Soft and Chewy Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies – The Ultimate Holiday Treat

If you’re looking for the perfect holiday cookie that combines sweet, salty, crunchy, and chewy flavors, these Soft and Chewy Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies are exactly what you need! Loaded with chocolate chips, colorful Christmas M&M’s, crunchy pretzels, crushed sandwich cookies, and festive sprinkles, these cookies are an irresistible addition to your holiday baking list.

The best part about Christmas kitchen sink cookies is that every bite offers something different. You’ll enjoy rich melted chocolate, buttery cookie dough, salty pretzel pieces, and cheerful red and green candies.

Whether you’re baking for a Christmas cookie exchange, preparing homemade holiday gifts, or enjoying a cozy baking day with family, this easy recipe is sure to become a seasonal favorite.

Why You’ll Love These Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies

Soft and chewy centers: These cookies have golden edges and deliciously tender middles.
Sweet and salty flavors: Chocolate, candies, and pretzels create the perfect balance.
Festive appearance: Red and green M&M’s and Christmas sprinkles make every cookie holiday-ready.
Easy to customize: Swap in your favorite chocolates, cookies, or crunchy mix-ins.
Perfect for gifting: Package these cookies in festive tins for friends, neighbors, and family.

Recipe Details

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Chill Time: 30 minutes
Bake Time: 11–13 minutes per batch
Total Time: Approximately 1 hour 5 minutes, including cooling
Servings: 24 cookies
Difficulty: Easy
Oven Temperature: 350°F (175°C)

Ingredients for Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies

1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup (150 g) packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 3/4 cups (345 g) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt

For the Festive Mix-Ins

3/4 cup (130 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup (150 g) red and green M&M’s
1/2 cup (45 g) roughly crushed pretzels
1/2 cup (55 g) chopped chocolate sandwich cookies
1/3 cup (60 g) white chocolate chips
2 tablespoons red and green Christmas sprinkles

Optional: Add a small handful of crushed peppermint candies for a festive minty flavor.

How to Make Soft and Chewy Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies

Follow these simple steps to create bakery-style Christmas cookies packed with delicious holiday treats.

Step 1: Prepare the Baking Sheets

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

Set them aside while preparing the cookie dough.

Using parchment paper helps prevent sticking and encourages even baking.

Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars

In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened unsalted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar.

Using an electric mixer, beat for approximately 2–3 minutes until light and fluffy.

Creaming the butter and sugars incorporates air into the dough, helping create a tender cookie texture.

Step 3: Add the Eggs and Vanilla

Add the eggs one at a time, mixing briefly after each addition.

Pour in the vanilla extract and mix until fully combined.

Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula to ensure everything is evenly incorporated.

Step 4: Mix the Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture.

Mix on low speed just until a soft cookie dough forms.

Avoid overmixing, which can make the cookies tough.

Step 5: Fold in the Christmas Mix-Ins

Using a spatula, gently fold in the chocolate chips, Christmas M&M’s, crushed pretzels, chopped sandwich cookies, and white chocolate chips.

Add the festive sprinkles and stir just enough to distribute them evenly.

Reserve a few colorful candies and chocolate chips to press onto the tops before baking.

Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Chilling helps the dough firm up and reduces excessive spreading during baking.

For thicker cookies, refrigerate the dough for up to 2 hours.

If the dough becomes very firm, let it rest briefly at room temperature before scooping.

Step 7: Scoop and Shape

Using a medium cookie scoop, portion the dough into approximately 2-tablespoon balls.

Arrange the dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie.

Press a few extra M&M’s, chocolate chips, and pretzel pieces onto the tops for a beautiful bakery-style appearance.

Step 8: Bake Until Golden

Bake for 11–13 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the centers look just set.

The centers may appear slightly soft when removed from the oven, but they will continue to firm up as the cookies cool.

Avoid overbaking if you want soft and chewy cookies.

Step 9: Cool and Serve

Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for approximately 5 minutes.

Transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Serve with a glass of milk, hot chocolate, or your favorite holiday drink.

Enjoy!

Expert Tips for Perfect Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies

Use Room-Temperature Butter

Softened butter blends smoothly with the sugars, creating a light and tender cookie dough.

The butter should be soft enough to indent with your finger but not melted.

Measure Flour Correctly

Too much flour can make cookies dry or dense.

For accurate results, use a kitchen scale. If measuring with cups, spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level it off.

Don’t Skip Chilling

Chilling the dough helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much and improves their texture.

Avoid Overbaking

Remove the cookies when the edges are golden and the centers are just set.

They will continue cooking slightly on the hot baking sheet.

Balance Sweet and Salty Ingredients

Pretzels provide a delicious salty contrast to the chocolate and candy pieces.

For extra flavor, sprinkle a tiny pinch of flaky sea salt over the cookies after baking.

Peppermint Chocolate Cookies: Replace the sandwich cookies with crushed peppermint candies and use dark chocolate chips.

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies: Substitute the M&M’s with dried cranberries and add extra white chocolate chips.

Peanut Butter Christmas Cookies: Replace some of the chocolate chips with peanut butter chips for a rich, nutty variation.

Caramel Pretzel Cookies: Add chopped soft caramel candies for gooey caramel pockets. Allow the cookies to cool before handling hot caramel.

Double Chocolate Kitchen Sink Cookies: Replace 1/4 cup of the flour with unsweetened cocoa powder for a chocolate cookie base.

How to Store Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies

At Room Temperature

Store completely cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4–5 days.

Keep them away from direct sunlight and heat to preserve their texture.

In the Freezer

Place baked, cooled cookies in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper between layers.

Freeze for up to 3 months.

Thaw at room temperature before serving.

Scoop the dough into individual balls and freeze them on a baking sheet until firm.

Transfer the frozen dough balls to a freezer-safe bag.

Bake directly from frozen at 350°F (175°C), adding approximately 2–3 minutes to the baking time as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Christmas kitchen sink cookies?

Christmas kitchen sink cookies are festive cookies filled with a variety of sweet and salty ingredients, such as chocolate chips, M&M’s, pretzels, cookie pieces, and sprinkles.

The name comes from the idea of adding a little bit of everything to the cookie dough.

Why are my kitchen sink cookies spreading too much?

Cookies may spread excessively if the butter is too warm, the dough isn’t chilled, or the baking sheet is hot.

Chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes helps maintain a thicker cookie shape.

Can I make these cookies without pretzels?

Absolutely! You can replace pretzels with chopped nuts, extra chocolate chips, or additional cookie pieces.

Can I prepare the dough ahead of time?

Yes. Store the covered cookie dough in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours before baking.

Allow it to soften slightly if it becomes too firm to scoop.

Can I use different candies?

Yes! Red and green M&M’s are perfect for Christmas, but you can use chopped chocolate bars, candy-coated chocolates, or other favorite baking mix-ins.

How do I keep Christmas cookies soft?

Avoid overbaking and store the cooled cookies in an airtight container.

Brown sugar also helps maintain a moist, chewy texture.

Final Thoughts

These Soft and Chewy Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies are everything you could want in a festive holiday treat.

With buttery cookie dough, melted chocolate, crunchy pretzels, colorful candies, and Christmas sprinkles, every bite is packed with delicious flavor and texture.

They’re perfect for Christmas cookie exchanges, holiday dessert platters, homemade gifts, and cozy winter baking days.

Save this recipe for your Christmas baking collection and share it with friends and family who love festive homemade cookies!

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