If you love a cookie that surprises you with every bite, then this Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe is an absolute must-try. Packed with a delightful mix of sweet, salty, crunchy, and chewy ingredients, these cookies are a celebration of flavors and textures all rolled into one irresistible treat. Picture chocolate chips, white chocolate, pretzels, potato chips, colorful M&Ms, and festive sprinkles coming together to create a cookie that’s truly more than the sum of its parts. Whether you’re baking for a holiday party, a family gathering, or just because, this recipe will quickly become your new favorite go-to dessert.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe lies in its simple yet thoughtfully chosen ingredients. Each one plays a crucial role, balancing sweetness and saltiness along with delightful textural contrasts that make every bite exciting.
- Unsalted butter: Using softened butter ensures a tender, chewy cookie base with perfect richness.
- Brown sugar: Adds deep caramel notes and helps keep the cookies moist and soft.
- Granulated sugar: Provides a touch of sweetness and contributes to the cookie’s crisp edges.
- Eggs: Bind everything together and add structure while keeping the cookies tender.
- Vanilla extract: Infuses warmth and enhances all the other flavors in the dough.
- All-purpose flour: The foundation that gives cookies their structure and chew.
- Baking soda and baking powder: Work together to create a light, fluffy texture with a slight rise.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and intensifies the other flavors.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Classic chocolate chunks for rich, melty pockets of goodness.
- White chocolate chips: Add creamy sweetness and contrast the darker chips beautifully.
- Crushed pretzels: Provide a salty crunch that brightens the cookie’s profile.
- Crushed potato chips: Surprise ingredient for extra salty crispiness and an addictive texture.
- Red and green M&Ms: Bring colorful bursts of candy sweetness perfect for holiday cheer.
- Festive holiday sprinkles: Add a whimsical, colorful touch that makes these cookies irresistible.
How to Make Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Oven and Pans
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper, which helps your cookies bake evenly and prevent sticking. This simple prep step sets the stage for perfectly baked cookies.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars
In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light and creamy—about 2 to 3 minutes. This whipping step is crucial for fluffy cookies with a lovely texture. Next, add the eggs one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract to infuse the dough with a warm, inviting aroma.
Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. This ensures the leaveners and salt are evenly distributed throughout the flour, guaranteeing your cookies rise perfectly. Gradually add these dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing just until the dough comes together—overmixing can lead to tough cookies.
Step 4: Fold in the “Kitchen Sink” Mix-Ins
Now for the best part: gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, crushed pretzels, crushed potato chips, red and green M&Ms, and the festive holiday sprinkles. Each addition adds its own unique flavor and texture, transforming these cookies into truly festive, crowd-pleasing treats. Be careful not to overmix—just enough to combine everything evenly.
Step 5: Portion and Bake
Using a cookie scoop or a spoon, drop rounded tablespoon-sized portions of dough onto your prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart so they have room to spread. Bake in your preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges turn a lovely golden brown and the centers are just set. It’s okay if the centers seem slightly soft—this will ensure your cookies stay chewy.
Step 6: Cool and Enjoy
Once baked, let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes; this brief resting lets them set up enough to move without breaking. Then transfer your cookies to wire racks to cool completely. The cooling step is important for achieving the perfect chewy but firm texture.
How to Serve Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
While these delicious cookies are show-stopping all on their own, feel free to add a light dusting of powdered sugar for a hint of elegance or a drizzle of melted white or dark chocolate to make them even more special. You can also stick a small candy cane or peppermint stick into a few for an extra festive touch that your guests will love.
Side Dishes
Serve your Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe with a tall glass of cold milk, a warm mug of hot chocolate, or a steaming cup of coffee to perfectly complement their sweet and salty crunch. For a holiday gathering, pairing these cookies with vanilla or peppermint ice cream elevates their charm and creates an unforgettable dessert experience.
