Every December, my kitchen turns into a happy mess of sugar, color, and laughter. That’s when these Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies steal the show. They’ve got everything festive crammed inside—sweet, salty, crunchy, and chewy all in one bite. Plus, they come together in minutes, no chilling, no stress, just pure cookie joy.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love These Cookies
These cookies hit every craving at once. The mix of red and green M&M’s, buttery dough, crunchy pretzels, and white chocolate chips creates the best sweet–salty balance.
They’re perfect for last-minute baking because the dough doesn’t need chilling. Even better, they’re fun for kids to scoop and decorate. You can also toss in leftover candy or snacks from your pantry to make every batch unique.
Key Ingredients & Mix-Ins
Base Cookie Dough Essentials
Butter brings richness, while light brown and white sugars add sweetness and chew. The egg yolks make the dough soft, and vanilla adds warmth. Flour, baking powder, and baking soda help the cookies puff just enough while staying tender inside.
Festive Add-Ins & Texture Boosters
The real fun starts here. Red and green M&M’s add pops of color and crunch. White chocolate chips melt slightly for creamy sweetness. Pretzel and potato chip bits give that satisfying salty snap, and sprinkles make them look instantly ready for a cookie swap.
If you prefer, swap in butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips, or chopped nuts. Just keep the total amount of mix-ins the same for balance.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prepare the Dough
Start by preheating the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
Cream butter and sugars together for two minutes until fluffy and pale. Add the egg yolks and vanilla, and beat again for two more minutes until smooth and creamy.
Next, add the dry ingredients—flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt—and mix until the dough comes together evenly.
Fold in the Mix-Ins
Now comes the best part. Gently fold in the M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzel bits, potato chips, and sprinkles. The mix-ins should look evenly scattered, not clumped in one spot.
If you want that bakery-style look, press a few extra toppings on top of each dough ball before baking.
Shape & Bake
Scoop the dough into 20 even balls. Place them about two inches apart on your baking sheets. Bake for 10–12 minutes—10 for soft and chewy, 12 for crisp edges.
Right after baking, use a round cookie cutter to gently swirl around each cookie for a perfectly round shape. Let them cool on the baking sheet for five minutes, then move them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Expert Tips for Perfect Results
Always measure your flour correctly—spoon it into the cup and level it off, or weigh it for accuracy.
Creaming the butter and sugars well helps create that soft center and crisp edge combo.
If you want picture-perfect cookies, press a few M&M’s or chips on top before baking.
For even edges, use the cookie cutter trick right after baking while they’re still soft.
Storage & Make-Ahead Guide
These cookies stay fresh for up to three days in an airtight container at room temperature.
You can also make the dough ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to three days or freeze it for two weeks. When ready to bake, let it come to room temperature for 15 minutes before scooping and baking.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is it called a kitchen sink cookie?
Because you toss in everything but the kitchen sink—sweet, salty, crunchy, and chewy mix-ins all in one dough.
What is the most famous Christmas cookie?
Classic sugar cookies are probably the most loved, but these Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies might steal that title once you try them.
What’s in a kitchen sink cookie?
Usually a mix of M&M’s, chocolate chips, pretzels, potato chips, and anything else you have on hand. It’s all about creativity and texture.
What does a kitchen sink cookie taste like?
Each bite is a surprise—sweet from chocolate, salty from pretzels, creamy from butter, and crunchy from chips. It’s the best mix of contrasts in one festive cookie.
Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe Card
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Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies – Easy, Fun & Festive Treat
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 20 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Chewy, crunchy, sweet and salty Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies packed with M&M’s, white chocolate, pretzels, potato chips, and festive sprinkles. Quick prep, no chill, and perfect for gifting.
Ingredients
¾ cup salted butter, softened
¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
¼ cup granulated white sugar
2 egg yolks, at room temperature
2 tsp vanilla bean paste or extract
1½ cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ cup red and green M&M’s
⅓ cup white chocolate chips
⅓ cup pretzel pieces
⅓ cup potato chip pieces
2 tbsp red and green jimmies (sprinkles)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Cream butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar for 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
3. Add egg yolks and vanilla. Mix 2 minutes until pale and creamy.
4. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix until combined.
5. Fold in M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzels, potato chips, and sprinkles.
6. Scoop dough into 20 balls. Place 2 inches apart on lined sheets. Optionally add extra mix-ins on top.
7. Bake 10 to 12 minutes. Bake 10 for chewy centers or 12 for crisp edges.
8. Optional: shape cookies right out of the oven with a large round cookie cutter for even edges.
9. Cool on sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for 10 minutes.
Notes
Storage: store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Substitutions: swap in butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips, nuts, or other chocolates. Keep total mix-ins the same.
Make ahead: refrigerate dough up to 3 days or freeze up to 2 weeks. Let dough rest at room temperature before baking.
Pro tips: spoon and level flour or weigh it. Beat butter and sugars until fluffy. Press extra mix-ins on top before baking. Use a cookie cutter after baking to tidy edges.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 to 12 minutes
- Category: Christmas Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 193
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 10.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 6.4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 0.6 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg
More Such Recipes
Try my Easy Christmas brownies for a festive dessert table.
Or bake Christmas sugar cookie bars bursting with holiday cheer.
Don’t miss Classic peanut butter blossoms that complement any cookie tray.
For spice lovers, check out Gingerbread cheesecake cookies for a spiced seasonal twist.
Final Thoughts
These Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies are more than just treats—they’re little bites of holiday happiness. They bring everyone together around the oven, laughing and sneaking warm cookies straight off the rack.
Bake them for friends, share them at a cookie swap, or gift a tin to someone who needs a little extra cheer.
You can find more cozy holiday ideas on Pinterest and Facebook.