on the sheets for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack for another 10 minutes before enjoying!
Pro Tips for Making Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe
- Measure Flour Correctly: I used to scoop flour directly which always made my cookies dry. Now I spoon flour into my measuring cup and level it off for the perfect texture every time.
- Use Room Temperature Egg Yolks: This helps the dough mix more evenly and keeps the cookies tender and chewy instead of crumbly.
- Don’t Skip the Extra Mix-Ins on Top: They make the cookies look bright and festive, and it’s an easy way to add some extra texture.
- Shape Cookies While Warm: The cookie cutter tip after baking keeps them perfectly round and professional-looking, which always impresses guests.
How to Serve Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
I usually keep garnishes simple because these cookies already look so festive! Sometimes I dust a little powdered sugar over the top during the holidays to add a snowy effect, but the colorful M&M’s and sprinkles do all the work for me.
Side Dishes
These cookies are fantastic on their own, but if you’re creating a holiday dessert spread, I like to pair them with a cozy cup of mulled cider or hot chocolate. They’re also great alongside some simple vanilla ice cream for an indulgent treat.
Creative Ways to Present
For holiday parties, I’ve set up a cookie platter decorated with fresh pine sprigs and cranberries, placing the Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies front and center. You can also stack them in a clear jar tied with a festive ribbon for an easy and charming gift idea.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once cooled, I store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay fresh and soft for about three days, which is perfect because they rarely last longer than that with my family around!
Freezing
I’ve found that these cookies freeze beautifully. Just place them in a single layer on a tray to freeze, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes or so, and they’re as good as fresh.
Reheating
If you want to warm up a cookie, pop it in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds. This revives the softness and melts the chocolate slightly, making it taste like it just came out of the oven.
FAQs
-
Can I use different mix-ins for the Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe?
Absolutely! This recipe is super flexible. You can swap out pretzels for nuts, use peanut butter chips instead of white chocolate, or add your favorite holiday candies. Just keep about the same total amount of mix-ins to maintain the cookie texture.
-
How do I keep my Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies chewy and not dry?
Measuring flour correctly is the biggest factor here—never scoop directly from the bag. Also, don’t overbake; pull the cookies out when edges are just turning golden but centers look slightly soft for that perfect chewy texture.
-
Can I make this recipe vegan or gluten-free?
Yes! Use vegan butter and a flaxseed egg substitute for the eggs. For gluten-free, swap all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking blend that includes xanthan gum. Adjust baking time as needed and keep an eye on the cookies.
-
Why add a cookie cutter swirl after baking?
This little trick pushes the dough together while it’s warm, so the cookies have a neat, classic round shape instead of spreading unevenly. It also presses the mix-ins together so each cookie is nicely packed.
Final Thoughts
This Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe is one of my absolute favorites to bake during the holiday season. It’s a crowd-pleaser that feels playful and indulgent without being complicated. Every time I bring a batch to family gatherings, people ask for the recipe and for good reason—the combination of flavors and textures is just spot on. I really encourage you to give it a try, customize it to your liking, and watch these cookies become a staple in your holiday kitchen too!
Print
Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 20 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies are a festive, fun, and delicious treat packed with a variety of mix-ins like M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzels, potato chips, and colorful sprinkles. Perfect for holiday celebrations, these cookies combine sweet and salty flavors with a soft and chewy texture, baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 3/4 cup salted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup granulated white sugar
- 2 egg yolks, at room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla bean paste or extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
Mix-Ins
- 1/2 cup red and green M&M’s
- 1/3 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup pretzel pieces
- 1/3 cup potato chip pieces
- 2 tbsp red and green jimmies (sprinkles)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, add the softened salted butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Using an electric mixer, beat the mixture for two minutes until it becomes light and fluffy, which helps create a tender cookie texture.
- Add Egg Yolks and Vanilla: Add the egg yolks and vanilla bean paste or extract to the creamed butter mixture. Continue mixing on medium speed for two minutes until the batter is pale in color and fluffy, ensuring proper incorporation of ingredients.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined to avoid overworking the dough, which keeps cookies tender.
- Fold in Mix-Ins: Gently fold in the M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, potato chip pieces, and red and green jimmies using a spatula until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Scoop Dough: Scoop the dough into 20 equal balls and arrange them two inches apart on the prepared baking sheets to allow for spreading.
- Optional Decoration: Add a few extra mix-ins on top of each cookie dough ball for a festive look and extra texture.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, depending on your preferred texture—10 minutes for chewier centers and 12 minutes for crisper edges.
- Shape Cookies: Optional – When the cookies come out of the oven, use a large circular cookie cutter to gently swirl around each cookie to give them a perfect round shape, pushing the mix-ins inward.
- Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes to set, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely for an additional 10 minutes.
- Store: Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Measure your flour properly to avoid dense cookies. Spoon flour into the measuring cup and level off with a knife, or weigh it for accuracy (1 cup = 125 grams).
- Using a cookie cutter immediately after baking helps achieve uniform and attractive cookie shapes by pushing the mix-ins together.
- Adding extra mix-ins on top of the dough balls is optional but enhances the festive appearance of the cookies.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
