If you’re looking for a festive cookie that truly lives up to its name, these Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies have it all packed into one incredible bite. Imagine a cookie boasting a delightful blend of sweet, salty, crunchy, and chewy bits from pretzels, potato chips, caramels, chocolate chunks, peanuts, M&Ms, and festive sprinkles. Each cookie is a flavorful surprise, perfectly capturing the joyful spirit of the holidays. Whether you’re baking for a crowd or just treating yourself, these cookies offer a fun, irresistible twist on your traditional holiday treats.

Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

These ingredients come together with effortless charm to create a cookie bursting with texture, richness, and holiday cheer. Each component plays a vital role, from the creamy butter that provides moisture and tenderness to the crunchy and chewy mix-ins that make every bite exciting.

Unsalted butter (1 cup or 2 sticks): Softened to room temperature for perfect creaming with sugars, yielding tender cookies.
Light brown sugar (¾ cup): Adds subtle molasses notes for warmth and moisture.
Granulated sugar (¾ cup): Balances sweetness and helps with crisp edges.
Vanilla extract (2 teaspoons): Enhances all the flavors and adds a familiar aromatic touch.
Large eggs (2): Bind the dough and contribute to the cookie’s chewy texture.
All-purpose flour (2 ½ cups): The sturdy base that holds all the fun stuff together.
Baking soda (½ teaspoon): Provides gentle leavening, helping the cookies rise.
Baking powder (1 teaspoon): Works with baking soda for a balanced lift and lightness.
Salt (½ teaspoon): Enhances sweetness and deepens all flavors.
Mini pretzels (½ cup): Bring irresistible salty crunch and texture contrast.
Potato chips (½ cup, lightly crushed): Add unexpected crisp saltiness with every bite.
Chewy caramels (½ cup, quartered): Offer luscious, gooey pockets of rich sweetness.
Dark chocolate chunks (¾ cup): Rich and bittersweet, balancing the salt and caramel perfectly.
Chopped salted peanuts (½ cup): Provide an extra layer of savory crunch.
Holiday M&Ms (½ cup): Festive colors that add fun bursts of chocolate.
Holiday sprinkles (¼ cup): Give a cheerful, colorful finish that screams celebration.

How to Make Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugars

Start by combining softened butter with both light brown and granulated sugars using an electric mixer until the mixture is light, fluffy, and pale, which usually takes about 3 minutes. This process is key to creating tender, well-textured cookies with a slight chew. Then, stir in the vanilla extract for that classic warm note.

Step 2: Incorporate the Eggs

Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until just combined after each addition. This slow integration helps create a smooth dough without overmixing, which keeps your cookies perfectly soft on the inside.

Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. This ensures even distribution of the leavening agents and salt, which will help the cookies rise perfectly and enhance their flavor.

Step 4: Mix Dry Ingredients into Wet

Add the dry ingredients to the butter-egg mixture in two batches. Mix gently and just until combined to avoid overworking the dough, which can toughen your cookies. At this stage, the dough will start looking like classic cookie dough.

Step 5: Add the Magical Mix-Ins

Now for the fun part! Toss in the mini pretzels, lightly crushed potato chips, chewy caramel pieces, dark chocolate chunks, chopped salted peanuts, holiday M&Ms, and colorful sprinkles. These diverse mix-ins create layers of flavor and texture that make Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies so legendary.

Step 6: Chill the Dough

Cover your dough and chill it in the refrigerator for 1 hour. This resting time helps the dough firm up, making it easier to scoop and preventing your cookies from spreading too much in the oven.

Step 7: Prepare for Baking

Preheat your oven to 350˚F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to ensure easy cookie removal and clean-up.

Step 8: Scoop and Shape Cookies

Use a medium cookie scoop (about 2 tablespoons) to portion the dough onto the baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. For extra pizzazz, press a few extra toppings on the tops of the cookies before baking; just be careful with caramels, placing them only in the middle to keep things tidy.

Step 9: Bake to Golden Perfection

Bake the cookies for 13 to 16 minutes, or until the edges turn a light golden brown. Let them cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. This wait is worth it—the cookies firm up but stay delightfully chewy inside.

How to Serve Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies

Garnishes

While the cookies are already festive, adding a quick sprinkle of extra holiday-colored sugar or a drizzle of melted white chocolate can elevate their look for special occasions. You can also press a few extra M&Ms or sprinkles on top before serving to make each cookie a mini showstopper.

Side Dishes

Pair your Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies with a cold glass of milk, hot cocoa, or even a spiced holiday latte for the ultimate cozy treat session. These drinks complement the cookies’ rich, sweet, and salty flavors beautifully, creating a festive snack time everyone will love.

Creative Ways to Present

Thinking beyond the cookie plate? Arrange the cookies in a festive tin lined with parchment paper for gift-giving or stack them tied with a colorful ribbon for a charming edible centerpiece. You could also serve them alongside small bowls of extra mix-ins so guests can customize their own cookie toppings.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Keep your Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay soft and delicious for up to 5 days, making them perfect for holiday entertaining or mid-week treats.

Freezing

You can freeze the unbaked cookie dough by scooping portions onto a parchment-lined tray and freezing until solid, then transferring them to a freezer-safe bag. Alternatively, fully baked cookies also freeze well in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Just thaw overnight before enjoying.

Reheating

To bring back that freshly-baked warmth, pop the cookie in a microwave for 10-15 seconds or place it in a low oven (300˚F) for about 5 minutes. You’ll get that melty caramel and chocolate goodness back in no time.

FAQs

Can I substitute the mix-ins in Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies?

Absolutely! These cookies are all about flexibility. You can swap in your favorite nuts, candy, or salty snacks. Just try to keep a balance of sweet, salty, and chewy textures for that perfect bite.

Do the potato chips make the cookies soggy?

No way! Because the chips are lightly crushed and mixed into the dough, they hold up well during baking, adding a subtle salty crunch without making the cookies soggy.

Can I make this recipe vegan or dairy-free?

With some tweaks, yes. Use vegan butter and egg replacers, and be sure to choose vegan-friendly mix-ins. Keep in mind the texture and flavor might vary slightly, but you can still get delicious results.

How can I make the cookies more festive?

Adding extra holiday sprinkles, colorful M&Ms, or even a drizzle of red and green icing can boost the festive spirit. Top them with edible glitter or crushed candy canes to really get into the holiday vibe.

Will chilling the dough longer improve flavor?

Chilling for an hour is great to prevent spreading, but letting the dough rest overnight in the fridge can deepen the flavors and improve texture. Just be sure to bring the dough to room temperature before scooping if it’s too firm.

Final Thoughts

If you want cookies that celebrate every aspect of the holidays in one glorious bite, you simply have to try these Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies. Packed with so many textures and festive flavors, they’re the ultimate crowd-pleaser for your holiday baking lineup. Once you taste one, you might find these becoming your go-to recipe year after year.