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

There’s something incredibly fun about a cookie that genuinely lives up to its name — packed with everything but the kitchen sink. This Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe is a festive, colorful explosion of flavors and textures that always brings smiles at my holiday gatherings.

A round white plate is filled with about ten light brown cookies that have a soft, bumpy texture. Each cookie is topped with red and green candy-coated chocolates, small white chocolate chips, green and red sprinkles, and small pieces of pretzels that add a crunchy look. The cookies are arranged on a white marbled surface, with small white bowls around holding red and green candies, pretzels, and white chocolate chips. A red ribbon is placed at the bottom right corner. 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 this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe every holiday season because it’s just so darn satisfying. It’s the perfect mix of sweet, salty, crunchy, and chewy all in one bite. Plus, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’s fun to share with friends and family.

All-in-one cookie magic: This recipe packs in M&M's, white chocolate, pretzels, potato chips, and festive sprinkles, making every bite a surprise.
Perfect texture balance: Soft centers and crisp edges create a cookie that’s irresistibly chewy and crunchy.
Easy to customize: You can switch up the mix-ins depending on what you have on hand or your holiday theme.
Great for gifting or sharing: These cookies hold their shape well and look beautiful on cookie platters or wrapped up as gifts.

A close-up view of a soft cookie on a white marbled surface with visible colorful layers including red, green, and white candy pieces mixed inside the light golden brown dough. The cookie has a bite taken out of the right side, showing a soft, slightly crumbly texture inside. On the cookie’s surface, there are small red and green sprinkles and chunks of pretzel adding a crunchy texture. Another whole cookie is blurred in the background, along with scattered red and green candies in a small white bowl. A bright red cloth is partially visible in the lower left corner. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

The ingredients in this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe come together to create a cookie that’s traditional with a twist. The mix of sweet, salty, and crunchy elements plays off each other perfectly, and the dry ingredients help the cookie hold together without losing softness.

Flat lay of a few chunks of softened salted butter, a small white ceramic bowl filled with light brown sugar, a small white ceramic bowl with granulated white sugar, two whole brown eggs with clean shells, a small white ceramic bowl of vanilla bean paste, a small heap of all-purpose flour, a small pile of baking powder, a small pile of baking soda, a small pile of salt, a small white ceramic bowl of red and green M&M's, a small white ceramic bowl of white chocolate chips, a small white ceramic bowl with pretzel pieces, a small white ceramic bowl filled with potato chip pieces, a small white ceramic bowl holding red and green jimmies placed 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 moisture while balancing sweetness with a touch of salt.
Light brown sugar: Adds chewiness and a deep caramel flavor.
Granulated sugar: Helps cookies spread and crisp slightly at the edges.
Egg yolks: Makes the cookies tender and gives richness without too much rise.
Vanilla bean paste or extract: Infuses warm, classic flavor to tie all the ingredients together.
All-purpose flour: The base that gives structure but not too tough a bite; spoon and level to avoid heavy dough.
Baking powder and baking soda: Works together to create lightness and just enough rise.
Salt: Enhances all the flavors, especially in combination with the sweet mix-ins.
Red and green M&M's: Adds festive color and a sweet candy crunch.
White chocolate chips: Melt into gooey pockets of sweetness throughout the cookie.
Pretzel pieces: Bring in a salty crunch that contrasts beautifully with the sweeter ingredients.
Potato chip pieces: Surprise salty crunch that many don’t expect but absolutely love.
Red and green jimmies (sprinkles): Give a cheerful, holiday look and just a little extra texture.

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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

I love switching up this recipe depending on what mix-ins feel festive or what I have on hand. It’s really forgiving, so don’t be shy about making it your own — it's all about that joy of discovery in every bite.

Variation: One year I swapped the potato chips for crushed candy canes. It added a minty sparkle that was a real hit at my holiday office party.
Dietary swap: You can substitute the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free blend if you're baking for sensitive friends — just keep an eye on the texture.
Seasonal twists: Try adding dried cranberries or chopped nuts for a slightly different festive flavor.
Texture tweaks: Adding an extra egg yolk can make cookies even more tender if you prefer chewy cookies.

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

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugars Until Fluffy

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining baking sheets with parchment paper. Then, in a large bowl, beat the softened salted butter with the light brown sugar and granulated sugar using an electric mixer. Go for about two minutes until the mixture is light and beautifully fluffy — this makes a huge difference in cookie texture, so be patient!

