Thick Christmas Cookies always bring a special kind of joy, but these Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies take holiday baking to a whole new level. They’re sweet, salty, crunchy, colorful, and loaded with all your favorite mix-ins. Think of them as the cookie version of emptying your pantry—but somehow making pure magic.
The holiday season comes with peppermint bark, fudge, gingerbread, and all the classics, but these cookies? These are the delightfully chaotic ones that always stand out on the dessert table. Packed with pretzels, potato chips, white chocolate, sprinkles, and Christmas M&M’s, they give “festive” a whole new meaning.
And honestly? They’re ridiculously easy. No chill time. No complicated steps. Just mix, scoop, bake, and enjoy. It’s the perfect Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe for busy bakers, parents, kids, and anyone who wants a fast holiday treat without sacrificing flavor.
If you’re into the idea of sweet–salty bliss, cheerful pops of color, and that bakery-style thick chew, these cookies are definitely calling your name.
The charm of these cookies comes from their playful origin. Kitchen Sink Cookies are known for being the “use whatever you’ve got” type of recipe. Now imagine that—but make it Christmas. This festive version tastes like a cross between a buttery sugar cookie and a holiday dessert board.
And that’s exactly why these cookies show up on so many gifting trays, cookie swaps, and Santa-plate traditions. They’re fun, they’re loud, and they somehow bring all your favorite flavors together in one bite.
These cookies truly embody the spirit of Everything Christmas Cookies and bring that nostalgic, cozy feeling we all crave during December.
If you’re wondering what makes these cookies irresistible, here’s the breakdown:
- They’re the perfect sweet & salty combo, thanks to pretzels + potato chips.
- The mix-ins make every bite unpredictable—crunch here, chocolate there.
- They’re very kid-friendly to make.
- They take just 30 minutes start to finish.
- You can customize them endlessly, just like classic Holiday Monster Cookies Recipe.
- They’re festive without requiring food coloring or fancy decorating.
This cookie recipe checks all the boxes: fast, fun, festive, and completely delicious.
Ingredients Needed
Each ingredient brings something special:
- Butter + sugars: create the bakery-style chewy texture
- Egg yolks: give richness and softness
- Flour + leavening: for structure
- Red & green M&M’s: the ❤️ of Christmas cookies
- White chocolate chips: creamy sweetness
- Pretzel pieces: salty crunch
- Potato chips: trust the process—they’re incredible
- Sprinkles: because Christmas requires sprinkles
Together, these create the ultimate Christmas Cookies Pretzel and sweet-salty flavor profile.
How to Make
Ready to bake? Let’s go:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prep two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars together until light and fluffy—about 2 minutes.
(Bold tip: Properly soft butter is essential!) - Add egg yolks and vanilla, then keep mixing until smooth, pale, and creamy.
- Add the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix until just combined.
- Fold in the M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzels, potato chips, and sprinkles.
Be gentle! You don’t want to crush the mix-ins too much. - Scoop the dough into 20 balls and arrange on the baking sheets.
- Optional (but recommended): Press extra mix-ins on top to make them look bakery-style.
- Bake 10–12 minutes depending on desired softness.
- Optional: Use a round cookie cutter to “scoot” cookies into perfectly round shapes.
- Cool on the sheet 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Boom. Done. This is basically the easiest Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies Recipe you’ll ever make.
Pro Tips
- Use melted chocolate chips? Nope. Keep them firm for the best mix-in definition.
- Add extra toppings on top for bakery-style presentation.
- Underbake slightly for the thick, soft center.
- Shape with a round cookie cutter while warm to make them perfect circles.
- Use potato chips with ridges for extra crunch.
These tips help recreate the thick, chewy texture of bakery cookies while keeping that classic “kitchen sink chaos” mood.
Variations to Try
One of the biggest perks of these cookies is their flexibility. Try:
- Toffee bits
- Dark chocolate chunks
- Crushed peppermint
- Dried cranberries
- Holiday Oreos
- Butterscotch chips
- Shredded coconut
- Peanuts or pecans
You can easily turn these into Easy Christmas Monster Cookies, Everything But The Kitchen Sink Cookies Christmas, or any fun holiday variation you love.
Best Way to Serve
These cookies shine when:
- Paired with hot chocolate
- Added to a Christmas cookie platter
- Packed into holiday gift tins
- Served warm with vanilla ice cream
- Left out for Santa (he will approve)
They look beautiful, smell amazing, and taste even better.
Storage
- Store in an airtight container: up to 3 days
- Freeze baked cookies: up to 3 months
- Freeze dough balls: bake later with +1–2 minutes bake time
They freeze exceptionally well, making them perfect Christmas Sink Cookies for prepping ahead of holiday gatherings.
FAQs
Can I make these bigger, bakery-style cookies?
Absolutely! Scoop larger balls and bake 2–3 minutes longer.
Can I add nuts?
Yes! Pecans, walnuts, or chopped almonds take these into Holiday Monster Cookies Recipe territory.
Will the potato chips get soggy?
Nope. They soften slightly but keep enough crunch to balance the cookie.
Can I make these gluten-free?
Use your favorite 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and ensure your mix-ins are GF-friendly.
Print
Best Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies (Sweet & Salty Holiday Favorite!)
- Total Time: 25-30 Minutes
- Yield: 20 Cookies 1x
Description
Thick Christmas Cookies always bring a special kind of joy, but these Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies take holiday baking to a whole new level. They’re sweet, salty, crunchy, colorful, and loaded with all your favorite mix-ins. Think of them as the cookie version of emptying your pantry—but somehow making pure magic.
Ingredients
-
3/4 cup salted butter, softened
-
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
-
1/4 cup granulated sugar
-
2 egg yolks, 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 & green M&M’s
-
1/3 cup white chocolate chips
-
1/3 cup pretzel pieces
-
1/3 cup potato chip pieces
-
2 tbsp red & green jimmies (sprinkles)
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
-
In a large mixing bowl, cream softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar for 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
-
Add egg yolks and vanilla; mix for another 2 minutes until pale and creamy.
-
Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix until just combined.
-
Fold in M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, potato chips, and sprinkles.
-
Scoop into 20 dough balls and place 2 inches apart on baking sheets.
-
Optional: Press extra M&M’s, chips, or pretzels on top for a bakery-style look.
-
Bake for 10–12 minutes (10 for softer centers, 12 for crispier edges).
-
Optional: Immediately after baking, use a round cookie cutter to “scoot” each cookie into a perfect circle.
-
Cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack for 10 minutes.
-
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Notes
Vanilla bean paste adds richer flavor, but extract works too.
Use regular salted butter; if using unsalted, add an extra pinch of salt.
Don’t crush the mix-ins too finely—texture is key!
Jimmies hold their shape better than nonpareils.
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 Minutes
- Category: Desserts
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Cookie
- Calories: 178
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 135mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
