Name: Kitchen Sink Cookies
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, softened; 1 cup (200 g) brown sugar, packed; 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar; 2 large eggs, room temperature; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 1/4 cups (280 g) all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon baking powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 cup (170 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips; 1/2 cup (85 g) white chocolate chips; 1/2 cup crushed pretzels; 1/2 cup crushed potato chips; 1/2 cup red and green M&Ms; 1/4 cup festive holiday sprinkles

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These festive cookies are packed with everything but the kitchen sink—sweet chocolate, crunchy pretzels, salty chips, and seasonal sprinkles for the ultimate holiday treat!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies are the perfect holiday indulgence that combines sweet and salty flavors in every bite. These cookies are wonderfully versatile and customizable, allowing you to use up various ingredients you might have in your pantry. They're crowd-pleasers at cookie exchanges, holiday parties, or as homemade gifts. The contrasting textures of creamy chocolate, crunchy pretzels, and crispy potato chips create an exciting sensory experience that will have everyone reaching for seconds. Best of all, despite their impressive appearance and complex flavor profile, they're surprisingly simple to make!

Ingredients

(Tip: You'll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)

All-purpose flour forms the foundation of these cookies, providing structure while still allowing for a tender crumb. It's what helps hold all those delicious mix-ins in place.

Brown sugar adds moisture and a deep, caramel-like sweetness that pairs beautifully with the salty components. The molasses content helps create that perfect chewy cookie texture.

Granulated sugar works alongside brown sugar to provide sweetness but also contributes to the cookies' crisp edges and helps them spread properly during baking.

Butter brings richness and flavor to these cookies. Make sure it's properly softened (but not melted) to create that perfect creamy base when mixed with the sugars.

Eggs bind everything together and provide structure. Room temperature eggs incorporate much more easily into your batter than cold ones.

Vanilla extract adds that warm, aromatic flavor that enhances all the other ingredients in the cookie.

Baking soda and baking powder work as leavening agents, giving your cookies the perfect rise and texture. Using both creates the ideal balance between soft and chewy.

Salt enhances all the flavors in your cookie and balances the sweetness. Don't skip it, even though you're adding salty mix-ins.

Semi-sweet chocolate chips provide that classic chocolate chip cookie flavor with just the right balance of sweetness and chocolate intensity.

White chocolate chips add creamy sweetness and visual contrast to the cookies, creating pockets of vanilla-flavored goodness.

Crushed pretzels contribute a delightful crunch and saltiness that perfectly counterbalances the sweet components of the cookie.

Potato chips might sound unusual, but they add an irresistible salty crunch and subtle potato flavor that makes these cookies truly special.

M&Ms in festive red and green colors add chocolate flavor, a candy shell crunch, and holiday cheer to your cookies.

Holiday sprinkles bring festive color and a touch of sweetness, making these cookies look as special as they taste.

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and creamy, about 2-3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
Gently fold in the chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, crushed pretzels, potato chips, M&Ms, and holiday sprinkles. Be careful not to overmix.
Using a cookie scoop or spoon, drop tablespoon-sized portions of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers are set.
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Servings and Timing

This recipe makes approximately 24 cookies. The preparation takes about 15 minutes, and the baking time is 12 minutes, for a total time of 27 minutes. Each cookie contains approximately 230 calories, making them a perfect indulgent holiday treat.

Variations

Nutty Version: Add ½ cup of chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds for extra crunch and flavor.
Cereal Twist: Substitute the potato chips with ½ cup of crushed corn flakes or rice cereal for a different kind of crunch.
Coconut Paradise: Add ½ cup of shredded coconut for a tropical twist.
Dark Chocolate Delight: Swap the semi-sweet chocolate chips for dark chocolate chunks for a more intense chocolate flavor.
Halloween Edition: Use orange and black M&Ms and Halloween-themed sprinkles instead of the Christmas colors.
Valentine's Day Love: Substitute red and pink M&Ms and heart-shaped sprinkles for a romantic version.
Peanut Butter Lover's: Add ¼ cup of peanut butter to the wet ingredients and use peanut butter chips instead of white chocolate chips.
Gluten-Free Option: Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free 1:1 baking flour and ensure your pretzels are gluten-free.

Storage/Reheating

Storage: Store completely cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.

Freezing Baked Cookies: These cookies freeze exceptionally well. Place them in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper between layers and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for about an hour before serving.

Freezing Cookie Dough: You can also freeze the unbaked cookie dough. Scoop the dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Bake directly from frozen, adding 1-2 minutes to the baking time.

Refreshing: To refresh cookies that have lost their crispness, place them in a 300°F oven for 3-4 minutes. Let cool before serving for that fresh-baked texture.

FAQs

Why did my cookies spread too much?

If your cookies spread too much during baking, your butter might have been too warm or you may have used too little flour. Make sure your butter is softened but still cool to the touch, and always measure flour properly using the spoon and level method.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Absolutely! The dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days before baking. Allow it to come to room temperature for about 15 minutes before scooping and baking for best results.

My potato chips and pretzels got soggy. What happened?

If your crunchy mix-ins lost their texture, they might have been crushed too finely. Try keeping some larger pieces for better texture, and fold them in very gently just before baking.

How do I know when the cookies are done?

The cookies are done when the edges are golden brown but the centers still look slightly underdone. They'll continue to set as they cool on the baking sheet.

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?

Yes, you can use salted butter, but reduce the added salt in the recipe to ¼ teaspoon to avoid making the cookies too salty.

Will regular M&Ms work instead of the holiday ones?

Absolutely! You can use any color M&Ms you like, or even substitute with different chocolate candies like mini peanut butter cups or chocolate-covered toffee bits.

How can I make these cookies less sweet?

To reduce sweetness, you can decrease the granulated sugar to ⅓ cup and use dark chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet. The salty pretzels and potato chips will help balance the sweetness as well.

My cookies turned out too crunchy. How can I make them chewier?

For chewier cookies, slightly reduce the baking time by 1-2 minutes and make sure not to overbake. Also, using more brown sugar than white sugar naturally creates a chewier texture.

Can I use different types of chocolate chips?

Definitely! Feel free to experiment with milk chocolate, dark chocolate, butterscotch, or even mint chips for different flavor combinations.

How should I crush the pretzels and potato chips?

The easiest way is to place them in a zip-top bag and gently crush them with a rolling pin or the bottom of a measuring cup. Aim for pieces that are still recognizable but small enough to incorporate into the dough.

Conclusion

Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies are the ultimate festive treat that combines the best of sweet and salty flavors in one delicious package. With their beautiful holiday colors and irresistible mix of textures, they're guaranteed to be the star of any cookie exchange or holiday gathering. The beauty of these cookies lies in their versatility – feel free to adapt them based on what you have in your pantry or your personal preferences. Whether you're an experienced baker or trying your hand at holiday cookies for the first time, this recipe is accessible, forgiving, and guaranteed to impress. From our kitchen to yours, we hope these cookies bring joy to your holiday season and become a cherished part of your baking traditions for years to come.