Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe

If you’re looking for a festive treat that packs all the holiday cheer into one bite, you’re going to adore this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe. Seriously, this cookie brings together everything you love about Christmas—colorful M&M’s, crunchy pretzels, white chocolate, salty potato chips, and sprinkles—all in one glorious dough. When I first tried making these, I was amazed at how perfectly salty and sweet balanced out in every bite. Stick around, because I’m sharing everything you need to make these magical cookies turn out just right in your kitchen!

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Ingredients You’ll Need

All the ingredients in this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe come together to create something extraordinary—creamy butter, rich sugars, and a surprising blend of salty and sweet add-ins that give every cookie a fun crunch and beautiful holiday colors.

• Salted Butter: Softened butter gives moisture and richness; salted helps balance the sweetness perfectly.
• Light Brown Sugar: Adds subtle caramel notes and keeps cookies chewy.
• Granulated Sugar: Helps with a slight crispness on the edges.
• Egg Yolks: Using just yolks makes the cookies tender and rich.
• Vanilla Bean Paste or Extract: Infuses classic warmth and depth to the cookie base.
• All-Purpose Flour: The structure-builder; spooned and leveled to avoid dense cookies.
• Baking Powder and Baking Soda: Gives the cookies a nice rise and perfect texture.
• Salt: Enhances flavor and complements the sweet add-ins.
• Red and Green M&M’s: Classic holiday colors and a hit of chocolate.
• White Chocolate Chips: Smooth, creamy contrast to other mix-ins.
• Pretzel Pieces: Add unexpected salty crunch that keeps you coming back.
• Potato Chip Pieces: Another layer of salty crunch, trust me, it’s delicious!
• Red and Green Jimmies: Sprinkles add festive sparkle and texture.

Variations

What I love about this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to make it your own. Over time, I’ve swapped out a few ingredients depending on what I have on hand or the occasion, and honestly, it’s always a hit.

• Nut-Free Variation: Skip nuts entirely and double down on pretzels and chocolate chips for a crunchy, allergy-friendly treat.
• Adding Dried Fruit: I sometimes toss in dried cranberries or cherries for a tart contrast that fits perfectly with the holiday vibe.
• Chocolate Lover’s Upgrade: Swap white chocolate chips for dark chocolate chunks or add cocoa powder to the dough for a deeper flavor.
• Spicy Holiday Version: Add a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg to elevate the festive aroma and warmth.

How to Make Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Creaming Butter and Sugars to Perfection

Start by softening your butter to room temperature—it’ll cream beautifully with the sugars. Using an electric mixer, beat together the salted butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar for about two minutes. You’re looking for that light, fluffy texture that’s the backbone of tender cookies. I learned the hard way that rushing this step leaves you with dense cookies, so take your time here.

Step 2: Adding Egg Yolks and Vanilla

Next, mix in your egg yolks and vanilla bean paste or extract. This step is where the dough turns pale and velvety, and it’s a good sign your cookies will be moist and flavorful. Make sure the egg yolks are room temperature for perfect mixing — cold yolks can cause the batter to seize up.

Step 3: Combining the Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Then, add this mixture to your wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Overmixing here will make your cookies tough, so stop once you don’t see any dry flour.

Step 4: Folding in the Christmas “Kitchen Sink” Mix-Ins

Here’s the fun part! Gently fold in the red and green M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, potato chip pieces, and jimmies using a spatula. You want all those goodies evenly spread without smashing the chips or crushing the pretzels. For an extra festive look, feel free to sprinkle a few more mix-ins on top of each cookie dough ball before baking.

Step 5: Scooping and Baking

Scoop the dough into 20 balls and place them about two inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes: I recommend 10 minutes for chewier centers and 12 if you like those crisper edges. Here’s a little pro tip — straight from the oven, gently swirl a large circular cookie cutter around each cookie to give a perfectly round and tidy shape. It’s a neat trick I discovered that really ups the cookie’s presentation.

Step 6: Cooling and Enjoying

Once baked, let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes so they firm up just right without falling apart. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely — about another 10 minutes. This step is key to keeping the texture spot on.

How to Serve Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe

Garnishes

I usually add just a sprinkle of extra red and green jimmies on top of the cookies right before baking for that perfect festive touch. Sometimes, I even place a whole M&M or a pretzel twist on top for extra eye appeal. These little details make the cookies feel super special when I bring them out at holiday gatherings.

Side Dishes

These cookies are fantastic served alongside a warm mug of hot cocoa or your favorite holiday coffee. My family also loves them paired with vanilla ice cream for a playful dessert twist. They’re a great sweet finish after a festive meal or a crowd-pleaser at a cookie exchange party.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I like to stack these cookies on a festive platter lined with a red and green napkin and sprinkle some holiday confetti around for an inviting display. Wrapping a few cookies in clear cellophane with a cute ribbon also makes adorable little gifts or stocking stuffers. Presentation really amps up the excitement to dig in!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once cooled, I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. This keeps them fresh for up to three days, and honestly, they rarely last that long around here! To maintain their chewiness, I find layering them with parchment paper works best.

Freezing

If I’m making a big batch ahead of time, I freeze the cookie dough balls individually on a baking sheet, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag. This way, I can bake fresh cookies whenever I want without any fuss. Frozen dough keeps well for up to 3 months.

Reheating

To reheat, pop the cookies in a warm oven at 300°F for about 5 minutes — this refreshes their soft texture and warms the mix-ins without drying them out. You can also microwave for 10-15 seconds for a quick cozy treat, but I prefer the oven for the best texture.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe has become a holiday staple in my family for a good reason—it’s fun to make, packed with festive flavor, and always brings a big smile to everyone’s face. I hope you find joy in baking these as much as I do (and in sharing them, too!). Whether it’s a cookie exchange, a casual get-together, or just a sweet treat for yourself, give this recipe a try—you’ll see why it’s one of my all-time favorites.

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