Easy Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies: The “Everything” Holiday Treat

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Introduction

Did you know that the term “Kitchen Sink Cookie” comes from the idiom “everything but the kitchen sink”? In the chaos of holiday baking, you often end up with half-empty bags of pretzels, a handful of chocolate chips, and stray sprinkles.

This recipe for Easy Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies is the delicious solution to that pantry clutter. It is the ultimate sweet-and-salty masterpiece: a chewy, buttery cookie base loaded with crunchy pretzels, potato chips, festive M&Ms, and chocolate.¹ It hits every texture—crispy, chewy, soft, and crunchy—in a single bite. If you can’t decide between making salty snacks or sweet treats for Santa, make these.

Ingredients List

The beauty of this recipe is its versatility, but the ratio of dough to mix-ins is scientific. You need enough dough to hold the “junk” together.

The Cookie Base:

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• 1 Cup (2 sticks) Unsalted Butter: Softened to room temperature.
• 1 Cup Brown Sugar: Packed. (Essential for chewiness and moisture).
• ½ Cup Granulated Sugar: (For crispy edges).
• 1 Large Egg + 1 Egg Yolk:
  • The Hack: The extra yolk adds richness and keeps the cookie soft days later.²
• 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract.
• 2 ¼ Cups All-Purpose Flour.
• 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda.
• ½ Teaspoon Sea Salt: (Use flakey salt if you have it).

The “Sink” Mix-Ins (2–3 Cups Total):

• ½ Cup Pretzels: Roughly chopped (not pulverized dust).
• ½ Cup Potato Chips: Ruffled chips work best. Crush them lightly by hand.
  • Why? The oil and salt from the chips cut through the sugar for a addictive flavor profile.
• ½ Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips.
• ½ Cup White Chocolate Chips.
• ½ Cup Holiday M&Ms: (Red and Green).
• Optional: Toffee bits, dried cranberries, or chopped pecans.

Timing

These cookies benefit greatly from a short chill.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes.
• Chilling Time: 30 minutes.
• Baking Time: 10–12 minutes.
• Total Time: Approx. 1 hour.

Data Insight: Including salty elements like pretzels and potato chips increases the salivary response, making the sweetness of the chocolate taste more intense. This contrast is known as “flavor layering.”

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Cream the Butter

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

• Beat: In a stand mixer, beat the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar for 3–4 minutes until pale and fluffy.
• Combine: Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Beat until combined.

Step 2: The Dough

• Whisk: In a separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt.
• Mix: Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Mix on low speed just until streaks of flour disappear. Do not overmix.

Step 3: The Fold (Gentle!)

• Dump: Pour in your pretzels, potato chips, chocolate chips, and M&Ms.
• Fold: Use a sturdy spatula to fold them in by hand.
  • Technique: If you use the electric mixer, you will crush the pretzels and chips into sand. You want distinct chunks, so do this manually.

Step 4: Scoop and Chill

• Scoop: Use a large cookie scoop (approx. 3 tablespoons) to form balls.
• Chill: Place dough balls on a plate and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  • Why? This solidifies the butter so the cookies bake up thick and tall rather than spreading into flat puddles.

Step 5: Bake

• Arrange: Place chilled dough balls 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.³
• Top (Optional): Press a few extra pretzel pieces or M&Ms onto the tops of the balls for a “bakery look.”
• Bake: Bake for 10–12 minutes.
• Visual Cue: The edges should be golden brown, but the centers will look slightly underbaked.
• Cool: Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes (they will firm up), then move to a wire rack.

Nutritional Information

A heavy hitter in the calorie department. Estimated breakdown per cookie (makes 18 large cookies):

Nutrient	Amount	% Daily Value
Calories	240 kcal	–
Total Fat	12g	18%
Saturated Fat	7g	35%
Carbohydrates	32g	11%
Sugars	20g	–
Sodium	Moderate	–

Healthier Alternatives for the Recipe

Customize your Kitchen Sink Cookies for wellness goals:

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• Whole Grain:
  • Swap half the flour for Oat Flour or Rolled Oats. This adds fiber and a nice nutty texture.
• Dark Chocolate:
  • Use 70% Dark Chocolate chunks and swap the candy M&Ms for dried tart cherries.
• Nut-Based:
  • Replace the potato chips with roasted salted almonds or walnuts to keep the crunch but add healthy fats.

Serving Suggestions

• Santa’s Plate: These are sturdy enough to survive a trip down the chimney.
• The Dip: Serve with a glass of cold milk or Hot Cocoa.⁴
• The Gift: Stack 4 cookies in a cellophane bag tied with red ribbon. They look impressive because of the visible mix-ins.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Keep the crunch alive.

1. Crushing the Mix-ins:
   • The Error: Using the mixer to combine the pretzels/chips.
   • The Result: Cookie dust instead of crunchy chunks.
   • The Fix: Fold by hand.
2. Warm Dough:
   • The Error: Baking immediately after mixing.
   • The Result: Flat, greasy cookies.
   • The Fix: Chill the dough to control the spread.
3. Stale Ingredients:
   • The Error: Using stale chips or pretzels.
   • The Result: Chewy, cardboard-like texture.
   • The Fix: Use fresh snacks for the best crunch.

Storing Tips for the Recipe

• Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for 3–4 days.
  • Note: The pretzels/chips will start to lose their crispness after day 2, softening slightly (but still delicious).
• Freezing Dough: Flash freeze dough balls, then store in a ziplock bag for up to 3 months.⁵ Bake from frozen (add 2 minutes to time).

Conclusion

Easy Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies are the definition of “more is more.” They are fun, chaotic, and incredibly satisfying. Whether you are clearing out your pantry or intentionally buying snacks to crush up, these cookies offer a sweet and salty adventure in every bite.

Summary: A thick, chewy cookie base loaded with chocolate chips, holiday M&Ms, crushed pretzels, and potato chips.⁶

Ready to clean out the pantry?

Grab that bag of chips! Rate this recipe 5 stars if you loved the salty crunch, and leave a comment below: what weird ingredient did you throw in? Subscribe for more holiday baking fun!