Step 2: Add Egg Yolks and Vanilla for That Rich Base

Next, add your egg yolks one at a time and the vanilla bean paste or extract. Mix on medium speed for another two minutes until the batter turns pale and has even more volume. This helps build a tender, luxurious cookie base.

Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients and Mix Carefully

Mix the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a separate bowl. Slowly add this to your wet ingredients and mix just until everything comes together—don’t overmix or your cookies might toughen up.

Step 4: Fold in the Fun Mix-Ins

Here’s where the magic happens: gently fold in your M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, potato chip pieces, and festive red and green jimmies. Using a spatula helps keep those chunks from breaking down too much, preserving the fantastic texture contrast.

Step 5: Scoop, Optional Toppings, and Bake

Scoop the dough into roughly 20 balls, leaving about two inches between each on your prepared baking sheets. I like to press a few extra mix-ins on top to make the cookies look even more festive—optional, but it elevates the presentation.

Bake for 10-12 minutes: 10 if you want soft, chewy centers, or up to 12 for edges that have a delightful snap.

Step 6: Shape While Warm and Cool Properly

Right after they come out of the oven, I use a large round cookie cutter to swirl around each cookie, pushing the mix-ins into a neat circle — it’s a little trick I’ve learned to get those picture-perfect shapes. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for five minutes before moving them to a rack for another 10 minutes so they set just right.

Top Tip

Over the years, mixing everything together has taught me some valuable tricks that really helped the final cookie turn out delightful every time.

Proper flour measuring: Don’t scoop your flour with the measuring cup—it packs too much. Instead, spoon it gently into the cup and level it off with a knife. This simple tip stopped my cookies from turning out dry and crumbly.
Use egg yolks only: I’ve noticed that skipping egg whites keeps the texture tender and chewy without too much puffing.
Fold gently: When adding mix-ins, fold with a spatula instead of stirring too much. It keeps the cookies looking colorful and deliciously chunky.
Shape while warm: Swirling the cookie cutter when cookies are hot prevents irregular shapes and keeps the mix-ins perfectly nestled.

How to Serve Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe

Kitchen Sink Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love keeping it simple with a sprinkle of extra festive jimmies or even a pinch of flaky sea salt on top just after baking. It adds a subtle shimmer and a little salty punch that truly complements the sweetness and crunch.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair wonderfully with a cold glass of milk or a warm cup of peppermint tea. If you’re serving these at a holiday party, try alongside spiced hot chocolate or mulled wine for an extra cozy vibe.

Creative Ways to Present

One year, I stacked them in a festive tin with layers of parchment and tied it up with ribbon — it made a perfect DIY gift. Another time, I served them on a platter arranged like a Christmas wreath with sprigs of rosemary and cranberries for a rustic touch everyone admired.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I usually keep leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay fresh and chewy for up to three days — if you can resist eating them all immediately!

Freezing

This Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe freezes beautifully. I freeze the dough balls on a tray first, then pop them into a freezer bag. When I’m ready for fresh cookies, I just bake them straight from frozen with an extra minute or two of baking time.

Reheating

If you have any leftovers, reheating in a warm oven (about 300°F for 3-5 minutes) helps revive that fresh-baked texture. Microwaving quickly can soften them too much, so I avoid that when I want to keep the crunch.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use regular chocolate chips instead of white chocolate chips?

Absolutely! Regular milk or dark chocolate chips will work just as well and add a richer chocolate flavor. It’s all about your preference and what you love.

Why only use egg yolks and not whole eggs?

Using egg yolks alone keeps these cookies extra tender and rich without making them rise too much, which helps maintain that chewy texture we all adore in this recipe.

Can I prepare the dough ahead of time?

Yes! You can prepare the dough a day ahead, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and chill it in the fridge. This actually helps enhance the flavors and makes the dough easier to scoop later.

What if I don’t have potato chips or pretzels?

No worries! You can substitute with other crunchy snacks like crushed corn nuts, crispy cereal, or even chopped nuts to maintain that pleasant contrast of textures.

Final Thoughts

Honestly, this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe never fails to bring warmth and a bit of surprise to every holiday moment we share them. It’s that magical kind of cookie you want to make again and again because it combines family-favorite ingredients into one festive, fun package. I can’t wait for you to try it and see how it adds a little extra sparkle to your celebrations.