The Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies are hands-down the ultimate treat for anyone who loves a bit of everything in every bite. Bursting with chocolate, peppermint, nuts, oats, crunchy pretzels, toffee, and festive M&Ms, each cookie delivers a perfect combination of sweet, salty, chewy, and crunchy. These cookies are pure holiday magic—perfect for homemade gifts, parties, or just cozying up with a mug of hot cocoa. They’re the kind of cookies that make your kitchen smell like Christmas itself while letting everyone get playful with their favorite mix-ins. If you want your holiday cookie tray to be legendary, this is truly the recipe to make!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Don’t let the list scare you! Each ingredient in these Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies adds its own flair for flavor, texture, and those cheery pops of color that make holiday cookies so irresistible. It’s all about bringing together pantry favorites and holiday treats.
- Unsalted butter, softened: Creates a rich, tender texture and helps the cookies spread just right.
- Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness and helps give slightly crisp edges.
- Light brown sugar, packed: Contributes moisture and a deep, molasses-y flavor for chewiness.
- Large eggs: Bind everything together and add a welcome richness.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the flavors and adds warmth.
- All-purpose flour: Gives the cookies structure; don’t overmix for best results.
- Baking soda: Promotes just the right cookie spread and rise.
- Baking powder: Adds a little extra lift for thick, soft cookies.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and highlights all the other flavors.
- Ground cinnamon: Subtle warmth that whispers “holidays” in every bite.
- Old-fashioned rolled oats: Chewy texture and hearty flavor—a classic cookie addition.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Melty pockets of chocolate in every bite.
- White chocolate chips: Sweet creaminess and a touch of extra festivity.
- Crushed peppermint candies: Bright minty crunch and a true taste of Christmas.
- Holiday M&Ms: Festive color and classic chocolatey crunch.
- Toffee bits: Buttery, caramel notes that melt into every bite.
- Chopped pretzels: Salty, crunchy goodness to play off all the sweet mix-ins.
- Chopped pecans or walnuts (optional): For nutty flavor and crunch, if you love a little extra texture.
How to Make Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies
Step 1: Prep the Baking Sheets and Oven
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F to make sure it’s good and hot by the time your dough is ready. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper—this prevents sticking and makes cleanup a total breeze.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until the mixture looks light and fluffy. You’ll know it’s ready when it’s pale and the sugars are nicely integrated, which gives your Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies their dreamy, tender crumb.
Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Crack in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition—this helps emulsify the dough for even baking. Pour in the vanilla extract and let the cozy aroma fill your kitchen as you continue mixing.
Step 4: Mix Dry Ingredients Separately
In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. This step ensures those leavening agents and spices are equally distributed before joining the wet ingredients, promising every cookie puffs up beautifully with a hint of spice in every bite.
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures
Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet mixture, blending just until everything is combined. Resist the urge to overmix—gentle folding keeps your cookies tender, not tough.
Step 6: Stir in the Goodies
Now for the best part: toss in the rolled oats, semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, crushed peppermint candies, M&Ms, toffee bits, pretzels, and nuts if you’re using them. Fold everything together so every bite of your Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies is packed with holiday cheer.
Step 7: Scoop and Bake
Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to drop balls of dough onto your prepared baking sheets, leaving 2 inches between each one. For showstopping cookies, press a few extra M&Ms or some more crushed peppermint right on top of each mound before baking. Slide the trays into your oven and bake for 10–12 minutes—just until the edges are golden but the centers are still soft. Leave the cookies on the sheets for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack to finish cooling.
How to Serve Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies
Garnishes
For extra festive flair, sprinkle a little crushed peppermint or a few colorful M&Ms over the cookies while they’re still warm. A gentle drizzle of melted white chocolate can instantly dress up your platter and add a touch of elegance—or just keep things playful with holiday sprinkles for a fun family vibe.
Side Dishes
The Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies pair magically with a mug of piping hot cocoa, spiced chai, or classic holiday coffee drinks. Need something extra? Serve alongside a scoop of vanilla or peppermint ice cream for an indulgent winter dessert.
Creative Ways to Present
Turn these cookies into easy edible gifts by packaging them in clear bags tied with a pretty ribbon or arranging them in a holiday tin. For parties, stack them on a tiered stand, or layer between sheets of wax paper in a big, bright cookie jar so guests can help themselves. They also make adorable additions to cookie exchange trays or even nestled into festive mugs for holiday gift baskets.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
To keep your Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies tasting bakery-fresh, store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay soft and delicious for up to five days—though they rarely last that long because they’re just too tempting!
Freezing
If you want to get ahead for the holidays, you can freeze either the baked cookies or the unbaked dough balls. Freeze the cooled cookies separated by layers of parchment in a freezer container for up to three months. For fresh-baked on demand, freeze dough balls on a baking sheet, then transfer to a zip-top bag; bake straight from frozen, just adding an extra minute or two to the baking time.
Reheating
To enjoy that just-baked warmth, pop a cookie in the microwave for about 10 seconds or give them a few minutes in a 300°F oven. This brings out the gooey chocolate and makes the aromas come alive again—like fresh-baked magic on a busy day.
FAQs
Can I substitute in gluten-free flour?
Absolutely! Use your favorite gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, ideally one with xanthan gum for structure. The results are still chewy, festive, and delightfully loaded with mix-ins.
Can I leave out the nuts for allergies?
Yes, skip the pecans or walnuts—these cookies have plenty of flavor and crunch from pretzels, toffee, and all those chocolates. You can even double up on oats or add extra mix-ins like coconut or dried cranberries if you like.
Do I have to use all the mix-ins listed?
Not at all! The beauty of Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies is their flexibility. Feel free to customize with whatever treats your family loves—mini marshmallows, butterscotch chips, or even chopped dried fruit can work marvelously.
Why are my cookies spreading too much?
If your dough was too warm or your butter overly soft, cookies can spread more than you’d like. Chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking or adding a tablespoon more flour can help control spreading in your next batch.
Can I double the recipe for a cookie exchange?
Go right ahead! This recipe doubles easily—just use a very large bowl for mixing and bake in batches. It’s ideal for parties, gifting, and filling big cookie platters with the star of the show: Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to bring maximum joy, color, and flavor to your holiday celebrations, you absolutely have to try these Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies. Whether you stick to the classic mix-ins or put your own spin on things, you’ll end up with cookies that look stunning and taste even better. Happy baking!
