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

Nothing quite says festive like a cookie packed with holiday cheer — that’s exactly what the Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe delivers. With every bite, you get a little bit of everything: sweet, salty, crunchy, and chewy, all mixed into one delightful treat you’ll want to bake again and again.

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've been making the Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe for years, and honestly, it’s become my go-to for holiday cookie exchanges and cozy nights in. It’s not just about the mix-ins—though there are plenty—it’s the way all the flavors play off each other that makes these cookies so addictive.

Loaded with Mix-Ins: You get a little bit of M&M’s, white chocolate, pretzels, potato chips, and festive sprinkles all in one cookie.
Perfect Texture: The combo of sweet and salty ingredients gives these cookies a satisfying crunchy edge with a chewy center.
Customizable Fun: You can easily swap or add your favorite treats, making each batch unique.
Eye-Catching Presentation: Those little extra mix-ins on top make these cookies look as good as they taste.

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 cookie dough relies on a great balance of classic baking staples and playful mix-ins that keep the holiday spirit alive in every bite. When shopping, think about quality—using good chocolate and fresh pretzels really lifts this recipe.

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: Softened butter adds richness and helps the cookies spread just right with a tender crumb.
Light brown sugar: Brings moisture and a touch of caramel flavor that enhances the cookie’s chewiness.
Granulated white sugar: Balances the brown sugar for the perfect sweetness and crispy edges.
Egg yolks: They add deeper flavor and a lush texture; using just yolks keeps the cookies tender.
Vanilla bean paste or extract: The vanilla is the subtle flavor boost that ties all the mix-ins together.
All-purpose flour: Provides the structure needed to hold all those mix-ins without feeling too dense.
Baking powder & baking soda: These leaveners help the cookies rise just enough for a soft center and a slight crisp.
Salt: Enhances every flavor element; don’t skip it!
Red and green M&M's: Festive candy adds a colorful crunch and sweet chocolate pockets.
White chocolate chips: Creamy and sweet, they contrast beautifully with salty mix-ins.
Pretzel pieces: Provide that addictive salty crunch and texture variety.
Potato chip pieces: An unexpected salty twist that really pops in every bite.
Red and green jimmies: Sprinkles add festive color and a touch of fun on top.

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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 of the best parts of the Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe is how you can make it your own. I often swap out M&M’s for mini peanut butter cups or add chopped nuts if I want some extra crunch. Feel free to toss in your favorite candies or snacks to make it truly your own creation.

Variation: I once turned these into gluten-free cookies by using a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend with great results — just watch the texture as gluten-free flours vary.
Seasonal Twist: Swap the red and green M&M’s for pumpkin spice or peppermint candies to suit other holidays or winter seasons.
Healthier Swap: Substitute pretzels for whole-grain crackers or roasted nuts for added nutrition without losing crunch.

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

Step 1: Creaming the Butter and Sugars

Start by softening your salted butter so it’s nice and malleable — this is key for a smooth dough. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter with the brown and white sugars for about two minutes until the mixture looks light, fluffy, and creamy. This aeration makes the cookies tender with great rise.

Step 2: Adding the Egg Yolks and Vanilla

Next, I add the two egg yolks and vanilla bean paste or extract. Mixing this in for another two minutes is important; it helps create a pale, fully combined base that will hold all those fun mix-ins evenly.

Step 3: Incorporating Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Slowly mix these dry ingredients into your wet batter until just combined. Overmixing here can make tough cookies, so be gentle!

Step 4: Folding in the Mix-Ins

This is my favorite part — gently folding in the red and green M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, potato chip pieces, and those festive jimmies. Use a spatula and take your time to evenly distribute everything without smashing the chips.

Step 5: Scooping and Baking

I scoop the dough into 20 even balls and arrange them with two inches between on parchment-lined baking sheets. For an extra festive touch, I often sprinkle a few more mix-ins directly on top of each dough ball. Bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes — 10 if you like chewy centers and 12 for crispier edges.

Step 6: Shaping and Cooling

When the cookies come straight out of the oven, you can swirl a large circular cookie cutter around each cookie to nudge the edges into perfect circles. It’s a little trick I picked up that really makes them look professional! Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes on the tray before transferring to a wire rack for another 10 minutes to cool completely.

Top Tip

From all my cookie-baking adventures, a few key tips have saved me from many baking mishaps and helped these Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies come out perfect every time.

Properly Measure Flour: Scooping directly from the bag packs too much flour in your measuring cup, which dries out cookies. I always spoon the flour into my cup and level it off or, better yet, weigh it for accuracy.
Don’t Overmix: Especially after adding the flour, fold gently to keep your cookies tender—not tough.
Add Extra Mix-Ins on Top: Sprinkling a few candies or chips on top before baking makes each cookie look irresistible and festive.
Use a Cookie Cutter Post-Bake: When cookies are warm, gently swirl a cookie cutter around the edges to achieve uniform, pretty shapes without squishing the dough.

How to Serve Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe

Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love to garnish these cookies with a light dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of melted white chocolate. It adds just a little extra holiday flair without overwhelming the mix-ins. Sometimes, I’ll also place a few extra M&M’s on top just before baking for that festive pop of color.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair wonderfully with a classic glass of cold milk or a warm mug of spiced hot chocolate. For gatherings, I like serving them alongside more festive treats like gingerbread or peppermint bark to keep the holiday vibe going strong.

Creative Ways to Present

I’ve had a lot of fun wrapping these cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with red and green ribbons as gifts. For parties, I like stacking them on a tiered dessert stand layered with pine sprigs and mini ornaments—it instantly makes the table look festive and inviting.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies keep beautifully in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. I always make sure to separate the layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking. They tend to soften a bit but still taste amazing!

Freezing

If you want to make these ahead for holiday crowds, freezing the raw cookie dough balls works great. Just scoop and freeze on a tray, then transfer to a freezer bag. When you’re ready, bake straight from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the bake time. Cookies maintain their flavor and texture well after freezing.

Reheating

To refresh day-old cookies, I pop them in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes — this brings back a bit of that fresh-baked warmth and chewy texture. Avoid microwaving, since that can make the cookies too soft or even soggy.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use salted or unsalted butter for Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe?

I prefer salted butter here because it balances the sweetness and salty mix-ins perfectly, but if you only have unsalted butter, just add a pinch more salt to the dough.

What’s the best way to measure flour for this cookie recipe?

The best way is to spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off with the back of a knife instead of scooping directly. This prevents packing too much flour, which can dry out the cookies. Weighing your flour is even more accurate; 1 cup equals about 125 grams.

Can I substitute mix-ins if I don’t have all the ingredients?

Absolutely! The beauty of the Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe is its flexibility. You can swap M&M’s for other candies, use different chips, or even add nuts or dried fruits to suit your taste.

How do I get my cookies perfectly round like in photos?

Right after baking, while the cookies are still warm, gently use a large circular cookie cutter to swirl around each cookie. This pushes the dough into a perfect circle without flattening too much. Adding a few extra mix-ins on top before baking also helps with the look.

Final Thoughts

Every year, these Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe cookies remind me why I love holiday baking so much—the joy of mixing a little bit of everything into a cookie that feels special, fun, and just a little indulgent. I hope you enjoy baking and sharing them as much as I do—they really are a crowd-pleaser and a festive classic you’ll come back to time and again.