The holiday season is perfect for baking, and what’s better than a cookie that has it all? Dive into the magic of festive baking with our ultimate Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies recipe. These uniquely sweet and salty treats are incredibly easy to make, packed with joyous red and green surprises, and guaranteed to be a hit at any holiday gathering. Get ready to bake some serious cheer!
Why You’ll Love These Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies
You’ll quickly fall in love with these festive treats for so many reasons. Their unique blend of flavors and simple preparation make them a holiday favorite.
- Sweet & Salty Perfection: Enjoy a delightful contrast of sweet chocolate and salty pretzels and chips in every bite.
- Family Fun: This simple kitchen sink cookies recipe is wonderful for baking with kids, letting everyone add their favorite mix-ins.
- Quick & Easy: No-chill dough means you can whip up a batch of these festive cookies without waiting around.
- Impressive Appearance: Loaded with colorful candies and sprinkles, they look beautiful on any holiday dessert platter.
Ingredients
Gather these simple ingredients to make the best Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies recipe:
- 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&Ms
- 1/3 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup pretzel pieces
- 1/3 cup potato chip pieces
- 2 tbsp red and green jimmies
Notes & Substitutions
- Butter: Use salted butter, softened to room temperature for the best creamed texture.
- Sugars: Brown sugar adds chewiness and moisture, while granulated sugar contributes to crisp edges.
- Egg Yolks: Using only yolks adds richness and tenderness without thinning the dough too much.
- Vanilla: Vanilla bean paste provides a stronger, more complex vanilla flavor than extract.
- Flour: Measure accurately by spooning flour into the cup and leveling it off, or use a kitchen scale for precision. For consistent baking results, weighing flour with a kitchen scale is often recommended as the most accurate method.
- Leavening: Baking powder creates lift, while baking soda helps with browning and spread.
- Salt: A crucial ingredient that balances the sweetness and enhances all the mixed-in flavors.
- Mix-ins: The classic combination includes red and green M&Ms, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, potato chip pieces, and festive sprinkles.
- Other Mix-in Ideas: Feel free to swap or add other seasonal treats like toffee bits, dried cranberries, chopped pecans, or different chocolate varieties.
Equipment
You won’t need much specialized equipment for this amazing Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies recipe. Gather these essentials:
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper
- Electric mixer (stand or hand mixer)
- Large mixing bowls
- Rubber spatula
- Cookie scoop (optional, for uniform cookies)
- Wire cooling rack
- Large round cookie cutter (optional, for shaping)
Instructions
Follow these steps for a perfect batch of Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies. This recipe is designed to be simple and enjoyable for bakers of all levels.
- Prepare the Oven and Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking, then set them aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened, salted butter with both light brown sugar and granulated white sugar. Use an electric mixer to cream these ingredients together for about two minutes, until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and pale. The creaming method is a fundamental baking technique that incorporates air into the butter and sugar mixture, creating a light and airy texture in your cookies.
- Incorporate Wet Ingredients: Add the two room-temperature egg yolks and vanilla bean paste (or extract) to the creamed mixture. Continue to mix on medium speed for another two minutes, until the mixture is visibly pale and airy.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gently add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until the dry ingredients are just combined with no streaks of flour remaining. Be careful not to overmix the dough.
- Fold in Mix-ins: Now, add the red and green M&Ms, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, potato chip pieces, and festive red and green jimmies to the dough. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold these mix-ins into the dough until they are evenly distributed throughout.
- Scoop and Space: Scoop the cookie dough into approximately 20 uniform balls. Arrange them about two inches apart on your prepared baking sheets, allowing space for them to spread.
- Optional Topping: For that extra visual appeal, press a few additional M&Ms, pretzel pieces, or chocolate chips onto the top of each scooped cookie dough ball before baking. This makes your cookies look just like the pictures!
- Bake the Cookies: Place the baking sheets in the preheated oven. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Bake for 10 minutes if you prefer a chewier center, or 12 minutes for cookies with slightly crisper edges.
- Optional “Cookie Scooting”: Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, use a large circular cookie cutter (slightly larger than your cookies) to gently swirl around each warm cookie. This helps to push any spread-out edges back into a perfect round shape.
