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 something magical about a cookie packed with all the festive flavors and textures you love, and this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe is exactly that kind of treat. Loaded with colorful M&Ms, crunchy pretzels, salty potato chips, and sweet white chocolate chips, these cookies bring all the Christmas joy with every bite.

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 can’t tell you how many times I’ve made these Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies just to bring a smile to friends and family—no wonder they’re a holiday classic. They’re a perfect balance of sweet, salty, crunchy, and chewy all in one cookie, making them impossible to put down.

All-In-One Flavor Explosion: This cookie really lives up to the “kitchen sink” name, catching every craving from salty to sweet.
Festive and Fun: The red and green M&Ms and sprinkles make these irresistible and perfect for holiday gifting or cookie swaps.
Simple to Make: Even though the ingredient list looks wild, the process is straightforward and beginner-friendly.
Customizable: You can easily swap or add your favorite mix-ins to make them uniquely yours each season.

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

This Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe works because it plays with a balance of textures and flavors in every bite, so each ingredient is carefully chosen to complement the others. Keep an eye out for good quality and fresh mix-ins to get that standout holiday cookie.

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: Provides richness and helps create that tender yet chewy texture I love.
Light Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and a lovely caramel undertone that's essential for flavor depth.
Granulated Sugar: Gives crispness on the cookie edges.
Egg Yolks: Use just the yolks for extra richness without making the cookies cakey.
Vanilla Bean Paste or Extract: Enhances all the flavors; I prefer bean paste for those little flecks of vanilla.
All-Purpose Flour: Spoon and level it in to avoid dense cookies; I always use a kitchen scale now to be precise.
Baking Powder & Baking Soda: Both leavening agents balance each other to give a perfect rise and tenderness.
Salt: Elevates sweetness and balances the flavors, plus complements the salty mix-ins.
Red and Green M&M’s: Classic holiday colors and chocolatey bursts that kids and adults adore.
White Chocolate Chips: Add a sweet creaminess that contrasts the salty crunch beautifully.
Pretzel Pieces: For that iconic salty crunch; chunky pieces work best for texture.
Potato Chip Pieces: Yes, potato chips in cookies! They bring an unexpected savory bite that just works.
Red and Green Jimmies: Sprinkles on top add festive charm and a slight sugary snap.

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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

One thing I really appreciate about this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe is that it’s a canvas for your favorite treats. Whether you’re swapping in nuts or skipping the potato chips, it welcomes your creativity without losing any of the charm.

Nutty Twist: I once added chopped pecans for extra crunch, and it elevated the texture beautifully.
Gluten-Free Option: Swap the flour for a blend of gluten-free flour to make these safe for friends with sensitivities.
Vegan Version: Use vegan butter and substitute egg yolks with flax eggs; I haven’t tried it yet, but I bet it could work!
Extra Mix-Ins: Feel free to add dried cranberries or toffee bits for more festive surprises.

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

Step 1: Prep for Success

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining two baking sheets with parchment paper. This is crucial because a well-prepped sheet means no sticking and easy cleanup—a little win that makes baking way more enjoyable.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars

In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened salted butter with light brown sugar and granulated sugar for a good two minutes. The goal here is to get it nice and fluffy—this step is where your cookies start to get that lovely soft texture.

Step 3: Mix in Egg Yolks and Vanilla

Add the egg yolks and vanilla bean paste or extract next and mix on medium speed for another two minutes until the mixture looks pale and fluffy. This step helps to bind the dough and deepen the flavor.

Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients

Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl to ensure even distribution. Gradually add this to your wet mixture, mixing just until combined—you don’t want to overmix and risk tough cookies.

Step 5: Fold in the “Kitchen Sink” Ingredients

This is my favorite part! Gently fold in the red and green M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, potato chip pieces, and sprinkles using a spatula. Folding rather than mixing lets those chunky bits stay intact and evenly spread, so every cookie has a bit of everything.

