Name: Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 32 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)

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Okay, if you’re anything like me, the idea of a cookie that throws in a bit of everything sounds like a dream come true — and that’s exactly what this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe offers. It’s a delightful mashup of sweet, salty, crispy, and melty, all dancing together in one glorious cookie. What’s cool is how every bite surprises you with something different — sometimes it’s a crunchy pretzel, then a burst of red and green M&M’s, or that gooey white chocolate chunk. I find these perfect for holiday cookie swaps because they feel festive, super fun, and honestly, who can resist that little bit of everything in one cookie?

Plus, this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe isn’t just for Christmas — they’re great for anytime you want to impress a crowd or just spoil yourself with something really special. The combination of mix-ins means you get layers of texture and flavor that keep your taste buds on their toes, and the recipe is forgiving enough that you can easily tweak the mix-ins to suit your stash or your family’s favorites. Whenever I make these, my kitchen smells like a cozy holiday wonderland, and I swear it feels like the cookie magic just fills the room instantly.

Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe is all about the balance between the buttery, soft cookie dough and the festive, crunchy mix-ins. Each ingredient here plays its part to bring that perfect texture and flavor, and I’ll share some tips on what to look for while you shop.

Salted butter: Make sure it’s softened to room temperature for easier mixing and a buttery flavor that’s not too salty.
Light brown sugar: Adds moisture and chewiness — packing it firmly helps for consistent sweetness and texture.
Granulated white sugar: Gives a slight crunch and helps balance the brown sugar’s molasses flavor.
Egg yolks: Use room temperature yolks for richer dough and to avoid chill-induced toughness.
Vanilla bean paste or extract: Vanilla bean paste adds those lovely specks and an intense flavor if you want to elevate the aroma.
All-purpose flour: Spoon and level for accuracy to keep the dough tender, not crumbly or tough.
Baking powder and baking soda: This combo helps the cookies rise just right with a soft, cakey center.
Salt: Just a pinch to bring out all those sweet and savory flavors.
Red and green M&M’s: Adds fun pops of color and that classic candy crunch. Pick your favorite brand for the best melty quality.
White chocolate chips: Melts gently for creamy bites—use good quality chips so they don’t seize or get grainy.
Pretzel pieces: Provides that irresistible salty crunch to contrast the sweetness.
Potato chip pieces: Sounds wild, but trust me, the salty crunch is a game changer—go for kettle-cooked chips for extra texture.
Red and green jimmies (sprinkles): For a festive pop of color and a little bit of sugar crunch.

Variations

I love how flexible this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe is — the best part is making it your own by swapping in your favorite sweet or salty add-ins. Play around with it to suit your pantry or tastes!

Nutty Twist: I once added chopped roasted pecans instead of pretzels for a warm, nutty crunch that my family adored.
Gluten-Free Option: Swap the all-purpose flour with a 1-to-1 gluten-free blend — the cookies come out just as cozy and festive.
Double Chocolate: Add cocoa powder to the dough and replace white chocolate chips with dark chocolate chunks for a richer, more decadent cookie.
Seasonal Mix-Ins: Swap out M&M’s for dried cranberries or pepitas in the fall and winter for a seasonal twist that still keeps the fabulous texture mix.

How to Make Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Whip up the buttery dough

Start by beating the softened butter with the light brown sugar and granulated sugar until the mixture is fluffy and creamy. This usually takes about 3 to 5 minutes with a hand mixer or stand mixer — it’s key for that melt-in-your-mouth texture, so don’t rush it. Then, add the egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition, and stir in the vanilla bean paste. The dough will start to feel silky and have this beautiful buttery aroma that really makes this cookie feel special.

Step 2: Add your dry ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this dry mix to your wet dough, mixing on low speed until just combined. You want to avoid overmixing here — overworked dough leads to tough cookies, and that’s not what we’re after! The dough will look thick and a little crumbly, but that’s perfect.

Step 3: Toss in all the fun mix-ins

This is the best part! Gently fold in the red and green M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, potato chip pieces, and jimmies. Make sure everything is evenly distributed, so every cookie gets a bit of the magic. If you want smaller bites of crunchy bits, feel free to crush the pretzels and chips a little more — I like to keep them varied for texture contrast.

