Name: Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Cuisine: American
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

Nothing says festive like a cookie loaded with every delicious treat you can imagine, and that’s exactly why I adore this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe. These cookies are a joyful mix of sweet, salty, crunchy, and colorful – a true celebration in each bite!

A white plate piled with round cookies that have a light brown base, each cookie topped with colorful red and green candy pieces, small white chips, broken pretzel pieces, and red and green sprinkles scattered all over. Surrounding the plate are small white bowls filled with red and green candies, white chips, and whole pretzels. The surface beneath everything is a white marbled texture, with a red ribbon partially visible near the plate. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Honestly, this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe is like a gift-wrapped surprise every time you bite into one. I love how the mix of M&M’s, white chocolate, pretzels, and even potato chips comes together to create flavor fireworks, and I think you’ll appreciate the festive fun and ease of making them as much as I do.

Completely Fun and Festive: The colorful M&M's and sprinkles add that perfect holiday cheer to your cookie plate.
Unexpected Crunch: With pretzels and potato chips in the mix, you get a delightful salty crunch that balances the sweetness just right.
Ultra Customizable: You can totally swap mix-ins to fit your pantry or mood, making the recipe all your own.
Perfect Size and Texture: The combination of chewy centers and crispy edges means every bite is just right.

A single soft cookie with a bite taken from the edge is shown on a white marbled surface. The cookie has a light golden brown base with colorful red and green sprinkles mixed throughout. There are visible pieces of green and red candy-coated chocolates, as well as bits of pretzel stick embedded in the top layer. The texture of the cookie is slightly crumbled near the bite, showing a chewy interior with white chunks possibly of white chocolate. The background includes a blurred second cookie and a silver measuring cup filled with green and red candy-coated chocolates. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This cookie recipe balances classic baking ingredients with festive mix-ins that bring a burst of textures and flavors. Knowing a bit about each component can help you shop smart and bake confidently.

Flat lay of a small mound of soft, pale yellow salted butter, a small heap of packed light brown sugar with a rich caramel color, a small pile of fine granulated white sugar, two whole uncracked brown eggs, a small white ceramic bowl filled with glossy red and green candy-coated M&M's, a small white bowl containing creamy white chocolate chips, a small white bowl with crunchy broken pretzel pieces, a small white bowl of golden, irregular potato chip pieces, a tiny white bowl of red and green jimmies sprinkles, a small white bowl holding fine all-purpose flour, and three small white bowls with fine pale baking powder, light beige baking soda, and white salt crystals respectively, all arranged in perfect symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Salted Butter: Provides richness and moisture; I always use softened, not melted, for fluffy dough.
Light Brown Sugar: Adds a deep, caramel-like sweetness that keeps these cookies tender.
Granulated White Sugar: Gives just enough sweetness and helps with the slight crispiness around the edges.
Egg Yolks: Using yolks instead of whole eggs creates a more tender, chewy texture I love.
Vanilla Bean Paste or Extract: Boosts the cookie’s flavor with warm, fragrant notes.
All-Purpose Flour: The base for structure; I always spoon and level it to avoid dense cookies.
Baking Powder and Baking Soda: These leavening agents help the cookie rise just so, making them light without puffing too much.
Salt: Enhances all the sweet and salty flavors, especially important with all those mix-ins.
Red and Green M&M’s: For that classic Christmas color pop and chocolatey bite.
White Chocolate Chips: Adds creamy sweetness that pairs beautifully with the salty mix-ins.
Pretzel Pieces: The salty crunch that’s absolutely addicting in these cookies.
Potato Chip Pieces: Yes, really! They add that unexpected crispy, salty punch that makes these cookies unforgettable.
Red and Green Jimmies: Festive sprinkles that add just a bit of color and fun texture.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the best things about this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe is how much you can play with it. I've often swapped out mix-ins to suit what I have on hand or to tailor the cookie for my guests. You can easily make these your signature holiday treat!

Variation: I sometimes replace the potato chips with crushed waffle chips or corn chips for a different salty crunch; it’s surprisingly delicious and unexpected.
Dietary swaps: For a gluten-free version, try using a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend and double-check your mix-ins for any gluten.
Seasonal changes: Swap out red and green M&M’s for pastel colors for Easter or autumn colors for Thanksgiving; the concept remains the same – a party of flavors and colors!
Keep it simple: If you want fewer mix-ins, just pick your favorites—more white chocolate and pretzels, skip the sprinkles—and it still tastes amazing.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugars until Fluffy

I start by beating the softened salted butter with both the light brown and white sugars. This step is crucial because it incorporates air, making your cookies tender and not dense. Aim for about 2 minutes or until the mixture looks pale and fluffy. Use an electric mixer if you can – it makes life so much easier.

