If you’re looking for a festive treat that truly delivers on flavor, texture, and holiday cheer, then you have to try the Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies Recipe. These cookies are the ultimate celebration of everything delicious rolled into one festive bite. Packed with an irresistible combination of chocolate chips, pretzels, nuts, dried fruit, coconut, and sprinkles, this cookie hits every craving and brings a wonderful crunch and chew with every mouthful. It’s like the entire kitchen comes together in one cookie, making it perfect for gifting, sharing, or just indulging when the holiday spirit calls.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Every ingredient in this recipe plays a vital role in creating those perfect textures and layers of flavor that make these cookies unforgettable. From the rich, creamy butter to the sprinkle of salt balancing the sweetness, each component is simple but essential.
- Unsalted butter (1 cup, softened): The creamy base that adds richness and tenderness to your cookies.
- Granulated sugar (1 cup): Provides sweetness and helps create that perfect cookie structure.
- Brown sugar (1 cup, packed): Adds moisture and a lovely caramel-like flavor for depth.
- Large eggs (2): Give the dough structure and help everything bind together.
- Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon): Enhances all the flavors with a warm, sweet aroma.
- All-purpose flour (2 1/2 cups): The main building block for the dough’s shape and chew.
- Baking soda (1 teaspoon): A rising agent for lightness and slight spread.
- Baking powder (1/2 teaspoon): Adds a bit more lift for a soft bite.
- Salt (1/2 teaspoon): Balances sweetness and enhances flavors.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips (1 cup): Brings that classic chocolatey goodness in every bite.
- White chocolate chips (1 cup): Adds creamy sweetness and contrast.
- Crushed pretzels (1 cup): For an unexpected salty crunch that makes this cookie stand out.
- Chopped pecans or walnuts (1/2 cup, optional): Nutty texture and flavor that rounds out the cookie.
- Dried cranberries or raisins (1/2 cup): A chewy, fruity burst adding a festive touch.
- Shredded coconut (1/2 cup): Offers subtle sweetness and texture complexity.
- Festive sprinkles (1/2 cup, optional): Just the right pop of color and holiday fun.
How to Make Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare
Begin by heating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking and help your cookies come out cleanly. This simple prep ensures your cookies bake evenly and are easy to remove once done.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step is key to getting a tender and perfectly baked cookie crumb. It also helps to incorporate air for lighter texture.
Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Mix in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then add the vanilla extract for that warm, inviting flavor base that ties the cookies together beautifully.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. This ensures that the raising agents and seasoning are well-distributed throughout the flour, which will help the cookies rise evenly and have a balanced taste.
Step 5: Mix Dry Ingredients into Wet
Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the butter mixture, stirring until just combined. Be careful not to overmix—this keeps the cookies tender instead of tough.
Step 6: Stir in the Kitchen Sink Mix-Ins
Now for the exciting part: fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, crushed pretzels, nuts, dried cranberries or raisins, shredded coconut, and festive sprinkles if you’re using them. Each one adds its own unique texture and flavor spark to your cookies.
Step 7: Scoop and Bake
Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to drop dough mounds about 2 inches apart on your prepared baking sheets. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are golden while the centers remain soft and chewy.
How to Serve Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
For a charming holiday touch, sprinkle a few extra festive sprinkles or a light dusting of powdered sugar on top when the cookies have cooled. It adds a beautiful presentation and an extra pop of visual excitement.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair wonderfully with a warm beverage like hot cocoa, spiced apple cider, or a classic glass of cold milk. The creamy drinks perfectly complement the rich, mixed textures of the cookies.
Creative Ways to Present
Arrange your cookies on a holiday-themed platter or stack them inside a clear glass jar tied with a ribbon for a delightful gift presentation. You can also layer them between parchment paper in a decorative tin to keep them fresh and festive.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. This keeps them fresh, soft, and full of flavor without drying out.
Freezing
You can freeze baked cookies for up to three months. Just make sure they are completely cooled, then place them in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Reheating
If you prefer warm cookies, pop one or two in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or warm them briefly in a 300°F oven. This revives that fresh-from-the-oven softness and gooey chocolate goodness.
FAQs
Can I substitute nuts if I have allergies?
Absolutely! You can easily leave nuts out or replace them with extra pretzels or more dried fruit for a nut-free variation without losing texture or flavor.
Is it okay to use salted butter instead of unsalted?
Yes, but reduce or omit the added salt in the recipe to avoid over-seasoning your cookies. The goal is a balanced flavor where salt highlights sweetness.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes, the dough can be refrigerated for up to 48 hours before baking. This actually helps the flavors meld together and can improve the texture.
What causes cookies to spread too much while baking?
Cookies spread excessively if the dough is too warm, the butter is too soft, or if there is too little flour. Chilling the dough before baking helps control spread.
Can I customize the mix-ins?
Definitely! The Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies Recipe is all about fun and creativity, so feel free to swap in your favorite nuts, candies, or dried fruits to make it your own special holiday treat.
Final Thoughts
This Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies Recipe is truly a holiday staple that brings together so many delightful flavors and textures in one joyful bite. Whether you’re baking for family, friends, or a festive gathering, these cookies are sure to spread smiles and sweet memories. I can’t recommend them enough—grab your ingredients and get baking, you’ll love every moment of it!
Print
Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 36 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies are a delightful holiday treat packed with a variety of mix-ins like chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, crushed pretzels, nuts, dried cranberries, coconut, and festive sprinkles. Soft, chewy, and bursting with flavor, they bring a festive twist to classic cookies perfect for sharing throughout the holiday season.
Ingredients
Dough Ingredients
- 1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (220g) brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups (315g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Mix-ins
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 cup crushed pretzels
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup festive sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, ensuring proper incorporation for a tender cookie texture.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time until fully combined, then stir in the vanilla extract to infuse the dough with warm, aromatic flavor.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening agents and salt.
- Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined to avoid overmixing which can result in tough cookies.
- Fold in Mix-ins: Gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, crushed pretzels, chopped nuts (if using), dried cranberries or raisins, shredded coconut, and festive sprinkles (if using) until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Portion Dough: Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop rounded spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading during baking.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden but the centers remain soft for optimal chewiness.
- Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely, allowing them to set properly.
Notes
- You can customize the mix-ins based on what you have on hand; swapping nuts or dried fruit is perfectly fine.
- If you prefer crunchier cookies, bake an extra 1-2 minutes, but be careful not to overbake.
- Chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking can help control spreading and intensify flavors.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend and ensure all mix-ins are gluten-free.