Step 4: Scoop and bake to perfection

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Use a cookie scoop or spoon to portion dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. These cookies spread, so giving them space helps keep their shape. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are lightly golden but the centers still look a little soft — they firm up as they cool. Resist the urge to overbake! Let the cookies cool on the sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.

How to Serve Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe

This image shows a top view of twelve white bowls and one block arranged neatly on a white marbled surface, each holding different baking ingredients. Starting from the top left, there is a solid large block of yellow butter; next to it on the right is a large bowl filled with white flour. Below the butter is a smaller bowl of smooth yellow butter or margarine, next to it is a bowl of light brown sugar, and a bowl with thick dark chocolate or fudge. To the left at the middle level is a bowl filled with colorful red, green, and white candy-coated chocolates. Beside it are two brown eggs placed directly on the surface, and on the right is a large bowl filled with white powdered sugar. Below the candy bowl is a bowl with blocks of cream-colored butter, next to it is a bowl of thick white cream or frosting, and further right is a bowl with small round pretzels. Between the cream and pretzels is a very small bowl with white salt. The organized placement and various colors and textures create a visually inviting setup. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

I usually don’t bother with fancy garnishes because these cookies are decorated with colorful sprinkles and M&M’s right on the inside, which adds visual appeal. But if I want to dress them up for guests, I lightly dust them with powdered sugar or drizzle a bit of melted white chocolate over the top for a festive touch.

Side Dishes

These cookies are pretty much dessert in themselves, but I love pairing them with a cold glass of milk or a cozy cup of hot cocoa — especially during holiday gatherings. If you’re serving a cookie platter, having some classic sugar cookies or gingerbread alongside adds a nice variety of flavors.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I like to stack these cookies on a festive platter lined with a holiday-themed napkin or paper. Wrapping a few in cellophane tied with a ribbon makes for a thoughtful homemade gift. I’ve even used clear jars layered with cookie dough mix and a tag with the recipe for friends who love to bake themselves.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

These cookies keep really well stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, which is ideal if you’re making them ahead for a party. Just keep them away from heat or sunlight to prevent the chocolate from melting or the cookies drying out.

Freezing

If you want to make a big batch and freeze some, I recommend scooping the dough onto a tray and freezing the individual cookie balls first. Once frozen solid, transfer them to a resealable freezer bag. They freeze beautifully for up to 3 months and you can bake them straight from the freezer — just add an extra minute or two to the bake time.

Reheating

Leftover cookies freshen up wonderfully if you warm them in the oven at 300°F for about 5 minutes or pop them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds. This melts the chocolate just a bit and softens the cookie for that freshly-baked feel.

FAQs

Can I use regular chocolate chips instead of white chocolate chips in this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe?

Absolutely! The recipe is pretty forgiving, so substituting semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips for white chocolate chips will still give you delicious results. The flavor profile will just be a bit more classic chocolatey instead of the creamy sweetness of white chocolate.
What if I don’t have pretzels or potato chips? Can I leave them out?

For sure! The salty crunch is a signature part of the Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe, but you can omit or swap those out. Toasted nuts, crushed cereal, or even a sprinkle of coarse sea salt can work well to bring that contrast between sweet and salty.
Can I make these cookies vegan?

With some adjustments, yes! Use vegan butter and a flax or chia egg substitute instead of egg yolks, and make sure your mix-ins are dairy-free (watch for white chocolate chips, which usually contain milk). It’s a bit of trial and error, but definitely possible.
How do I prevent the cookies from spreading too much?

To help keep your cookies from spreading too thin, chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking. Also, using room temperature ingredients (not melted butter) helps maintain the dough’s structure. And don’t crowd the baking sheet—give the cookies space to spread evenly.
Is this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe kid-friendly?

Definitely! Kids love the colorful M&M’s and sprinkles, plus the variety of textures keeps it exciting for picky eaters. It’s a fun recipe to make together, too, letting kids add their favorite mix-ins.

Final Thoughts

Honestly, the Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe is one of my all-time favorite holiday treats to whip up. It’s warm, inviting, and just plain fun with the mix of sweet and salty surprises in every bite. If you want a cookie that feels homemade but special enough to wow guests (and keep you sneaking bites while they’re fresh), this is your go-to. Give it a try — I promise you’ll love how festive and cozy your kitchen smells, and your family and friends will be asking for seconds in no time!