Step 2: Add Egg Yolks and Vanilla

After the sugars and butter are creamed, I mix in two room-temperature egg yolks and the vanilla bean paste or extract. Beat these together for another couple of minutes so the dough gets light and pale. The egg yolks add richness and chewiness.

Step 3: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, I whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Then, I add these dry ingredients to the wet and mix just until combined. Over-mixing here can toughen your cookies, so I stop as soon as I see no more flour.

Step 4: Fold in the Mix-ins Gently

Now comes the fun part – the “kitchen sink” mix-ins! I fold in the M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzels, potato chips, and sprinkles using a spatula. Do this gently so the mix-ins don’t break up too much. Sometimes, I save a few extras to sprinkle on top of each cookie ball before baking—they look extra festive that way.

Step 5: Scoop, Shape, and Bake

I scoop the dough into 20 evenly sized balls and place them spaced about two inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. If you want, right after baking, I like to use a large circular cookie cutter to swirl around each cookie while they’re still warm to give them a perfect, pretty shape. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10 to 12 minutes – 10 if you want chewy centers, 12 if you prefer crispier edges.

Step 6: Cool and Enjoy

Let your cookies cool on the baking sheet for five minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely. This lets them firm up while staying soft inside. Store leftovers in an airtight container, but trust me—these rarely hang around for long!

Top Tip

After making Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe a few dozen times, I learned some little tricks that make a big difference. These tips will make your baking smoother and your cookies even tastier.

Measure Flour Correctly: Always spoon and level or use a scale to avoid dense cookies. Too much flour is my guaranteed cookie killer.
Don’t Overmix: Once the dry ingredients go in, mix just enough to combine to keep cookies tender.
Add Extra Mix-ins on Top: Sprinkle some M&M’s or pretzels on your dough balls before baking for a picture-perfect finish and extra crunch.
Use the Cookie Cutter Trick: Right out of the oven, swirl a large cookie cutter around the warm cookie to gently nudge it into a perfect circle, making presentation a breeze.

How to Serve Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe

Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like to keep it simple here – a light dusting of powdered sugar or a few extra festive sprinkles for holiday gatherings. Sometimes, a drizzle of melted white chocolate adds a classy, delicious touch that your friends will rave about.

Side Dishes

These cookies are sweet and rich enough to stand on their own, but if you’re serving a holiday dessert plate, I pair them with hot cocoa or a warm cup of spiced eggnog. They also go surprisingly well alongside a mild cheese board if you want that sweet-salty combo extended.

Creative Ways to Present

For my annual cookie swaps, I like arranging these Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies on a large festive platter with sprigs of fresh rosemary or pine branches for that instant holiday vibe. Wrapping stacks of cookies tied with rustic twine makes lovely homemade gifts that everyone loves.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. To keep them from losing their texture, I place a small piece of bread in the container; it helps maintain moisture balance and keeps the cookies perfectly soft yet slightly crisp on the edges.

Freezing

I’ve had success freezing both the unbaked dough and baked cookies. For dough, scoop the balls onto a tray, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. Bake them straight from frozen, adding a minute or two to the baking time. Baked cookies freeze well too—just thaw at room temperature before serving.

Reheating

To bring frozen or leftover cookies back to life, I zap them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or warm them in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes. This refreshes their texture — making them soft on the inside and keeping the edges crisp.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use whole eggs instead of egg yolks in this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe?

While you can use whole eggs, using only egg yolks creates a richer, chewier texture that makes these cookies special. If you use whole eggs, expect a slightly different texture—still good but less tender.

How do I prevent my Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies from spreading too much while baking?

Make sure your butter is softened but not melted, and chill the dough for 30 minutes if your kitchen is warm. Also, don't over-grease the baking sheet; using parchment paper as recommended really helps keep the cookies in shape.

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

Absolutely! The recipe is very flexible. You can swap out M&M's for any colorful chocolate candies, replace pretzels with nuts, or experiment with different chips like butterscotch or peanut butter. Just keep the total amount of mix-ins similar for balanced texture.

How long can I store Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies, and what's the best method?

Store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days for best freshness. For longer storage, freezing is your friend—either as dough or baked cookies—and they freeze very well without losing texture or flavor.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe holds a special place in my heart because it turns simple ingredients into a festive sensation. Each time I bake them, the kitchen fills with holiday cheer, and the mix of flavors keeps everyone coming back for more. I really hope you’ll try making these cookies soon and see just how much joy a “kitchen sink” approach to baking can bring to your holiday celebrations.