These Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies are the ultimate holiday treat fun, festive, and loaded with all your favorite sweet and salty mix-ins. Think buttery, chewy cookie dough studded with red and green M&M’s, white chocolate chips, crunchy pretzels, potato chips, and festive sprinkles. It’s a joyful, anything-goes cookie that embodies the spirit of the holidays!
Perfect for cookie exchanges, gifting, or cozy family baking days, these cookies have it all crunch, chew, sweetness, and a pinch of salt. Once you make them, don’t be surprised if they become your new Christmas tradition.
Why You’ll Love This Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies
Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies are the perfect embodiment of holiday joy colorful, chewy, sweet, and just a little salty. Each bite is filled with crunch from pretzels and chips, creamy white chocolate, and festive pops of red and green from M&M’s and sprinkles.
They’re simple enough for beginner bakers, fun to customize, and guaranteed to bring smiles to every cookie platter. These cookies capture the magic of the season in every bite a must-bake for any holiday celebration!
Ingredients
- ¾ cup salted butter, softened
- ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup granulated white sugar
- 2 egg yolks, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or extract
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup red and green M&M’s
- ⅓ cup white chocolate chips
- ⅓ cup pretzel pieces
- ⅓ cup potato chip pieces
- 2 tablespoons red and green jimmies (sprinkles)
Step-by-Step Method
Step 1: Preheat the oven and prepare baking sheets
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners.
Step 2: Cream the butter and sugars
In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar with a hand or stand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy about 2 minutes.
Step 3: Add the wet ingredients
Add the egg yolks and vanilla bean paste to the creamed butter-sugar mixture. Beat until smooth and well combined. The dough should look glossy and slightly thick.
Step 4: Mix the dry ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring on low until just incorporated. Do not overmix you want a tender, chewy cookie.
Step 5: Add the mix-ins
Fold in the M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, potato chip pieces, and red and green jimmies. Stir gently so that each addition is evenly distributed but not crushed.
You’ll see festive pops of color and texture exactly what makes these cookies look so Christmas-ready!
Step 6: Scoop and shape
Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, portion out dough balls about 1½ inches in size. Place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart.
If desired, press a few extra M&M’s or pretzel pieces on top for an extra-decorative look before baking.
Step 7: Bake
Bake the cookies for 9–11 minutes or until the edges are golden but the centers still look slightly soft they’ll continue to set as they cool.
Remove from the oven and let them rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 8: Serve and enjoy
Once cooled, add a final sprinkle of sea salt (optional) and serve. Enjoy your cookies with a cup of cocoa, milk, or holiday cheer!
Expert Tips for Success
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Soft butter only: Make sure your butter is just softened, not melted, for the perfect chewy texture.
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Crunch control: Fold in the potato chips and pretzels last to keep them from breaking up too much.
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Don’t overbake: These cookies should be a little underdone in the center for a chewy bite.
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Festive flair: Add extra M&M’s or sprinkles on top right after baking for a bakery-style presentation.
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Storage: Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
Tasty Variations to Try
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Chocolate overload: Add semi-sweet or dark chocolate chunks for an extra layer of richness.
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Nutty crunch: Swap half the chips or pretzels for chopped pecans or walnuts.
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Peppermint twist: Stir in crushed candy canes for a minty Christmas vibe.
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Double cookie dough: Replace potato chips with mini marshmallows or toffee bits for a sweeter bite.
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Color swaps: Switch red and green M&M’s for pastel ones during Easter or multi-colored for birthdays.
Serving Ideas
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Holiday dessert table: Display alongside fudge, gingerbread, or peppermint bark for a dazzling cookie spread.
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Gift giving: Pack in decorative jars or tins for homemade holiday gifts that everyone adores.
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Cookie exchange: These colorful cookies stand out and are always the first to disappear.
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Santa’s favorites: Leave a few under the tree with a glass of milk on Christmas Eve.
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Creative plating: Stack and wrap with ribbon for a festive dessert centerpiece.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes! The dough can be made up to 48 hours in advance. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate. Let it sit at room temperature for 15–20 minutes before scooping and baking.
Why are my cookies flat?
Over-softened butter or overheated dough can cause cookies to spread too much. Chill the dough for 20 minutes before baking if your kitchen is warm.
Can I freeze the dough?
Yes, scoop the dough into balls and freeze on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer to a bag or container. Bake straight from frozen, adding 1–2 minutes to the baking time.
Can I use other mix-ins?
Definitely that’s what makes these “kitchen sink” cookies! Mix in anything from caramel bits to cereal or crushed candy bars.
How do I make them gluten-free?
Use an all-purpose 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and gluten-free pretzels for the same delicious results.
Print
Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies
- Total Time: 25
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Buttery, chewy cookies loaded with colorful M&M’s, white chocolate chips, crunchy pretzels, potato chips, and sprinkles. A delightful combination of sweet and salty flavors—perfect for gifting, cookie swaps, or festive baking.
Ingredients
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- ¾ cup salted butter, softened
- ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 egg yolks, room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 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 sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Beat butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar for 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Mix in egg yolks and vanilla until smooth.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in another bowl. Add to wet mixture and stir just until combined.
- Gently fold in M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzels, potato chips, and sprinkles.
- Form 1½-inch dough balls. Place 2 inches apart on baking sheets. Press extra M&M’s or pretzels on top if desired.
- Bake 9–11 minutes until edges are golden and centers are slightly soft. Rest 5 minutes on pan, then cool on wire rack.
- Optional: Lightly sprinkle with sea salt before serving.
Notes
Use softened, not melted, butter for chewy texture.
Fold in pretzels and chips last to avoid crushing.
Slightly underbake for soft, chewy centers.
Chill dough for 20 minutes if cookies spread too much during baking.
Store airtight for up to 5 days or freeze up to 2 months.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 10
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American / Holiday
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 140mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: christmas kitchen sink cookies, sweet salty holiday cookies, m&m pretzel cookies, chewy festive cookies, party cookie recipe
