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 (sprinkles)

There's nothing quite like biting into a cookie packed with every flavor and texture you can imagine—that's exactly the magic of this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe. It's like a festive little surprise in every bite, perfect for sharing during the holiday season or anytime you want to treat yourself to something truly special.

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

I've tried a lot of cookie recipes over the years, but this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe stands out for its joyful chaos of flavors and textures that somehow come together perfectly. It’s a total crowd-pleaser that’s as fun to make as it is to eat.

Loaded with Variety: This cookie combines sweet, salty, crunchy, and melty in every bite thanks to a mix of M&M's, white chocolate, pretzels, and even potato chips.
Simple Yet Impressive: Despite all the mix-ins, the base recipe is straightforward and requires no fancy techniques—perfect for bakers of all levels.
Customizable Fun: You can swap out ingredients depending on what you have or what flavors you want featured, making it a versatile holiday favorite.
Festive & Eye-Catching: Adding a sprinkle of red and green jimmies on top makes these cookies look so pretty, you’ll want to gift them (or hoard them!)

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

What makes these cookies so delightful is how the ingredients blend sweet, salty, crunchy, and creamy elements. Here’s a quick look at each component and why it’s a star in this recipe.

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: Softened butter adds richness and a tender crumb, plus a touch of salt balances the sweetness nicely.
Light Brown Sugar: Gives moistness and a subtle caramel flavor that deepens the cookie's taste.
Granulated Sugar: Helps with crisp edges and adds sweetness without overwhelming.
Egg Yolks: For richness and binding without making the cookie cakey.
Vanilla Bean Paste or Extract: A flavor powerhouse—don’t skip this, it lifts the entire cookie.
All-Purpose Flour: The sturdy base that holds all those fun mix-ins together.
Baking Powder & Baking Soda: These leavening agents work together for the perfect rise and texture.
Salt: A pinch enhances all the flavors.
Red and Green M&M's: Add festive color and a little chocolate crunch.
White Chocolate Chips: Their creamy sweetness contrasts beautifully with the salty pretzels and chips.
Pretzel Pieces: Bring in that irresistible salty crunch.
Potato Chip Pieces: Yes, real potato chips! They add a surprisingly wonderful salty crisp texture.
Red and Green Jimmies: These sprinkles add a final festive touch and a bit of extra fun on top.

📝

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

I love mixing things up with this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe depending on the mood or whatever snacks I have lurking in the pantry. Feel free to experiment—this recipe welcomes creativity!

Variation: I once swapped out the M&M's for chopped cranberries and white chocolate chunks for a slightly tart and chewy twist that was just divine.
Dietary Modifications: Use dairy-free butter and white chocolate chips if you need a vegan-friendly version; just be sure your mix-ins are safe too.
Seasonal Changes: In summer, I swap the festive jimmies for toffee bits and mini butterscotch chips for a totally different vibe.

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

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugars

Start by softening your salted butter (don’t skip this! It helps with the texture) and combining it with both light brown sugar and granulated sugar in a large bowl. I use my electric mixer on medium speed for about two minutes until the mixture looks light and fluffy—this aerates the dough and creates a lovely crumb.

Step 2: Add Egg Yolks and Vanilla

Next, add your room-temperature egg yolks and vanilla bean paste or extract. Beat again for about two minutes until the color is pale and the mixture is fluffy. This step builds structure and richness, so don’t rush it!

Step 3: Incorporate the Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together your all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add this to the wet ingredients and mix on low speed just until combined. Overmixing here will make your cookies tough, so pause as soon as you don’t see dry spots.

Step 4: Fold in the Mix-Ins

The fun part! Gently fold in the M&M's, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, potato chip pieces, and the festive red and green jimmies. Use a spatula here rather than the mixer to keep all those chunks intact and evenly distributed.

Step 5: Scoop and Bake

Scoop the dough into 20 roughly even balls and place them about two inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Want that picture-perfect look? Sprinkle a few extra mix-ins on top of each cookie ball. Bake in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes — 10 if you prefer chewy centers, 12 for crisper edges.

Step 6: Shape While Warm

Once out of the oven, I like to grab a large circular cookie cutter and gently swirl it around each cookie while still warm. This little trick helps push everything together into a perfect circle so your cookies look downright professional!

Step 7: Cool and Store

Let the cookies rest on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely (about 10 minutes). Once cooled, store any extras in an airtight container for up to three days.

Top Tip

I learned the hard way that measuring flour properly really transforms your cookie results—too much can turn these delightful cookies into dense bricks. Here’s what’s worked for me consistently:

Proper Flour Measurement: Instead of scooping, spoon flour into your measuring cup and level it off with a knife or use a kitchen scale—125 grams per cup is the magic number.
Cookie Cutter Trick: Using a large round cutter right after baking gives the cookies a neat, uniform shape that makes them look bakery-worthy.
Don't Skip the Mixing Time: Creaming your butter and sugars well—and beating those egg yolks with vanilla—makes the dough light and gives cookies a soft, tender texture.
Gently Fold Mix-Ins: I always fold by hand to keep the pretzels and chips from shattering too much, so your cookie retains all that delicious crunch.

How to Serve Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe

Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually garnish mine with just a few extra red and green jimmies or an M&M or two on top right before baking. It adds that classic Christmas look without any fuss. If I’m feeling extra festive, a light dusting of powdered sugar after they cool can add a snowy touch.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair wonderfully with a tall glass of cold milk or even a cozy cup of hot cocoa. For holiday parties, I like to serve them alongside a cheese board or some spicy nuts to balance out the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

For gifting, I love stacking these cookies in a festive tin layered with wax paper, topped with a sprig of fresh rosemary or a cinnamon stick tied with twine—instant holiday charm! You can also arrange them on a platter alongside candy canes and mini ornaments for a pretty dessert spread.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftovers keep best stored in an airtight container at room temperature. I’ve found they'll stay soft and fresh for about three days, provided you don’t pile them up too tightly—giving them a little breathing room avoids sogginess.

Freezing

These cookies freeze beautifully! I usually freeze the cookie dough balls on a tray first and then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag. When I want cookies, I bake them straight from frozen, adding a couple extra minutes to the bake time, and they turn out just as delicious.

Reheating

If you want to warm up leftovers, a quick 10-second zap in the microwave revives their softness, or pop them in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes to get the edges crispy again without drying the center out.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use regular chocolate chips instead of M&M's in the Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe?

Yes! Regular milk, dark, or even semi-sweet chocolate chips work perfectly as a swap for M&M's. Just keep in mind the colorful festive touch will be less prominent, but the taste and texture will remain delightful.

Why does the recipe use potato chips and pretzels together?

The combination adds layers of salty crunch that contrast beautifully with the sweet elements. Pretzels bring a slightly different texture and flavor than potato chips, creating a more complex cookie that keeps your taste buds excited.

How can I ensure my Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies are chewy rather than crispy?

To keep them chewy, bake on the shorter side of the time range (around 10 minutes) and avoid overbaking. Also, using light brown sugar helps retain moisture. Cooling the cookies on the baking sheet before transferring helps them set without getting too hard.

Can I make these cookies gluten-free?

Absolutely! Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend that's designed for baking. Just be sure it includes xanthan gum or add a little yourself for structure. The texture might be slightly different but still delicious.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe holds such a special place in my heart—it’s one of those recipes that brings out the kid in all of us with its colorful mix-ins and irresistible salty-sweet combo. I promise you, once you give these a try, they’ll become your go-to treat for holidays and beyond. So grab your mixing bowl and get ready to bake a batch of happy memories!