The holiday season is the perfect time to indulge in festive and delicious treats, and what better way to spread holiday cheer than with Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies? These cookies are jam-packed with a little bit of everything, from salty pretzel pieces to sweet M&M’s and crunchy potato chips. The name says it all – we’re throwing in everything but the kitchen sink!
In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about making these fun and flavorful cookies, including ingredients, directions, nutritional information, and helpful tips to ensure your cookies turn out perfectly every time. Ready to start baking? Let’s dive in!
What Are Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies?
If you’ve never heard of kitchen sink cookies, they’re essentially cookies that include a mix of sweet and savory ingredients – everything you can think of, really. Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies take this idea to a whole new level by adding festive elements like red and green M&M’s and sprinkles. These cookies are soft, chewy, and full of surprises in every bite.
Why Are They So Popular?
These cookies are popular because they’re both versatile and fun to make. You can add almost any leftover holiday treats or snacks to the mix, making them perfect for using up those bits of candy, pretzels, and chips sitting in your pantry. They’re also visually appealing, with their vibrant colors and decorative toppings.
Ingredients for Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies
Before you start, make sure you have all the necessary ingredients to bake a batch of these Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 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 sprinkles (jimmies)
These ingredients are essential for achieving the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and festive flavors in every cookie. Be sure to measure everything accurately, as baking is a science!
How to Make Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies
Follow these step-by-step instructions for baking your very own batch of Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies. It’s a simple process that yields delicious, colorful cookies perfect for any holiday gathering.
Step 1: Preheat Your Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Prepping the oven ahead of time ensures even baking, and the parchment paper makes for easy cookie removal and cleanup.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars
In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter, light brown sugar, and granulated white sugar together. Beat for about two minutes until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. This step is crucial for giving your cookies that signature soft and chewy texture.
Step 3: Add the Wet Ingredients
Next, add in the egg yolks and vanilla bean paste. Continue mixing on medium speed until the mixture turns pale and creamy, usually another two minutes. This will add richness and depth of flavor to your cookies.
Step 4: Incorporate the Dry Ingredients
Gradually mix in the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir until everything is well combined and a dough forms. Be careful not to overmix – overworking the dough can lead to tough cookies.
Step 5: Fold in the Mix-Ins
Now for the fun part! Gently fold in the M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, potato chips, and sprinkles. Make sure these festive mix-ins are evenly distributed throughout the dough. This variety of textures and flavors is what makes these cookies so special.
Step 6: Scoop and Shape the Dough
Scoop out approximately 20 dough balls and place them about two inches apart on your prepared baking sheets. For a more decorative look, press a few extra M&M’s, pretzel pieces, and sprinkles on top of each dough ball. This makes the cookies look as good as they taste!
Step 7: Bake to Perfection
Bake your cookies for 10-12 minutes, depending on how chewy or crispy you like them. For softer, chewier cookies, aim for 10 minutes. If you prefer a slightly crisper edge, go for the full 12 minutes. The edges should be golden brown, while the centers remain soft and tender.
Step 8: Cool and Enjoy
Once baked, allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for five minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Cooling them on the rack ensures they firm up without getting soggy on the bottom. Once completely cooled, these delightful Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies are ready to be enjoyed!
Notes and Tips for Perfect Cookies
- Room temperature ingredients: Always make sure your butter and egg yolks are at room temperature before starting. This helps everything blend together more smoothly, ensuring your cookies have a soft texture.
- Don’t overmix the dough: When adding the flour, mix just until combined. Overmixing can cause the gluten to develop too much, resulting in dense or tough cookies.
- Customizing your cookies: Feel free to get creative! You can substitute different mix-ins like chopped nuts, caramel bits, or crushed candy canes to put your own spin on this classic recipe.
- Storage: These cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. If you want to keep them longer, freeze the cookie dough balls and bake them fresh whenever you’re ready.
Nutritional Information & Health Benefits
While Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies are undeniably a treat, it’s good to know what you’re consuming. Here’s a breakdown of the nutritional value for these cookies.