Step 6: Scoop and Optional Toppings

Scoop the dough into 20 balls, spacing them about two inches apart on your baking sheets. If you want to be extra festive (and trust me, it’s totally worth it), sprinkle a few extra M&Ms or pretzel pieces on top of each cookie before baking. It makes them look so much prettier!

Step 7: Bake and Shape

Bake for 10-12 minutes. If you prefer softer, chewier centers, stick to 10 minutes; for crispier edges, aim for 12. Here’s a little trick: right when they come out hot from the oven, I use a large circular cookie cutter to swirl around each cookie gently. This shapes them perfectly and presses the mix-ins into place, giving you that classic bakery look.

Step 8: Cool and Enjoy

Let your cookies cool for five minutes on the baking sheets before transferring them to a rack for another 10. This cooling time is key to the final chewy-crisp texture that makes these cookies stand out.

Top Tip

Over the years, I’ve learned that a couple of small details make the biggest difference with this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe. These tips help me get consistent, delicious results every time.

Measure Flour Correctly: I used to scoop cups straight from the bag and ended up with dense cookies. Now I always spoon and level or use a kitchen scale. It’s a game changer.
Don’t Overmix: Once the flour goes in, mix just until everything’s combined. Overmixing leads to tough cookies, and trust me, you want tenderness here.
Shape While Warm: Using a cookie cutter on warm cookies isn’t just for looks, it actually helps meld the edges so they don’t crack or fall apart.
Extra Mix-Ins on Top: Adding a few more chips or M&Ms on top before baking makes such a lovely, festive presentation—and it’s an easy way to impress your guests.

How to Serve Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe

Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I like to keep it simple with these cookies, but a light dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of white chocolate can elevate them beautifully. You can also serve them alongside a small bowl of festive colored sprinkles for guests to add a personal touch.

Side Dishes

These cookies are a perfect companion to a glass of cold milk or a warm cup of spiced hot cocoa. For holiday parties, I like to set up a dessert tray with nuts, dried fruits, and a few peppermint sticks for a festive touch.

Creative Ways to Present

One year, I stacked the cookies into little towers tied with festive ribbons—an easy and pretty last-minute gift idea. You can also place them in mason jars layered with wax paper for a charming DIY gift that feels personal and homemade.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store my leftover Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, and they stay fresh for about three days. To keep them soft, I sometimes add a slice of bread in the box—the classic baker’s hack that really works!

Freezing

These cookies freeze wonderfully, both as dough balls and fully baked cookies. I freeze the dough balls on a tray, then pop them into a freezer bag—makes it so easy to bake fresh cookies anytime during the holidays.

Reheating

To reheat, I pop cookies in a 300°F oven for about 5 minutes just until warm and soft again. Avoid microwaving because it can make them chewy in a weird way for a few minutes, but then turn tough once cooled.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use regular chocolate chips instead of white chocolate?

Absolutely! Regular or semi-sweet chocolate chips work great if you want a deeper chocolate flavor instead of the creamy sweetness of white chocolate.

Do the potato chips actually taste good in the cookies?

Yes, it might sound unusual, but the potato chips add a salty crunch that perfectly balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor. Just make sure to use plain potato chips, not flavored ones.

How do I prevent my cookies from spreading too much during baking?

Make sure your butter is softened, not melted, and chill the dough for about 15 minutes if your kitchen is warm. Also, spacing the dough balls about two inches apart helps them keep their shape.

Can I make these cookies vegan or gluten-free?

Yes, you can adapt this recipe by using plant-based butter and an egg substitute like flax eggs for vegan versions. For gluten-free, swap the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend. Expect slight texture differences but delicious results nonetheless.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe isn’t just a cookie—it’s a joyful celebration of the holiday spirit baked into bite-sized happiness. Every time I make them, they remind me of cozy nights with loved ones, laughter, and the magic that happens in the kitchen. I hope you’ll give them a try and make them a beloved part of your own holiday traditions!