Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe

If you’re looking for the ultimate festive treat to wow your friends and family this holiday season, you have to try my Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe. Honestly, this cookie is a total game-changer—I love this because it takes all those fun, colorful, crunchy, and melty ingredients you love and squeezes them into one great big cookie. It’s a little bit sweet, a little bit salty, and a whole lot of joy in every bite. Stick with me here, because you’re going to want to bookmark this recipe for every holiday season to come!

this Recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need

The magic behind this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe is all about the balance of ingredients. The butter and sugars create a soft, chewy base, while the mix-ins bring the festive colors and textures that keep you reaching for more. Here’s what to grab to get the party started—plus a few tips so you make it your own.

• Salted butter: Softened to room temperature for easy creaming; don’t skip salted—it adds that crucial salty kick!
• Light brown sugar: Packed for moisture and rich molasses flavor in the cookies.
• Granulated sugar: Adds a touch of crispness to balance the softness.
• Egg yolks: Using just yolks keeps the cookie tender and rich.
• Vanilla bean paste or extract: Vanilla bean paste adds those pretty speckles and intense flavor, but pure vanilla works beautifully too.
• All-purpose flour: Spoon and level it in—not scooping—to avoid dense cookies.
• Baking powder and baking soda: For perfect rise and texture.
• Salt: Enhances all the flavors; don’t omit!
• Red and green M&M’s: The colorful signature holiday touch that adds a little crunch.
• White chocolate chips: Sweet and creamy, balancing the salty bits.
• Pretzel pieces: For that irresistible salty crunch and a surprise texture.
• Potato chip pieces: Yes, potato chips in cookies! Adds the perfect salty-sweet hit and a delicate crunch.
• Red and green jimmies (sprinkles): To make the cookies look festive and fun—and who doesn’t love sprinkles?

Variations

This is where the “kitchen sink” part gets fun. I love this recipe for how flexible it is. You can toss in whatever little treasures you have lying around your pantry or swap ingredients based on your family’s favorites.

• Add nuts: I sometimes throw in chopped pecans or walnuts for an extra crunch—and my family goes crazy for it.
• Gluten-free option: Substitute all-purpose flour with a good-quality gluten-free blend—you’ll still get the same chewy, tasty cookie.
• Chocolate lovers’ twist: Swap the white chocolate chips for dark or milk chocolate chips if you prefer that richer flavor.
• Seasonal switches: Try using peppermint candies or crushed candy canes instead of M&M’s for a minty holiday surprise.

How to Make Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Cream your butter and sugars until fluffy

This is where the magic starts. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat your softened salted butter with brown and granulated sugar for about two minutes. You want the mix to look light in color and fluffy—that’s what gives your cookies that tender bite inside. Don’t rush this part; it makes all the difference.

Step 2: Mix in egg yolks and vanilla

Next up, add in your two room-temperature egg yolks along with vanilla bean paste or extract. Beat it on medium speed until it turns pale and fluffy, roughly two minutes. If you don’t have vanilla bean paste, regular vanilla extract works just fine, but those little black flecks of paste really make it feel special.

Step 3: Combine dry ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Then, gradually add this to your wet mixture, mixing just until everything is combined. Be careful not to overmix here—you want tender cookies, not tough ones.

Step 4: Fold in all the fun mix-ins

Here’s where your “kitchen sink” comes to life: fold in the red and green M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, potato chip pieces, and those festive red and green jimmies. I usually fold gently with a spatula to keep all those goodies intact. This combo gives the cookies that irresistible sweet-salty crunch and colorful pop.

Step 5: Scoop and bake

Scoop out your dough into roughly 20 balls and space them about two inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Here’s a little trick I discovered: if you want cookies that look exactly like the picture, sprinkle extra mix-ins on top of each dough ball before baking. It’s purely optional, but it creates a gorgeous presentation! Bake in your preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 10-12 minutes. For softer centers, aim for 10 minutes; for crispy edges, go for 12.

Step 6: Shape cookies while warm

When the cookies come right out of the oven, I like to use a large circular cookie cutter to swirl gently around each cookie. This tidy trick helps nudge everything together into a perfect round shape—a little kitchen magic that makes the cookies look professionally done. Let them cool on the baking sheet for five minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

How to Serve Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe

Garnishes

I usually keep garnishes simple here—a few extra holiday-themed sprinkles on a plate or a small dusting of powdered sugar if I’m feeling fancy. Sometimes I place extra mini M&M’s or crushed candy canes next to the cookies to amp up the festive vibe. It keeps things playful and colorful without overwhelming the cookie itself.

Side Dishes

These cookies are pretty much a showstopper on their own, but I love pairing them with a glass of cold milk or a hot cup of cocoa spiked with a hint of cinnamon. For holiday parties, add a cheese and fruit board nearby to balance the sweetness with savory snacks.

Creative Ways to Present

Gift boxes lined with festive tissue paper or stacking them on decorative plates tied with a ribbon always gets compliments. Last year, I arranged them in a Christmas tree shape on a large platter with green and red sprinkles sprinkled around—it was a total crowd-pleaser and a beautiful centerpiece for our holiday dessert table.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

You’ll want to keep these cookies fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay soft and chewy for up to three days, but honestly, these rarely last that long at my house. Make sure they’re completely cooled before storing to avoid sogginess.

Freezing

If you want to prep early, these cookies freeze well. I usually freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet first, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. They’ll keep their texture and flavor for up to three months, making them a great holiday bake-ahead.

Reheating

To warm up leftovers, I pop the cookies in a preheated 300°F oven for about 5-7 minutes. This revives that just-baked softness without drying them out. You can also microwave for 10-15 seconds if you’re in a hurry, but the oven method is my personal favorite.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

So there you have it—my beloved Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe that’s become a treasured staple in my holiday baking lineup. It brings together all the festive colors, flavors, and crunches in a way that never fails to impress. I hope you enjoy making these just as much as I enjoy sharing them. Trust me, once you try this recipe, it might just become your new holiday tradition too!

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