These Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies are everything you could ask for in a festive holiday treat. Packed with a little bit of everything—crunchy pretzels, salty potato chips, creamy white chocolate, sweet M&M’s, and a burst of colorful sprinkles—these cookies are fun, flavorful, and totally irresistible. Perfect for holiday gatherings, gift-giving, or just satisfying your sweet tooth, these cookies are the ultimate crowd-pleaser!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfect mix of flavors and textures: From the sweet M&M’s to the salty potato chips and pretzels, every bite offers something new!
- Customizable: You can easily tweak the mix-ins based on what you have on hand or what you love. Think caramel bits, toffee, or even coconut!
- Festive and fun: With the red and green M&M’s and jimmies, these cookies are great for spreading some holiday cheer.
Ingredients
- 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
- 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)
Kitchen Equipment Needed
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper
- Electric mixer or stand mixer
- Mixing bowls
- Spatula
- Cookie scoop
- Cooling racks
- Oven
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Baking Sheets
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent the cookies from sticking and ensure they bake evenly.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars
In a large bowl, beat together the softened salted butter, light brown sugar, and granulated white sugar using an electric mixer. Cream for about 2 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy.
Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients
Add the egg yolks and vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract) to the creamed butter and sugar. Mix on medium speed for another 2 minutes, or until the mixture is pale and fluffy.
Step 4: Mix in Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Don’t overmix!
Step 5: Add the Fun Mix-ins
Add the red and green M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, potato chip pieces, and sprinkles to the dough. Use a spatula to gently fold everything in until the mix-ins are evenly distributed.
Step 6: Scoop the Dough
Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, scoop out dough balls and place them about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. If you’d like, you can add a few extra M&M’s, pretzel pieces, or sprinkles on top of each dough ball for a festive look.
Step 7: Bake
Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, depending on your preference for texture. Bake for 10 minutes for chewier centers, or up to 12 minutes for crispier edges.
Step 8: Shape the Cookies (Optional)
For perfectly round cookies, as soon as they come out of the oven, you can use a large circular cookie cutter to gently swirl around each cookie. This helps to push everything together into a perfectly shaped circle.
Step 9: Cool the Cookies
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. Let them cool for an additional 10 minutes before enjoying.
Serving and Storage Tips
- Serving: These cookies are best enjoyed fresh out of the oven, still warm and gooey. You can serve them as a festive treat at holiday parties or gift them in cute tins to share the holiday cheer.
- Storage: Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. To maintain their chewy texture, you can place a slice of bread in the container to help absorb moisture.
- Freezing: You can also freeze the dough. Simply scoop the dough into balls, place them on a baking sheet, and freeze them for 1 hour. Then transfer the dough balls into a freezer bag and store them for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to bake, just bake from frozen for 12-14 minutes.
Variations
- Add-ins: Feel free to get creative with your mix-ins! You can add caramel bits, toffee, chopped candy canes, or even mini marshmallows for extra flavor.
- Vegan Version: Swap the butter for a plant-based butter substitute and the egg yolks for a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flax + 3 tablespoons water). Use dairy-free chocolate chips for a fully vegan treat.
- Gluten-Free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend instead of all-purpose flour to make these cookies gluten-free. Be sure the blend contains xanthan gum for the best texture.
Helpful Notes
- Room temperature egg yolks: Be sure the egg yolks are at room temperature before adding them to the dough. This will help the dough mix together smoothly and evenly.
- Don’t overmix the dough: Once you add the flour mixture, mix just until combined. Overmixing can lead to dense cookies.
- Customize your sprinkles: You can swap the red and green jimmies for any type of sprinkle that matches your occasion—like pastel for Easter or colorful sprinkles for a birthday party!
Tips from Well-Known Chefs
- Ina Garten: “When baking cookies, make sure your oven is fully preheated before you start. It helps to get that perfect golden-brown edge.”
- Christina Tosi: “Mix-ins are where you can really get creative. Don’t be afraid to experiment with flavors, textures, and fun combinations like salty and sweet.”
- Alton Brown: “For chewy cookies, remove them from the oven when they’re still a little soft in the center. They’ll continue to cook on the baking sheet once you take them out.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use different chips or candies for these cookies?
A: Yes! You can use any type of chocolate chips (milk, semi-sweet, dark, or even peanut butter chips), or even other candies like Reese’s Pieces or mini M&Ms for a fun twist.
Q: Can I make the dough ahead of time?
A: Absolutely! You can make the dough a day or two in advance. Just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to bake.
Q: How do I get my cookies to spread evenly?
A: If you want even, round cookies, you can roll the dough balls between your hands before placing them on the baking sheet. Also, make sure to give the dough space to spread as it bakes.
Q: Can I add more salty ingredients like nuts or pretzels?
A: Yes, feel free to add more pretzels, salted peanuts, or even a sprinkle of sea salt for extra salty goodness.
Q: Do these cookies freeze well?
A: Yes! These cookies freeze well both as dough or baked cookies. Just be sure to store them in an airtight container to preserve freshness.
These Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies will be a hit at any holiday party, and they’re easy to whip up for a fun baking session with the family. Whether you’re gifting them or enjoying them with a hot cup of cocoa, these cookies will make the holidays even sweeter!