Creative Ways to Present
Present these cookies on a rustic wooden board piled high for a cozy feel, or arrange them on a colorful holiday-themed platter for a festive display. Wrapping a few in cellophane tied with ribbon makes for an adorable and thoughtful homemade gift. To impress even more, place individual cookies atop cupcake liners and sprinkle a few extra festive sprinkles for a personal touch.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
After baking, store your leftover Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay fresh and chewy for up to four days. Layering the cookies with parchment paper prevents them from sticking together and keeps their delightful texture intact.
Freezing
You can freeze these cookies for longer storage without sacrificing flavor or texture. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze individually, then transfer to a freezer-safe zip-top bag or container. They’ll stay delicious for up to three months and make a perfect anytime treat.
Reheating
For that freshly baked warm cookie feeling, simply warm your cookies in the oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 5 to 7 minutes, or microwave them for 10-15 seconds. This revives their softness and brings back the gooey texture of the chocolate chips, making it hard to resist having just one more bite.
FAQs
Can I customize the mix-ins in the Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe?
Absolutely! The beauty of this recipe is its flexibility. Feel free to swap out or add any of your favorite candies, nuts, or salty snacks to make it uniquely yours.
Why do the cookies include both baking soda and baking powder?
Using both helps to balance the rise and texture; baking soda promotes browning and spread, while baking powder gives a gentle lift to create a soft but structured cookie.
Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted butter?
Yes, but reduce the added salt slightly to compensate since salted butter already contains salt. This will help balance the flavors properly.
What’s the best way to crush pretzels and potato chips for the recipe?
Place them in a sealed plastic bag and gently crush with a rolling pin or use your hands to break them into small pieces. Avoid pulverizing so you still get nice texture in the cookies.
Are Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe suitable for freezing raw dough?
Yes! You can scoop and freeze raw dough balls on a baking sheet, then transfer to a bag and bake straight from frozen, adding a minute or two to the baking time.
Final Thoughts
These Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe are a joyful blend of flavors and textures that make every bite feel like a little celebration. Perfect for sharing or savoring solo, this recipe invites you to get creative and savor the magic of combining unexpected ingredients into one spectacular cookie. I can’t wait for you to make these and enjoy the sweet, salty, crunchy delight that truly lives up to its name!
Print
Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 12 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Kitchen Sink Cookies are a delightful and colorful treat packed with a variety of sweet and salty ingredients. Combining semi-sweet and white chocolate chips with crunchy pretzels, potato chips, festive M&Ms, and holiday sprinkles, these cookies offer a perfect balance of flavors and textures. Baked to golden perfection, they are ideal for holiday celebrations or any time you want a fun, crowd-pleasing cookie.
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200 g) brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Add-ins
- 1 cup (170 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup (85 g) white chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup crushed pretzels
- 1/2 cup crushed potato chips
- 1/2 cup red and green M&Ms
- 1/4 cup festive holiday sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened unsalted butter, packed brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light and creamy, about 2-3 minutes. This step is crucial for a tender cookie texture.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs one at a time to the creamed butter and sugar mixture, mixing well after each addition to fully combine. Stir in the vanilla extract to infuse flavor.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. This ensures even distribution of the leavening agents.
- Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing gently until just combined to avoid overworking the dough which can make cookies tough.
- Fold in Add-ins: Carefully fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, crushed pretzels, crushed potato chips, red and green M&Ms, and festive holiday sprinkles. Mix just enough to distribute them evenly.
- Portion Dough: Use a cookie scoop or spoon to drop tablespoon-sized portions of dough onto the prepared baking sheets. Space the dough balls about 2 inches apart to allow room for spreading.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers appear set but still soft.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes to firm up. Then transfer them to wire racks to cool completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- You can substitute pretzels and potato chips with any crunchy snack of your choice for different flavor profiles.
- Make sure the butter is softened but not melted for the best creaming results.
- For chewier cookies, slightly underbake by a minute and let them set on the baking sheet after removing from the oven.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Feel free to omit holiday sprinkles if making this recipe year-round.