Nutritional Details (Per Serving)
- Serving size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 160 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Protein: 2g
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 12g
- Vitamin D: 0mcg
- Calcium: 20mg
- Iron: 1mg
While these cookies are not exactly a health food, they do contain a small amount of fiber and calcium thanks to the mix-ins like pretzels and chocolate chips. Just remember to enjoy them in moderation!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes! You can prepare the dough ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to three days. If you’d like to freeze the dough, scoop it into balls and freeze them for up to three months. When you’re ready to bake, just pop them in the oven straight from the freezer and add an extra minute or two to the baking time.
Feel free to get creative with your mix-ins. You can swap the M&M’s for chocolate chunks, use dark chocolate chips instead of white chocolate chips, or add in crushed candy canes for a peppermint twist. The possibilities are endless with kitchen sink cookies!
Store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. You can also freeze them to keep them fresh for longer.
The name comes from the idea that you can throw in a little bit of everything – except the kitchen sink! It’s a fun way to use up leftover snacks and candies from your pantry.
Final Thoughts on Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies
Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies are a fun, festive treat that brings together the best of sweet and salty flavors. With their colorful mix-ins and chewy texture, they’re perfect for holiday gatherings, cookie swaps, or just enjoying with a cup of hot cocoa by the fire. This recipe is easy to customize, so feel free to experiment with different ingredients to make it your own.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your apron, preheat your oven, and get ready to bake a batch of these irresistible cookies that’ll have everyone coming back for more!
PrintChristmas Kitchen Sink Cookies: A Festive Treat for the Holidays
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and what better way to celebrate than by baking some Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies! These cookies are an absolute delight, packed with festive M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzels, potato chips, and sprinkles. Yes, you heard that right – we’re throwing in everything but the kitchen sink! This recipe is a holiday must-try for anyone who loves the combination of sweet and salty.
Whether you’re hosting a party, giving gifts, or just want to fill your home with the smell of fresh-baked cookies, these festive treats are guaranteed to be a hit. So, let’s dive into the details and get baking!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 20 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American, Holiday
- Diet: Vegetarian
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 sprinkles (jimmies)
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. This will prevent your cookies from sticking and make cleanup easier.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars
In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter, light brown sugar, and granulated white sugar together. Use an electric mixer to beat the mixture for about two minutes, until it becomes light and fluffy. This step ensures your cookies have a soft, tender texture.
Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients
Next, add in your egg yolks and vanilla bean paste. Mix on medium speed for another two minutes until the mixture becomes pale and creamy. This combination adds richness and depth of flavor to the cookies.
Step 4: Incorporate the Dry Ingredients
Now, it’s time to add the dry ingredients. Gradually mix in the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir until everything is well combined and a dough forms. Be sure not to overmix, as this can make the cookies tough.
Step 5: Fold in the Mix-Ins
Here’s where the magic happens! Gently fold in the M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, potato chips, and red and green sprinkles. Make sure these festive mix-ins are evenly distributed throughout the dough, giving every bite a burst of holiday joy.
Step 6: Scoop the Dough
Scoop out about 20 dough balls, placing them about two inches apart on your prepared baking sheets. If you want an extra decorative touch, press a few extra M&M’s, pretzel pieces, and sprinkles on top of each dough ball. This makes the cookies look extra festive!
Step 7: Bake the Cookies
Bake your cookies for 10-12 minutes. If you prefer a chewier cookie, bake them for 10 minutes. For a crispier texture, bake them for the full 12 minutes. The edges should turn golden brown, while the centers remain slightly soft.
Step 8: Shape the Cookies (Optional)
For those who want picture-perfect cookies, you can shape them right after they come out of the oven. Use a circular cookie cutter to gently swirl around each cookie, creating a perfectly round shape. This step is totally optional but can give your cookies a polished look.
Step 9: Cool and Serve
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for about five minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Once completely cooled, these Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies are ready to be enjoyed! Serve them with a glass of milk, and you’ve got the perfect holiday treat.
Notes
- Room temperature ingredients: Be sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature. This helps them blend more smoothly and ensures your cookies have a tender crumb.
- Don’t overmix: When combining the flour and other dry ingredients, mix just until combined. Overmixing can cause your cookies to become dense.
- Get creative: Don’t be afraid to swap out the mix-ins. You can add chopped nuts, dried cranberries, or even mini marshmallows for a twist on this fun recipe.
- Storage: Store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days, or freeze them for longer storage.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 160 kcal
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: Christmas cookie recipes, Festive holiday cookies, Sweet and salty cookies, Holiday dessert ideas