- Cool Completely: Let the baked cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes. This allows them to firm up slightly. Then, carefully transfer them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely for at least 10 more minutes before serving.
Pro Tips & Troubleshooting
Achieving the perfect batch of these unique Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies recipe is easy with a few simple tricks.
Pro Tips for Perfect Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies
- Accurate Flour Measurement: Always spoon and level your flour, or better yet, weigh it for consistent results.
- Proper Creaming: Don’t rush creaming butter, sugars, and yolks. This step incorporates air for light, fluffy cookies.
- Don’t Overmix: Once flour is added, mix until just combined. Overmixing develops gluten, leading to tough cookies.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure butter and egg yolks are at room temperature for smooth, emulsified dough.
- Cookie Scoot: Use a cookie cutter right out of the oven to gently reshape slightly imperfect cookies into perfect rounds.
- Extra Toppings: Press a few extra mix-ins on top of each dough ball before baking for a more visually appealing cookie.
Common Mistakes & Troubleshooting
- Flat Cookies: Ensure your butter wasn’t too warm, you didn’t overmix the dough, and your leavening agents are fresh.
- Hard/Dry Cookies: Overbaking is a common culprit. Also, too much flour can lead to a dry texture.
- Spreading Too Much: This can happen if your oven temperature is too low, the butter was too soft, or the dough needs a quick chill.
- Mix-ins Sinking: If your dough is too wet, mix-ins can sink. Ensure proper flour measurement and don’t add too many heavy additions.
Serving, Storage & Variations
These delightful Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies recipe are incredibly versatile, perfect for many occasions beyond just the holidays!
Serving Suggestions
Serve these festive cookies with a tall glass of cold milk, a warm cup of coffee, or a cozy mug of hot cocoa. They are ideal for holiday parties, cookie exchanges, or as a thoughtful edible gift for friends and neighbors.
Storage Instructions
Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. To freeze baked cookies, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet until frozen solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag for up to 2-3 months. You can also freeze unbaked cookie dough balls by freezing them solid on a sheet, then storing them in a freezer bag. Bake from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time.
Variations for Any Occasion
- Holiday Specific: Adapt this concept for other holidays! For Halloween, use candy corn, pretzels, and candy eyes. For Easter, try pastel M&Ms and spring-themed sprinkles. For Valentine’s Day, use pink and red candies.
- Non-Holiday: For an everyday treat, swap red and green M&Ms for classic chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, or dark chocolate chunks. Add chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans, or dried fruit like raisins or cranberries.
- Gourmet Twist: Finish your warm cookies with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt to further enhance the sweet and salty contrast.
Nutrition Information
Please note that nutritional information for homemade recipes can vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods. This table provides an approximate estimate for one cookie from this Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies recipe.
| Nutrient | Amount (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 220 |
| Total Fat | 12g |
| Saturated Fat | 7g |
| Cholesterol | 35mg |
| Sodium | 150mg |
| Total Carbs | 25g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1g |
| Total Sugars | 18g |
| Protein | 3g |
FAQ
You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! Here are some common inquiries about this delightful Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies recipe.
- What defines a “Kitchen Sink” cookie? A “kitchen sink” cookie, like this festive version, features a delightful mix of various sweet and salty ingredients, hence the name – everything but the kitchen sink!
- Can I customize the mix-ins? Absolutely! Feel free to experiment with your favorite candies, chocolates, nuts, and crunchy snacks.
- Do these cookies require chilling? No, one of the best parts of this recipe is that the dough doesn’t need to be chilled, saving you valuable time.
- How can I prevent my cookies from spreading too much? Ensure your butter isn’t too soft, measure flour accurately, and make sure your oven temperature is correct.
- Can I make the dough ahead of time? Yes, you can prepare the dough and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days, or freeze dough balls for longer storage.
Conclusion
This Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies recipe offers the perfect combination of festive charm, unique sweet and salty flavors, and incredibly easy preparation. They’re a fantastic way to celebrate the holiday season, bringing joy to every bite with their delightful texture and colorful mix-ins. So go ahead, gather your ingredients, and bake a batch of these crowd-pleasing cookies. Share them with loved ones, pack them as gifts, or simply enjoy them with a warm drink. Happy baking, and happy holidays!
