Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies are the ultimate holiday treat! They're a delicious blend of sweet, salty, and minty flavors that everyone will love. Filled with Smarties, candy canes, pretzels, white chocolate chips and Smarties, they've got everything but the kitchen sink!
A few years ago at Christmas, I decided to switch things up and make these Kitchen Sink Cookies for our family gathering. The result? Very happy kids!
They couldn't get enough of the colorful candies, and the adults loved the unexpected crunch from the pretzels.
It became an instant tradition, and now, no holiday season is complete without a batch of these cookies.
They really do have everything but the kitchen sink in them and every batch we make are slightly different. Sometimes we add peanut M&Ms, sometimes chopped up After Eights, or even crushed potato chips.
We love that there is so much taste and texture in every bite.
What are Kitchen Sink Cookies?
Kitchen Sink Cookies, as the name suggests, are a mishmash of various ingredients thrown into the cookie dough!
They typically include a combination of sweet, salty, crunchy, and chewy add-ins, creating a cookie that's loaded with diverse textures and flavors.
The idea is to use whatever you have in your "kitchen sink" - nuts, chocolates, pretzels, candies - to create a unique and indulgent treat.
For this Christmas version, I've added holiday favorites like crushed candy canes, mint extract and red and white Smarties! Feel free to mix it up and add what you like: chopped After Eights, peppermints, Turtles, Toffifee etc...
If you love holiday baking, be sure to also try Christmas Tree Meringue Lollipops, Christmas Tree Pretzels, or No Bake Cornflake Cookies!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Festive Fusion: These cookies are a festive fusion of sweet, salty, and minty flavors, making them a perfect treat for the holiday season.
- Crowd-Pleaser: Whether you're hosting a holiday gathering or participating in a cookie exchange, these cookies are guaranteed to be a hit with everyone.
- Kid-Friendly: Get the little ones involved in the holiday baking fun. They'll love mixing in colorful Smarties, crunchy pretzels, and gooey chocolate chips.
- Versatile: Don't like peppermint? No problem! Swap it with vanilla extract for a classic flavor. The recipe is flexible, allowing you to customize it to your taste.
Ingredients
You only need simple pantry ingredients for this recipe!
- All-Purpose Flour: The base of our cookie dough, providing structure.
- Baking Soda: Adds a slight lift, making the cookies light and fluffy.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor.
- Butter: Unsalted, at room temperature for a rich and smooth texture.
- Light Brown Sugar: Adds a hint of caramel flavor and moisture.
- White Sugar: Sweetens the cookies and contributes to their texture.
- Peppermint Extract (or Vanilla): For a festive minty kick, or go classic with vanilla.
- Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and add moisture.
- White Chocolate Chips: Creamy, sweet, and a perfect complement to the other mix-ins.
- Red and White Smarties (or similar candy): Colorful and chocolatey, adding a festive touch.
- Candy Canes: Crushed for a burst of peppermint flavor and a festive look.
- Chopped Pretzels: Salty crunch that balances the sweetness of the dough.
- Ingredient Notes:
- Substitute for Peppermint Extract: If you're not a fan of peppermint, swap it with an equal amount of vanilla extract for a more traditional flavor.
- Smarties Alternatives: M&M's or any colorful chocolate candy can be substituted for Smarties.
See the recipe card for quantities and method.
How to make Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies
Follow these step-by-step instructions, then scroll down for the full ingredients list and method.
Scroll down for the full ingredients list and method.
Preheat the oven to 375°F/190°C.
Sift the flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
Add the butter and both sugars to a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth.
Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then beat in the peppermint extract or vanilla.
Gradually beat in the flour mixture.
Gently stir in the chocolate chips, Smarties, candy canes, and pretzels.
Drop rounded tablespoons of the cookie dough onto ungreased cookie sheets, 2 inches apart.
Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden at the edges. Allow the cookies to cool on the cookie sheets for 2 minutes, then gently transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these cookies with a glass of cold milk or a warm cup of cocoa for the perfect festive indulgence. They also make fantastic gifts-just stack them in a decorative tin or wrap them up with a festive ribbon.
Variations
- Nutty Twist: Add chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts for an extra crunch.
- Dark Chocolate Delight: Substitute white chocolate chips with dark chocolate for a richer flavor.
- Fruity Surprise: Mix in dried cranberries or cherries for a fruity kick.
Popular Christmas Cookies
In the USA, Christmas cookies come in various shapes and flavors, but a few classics stand out. Among the most popular are:
- Sugar Cookies: Cut into festive shapes and decorated with colorful icing and sprinkles.
- Gingerbread Cookies: Spiced with ginger, cinnamon, and molasses, often shaped into gingerbread men or houses.
- Peppermint Bark Cookies: Combining the refreshing taste of peppermint with rich chocolate.
- Snickerdoodles: Soft, chewy cookies coated in a cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Thumbprint Cookies: Indented and filled with jam or chocolate, adding a burst of flavor.
More Cookie Recipes
Recipe Tips
- Room Temperature Butter: Ensure your butter is at room temperature for a smooth and creamy cookie dough. This makes it easier to incorporate with the other ingredients.
- Gentle Mixing: When adding in the mix-ins like chocolate chips and candies, fold them in gently. Overmixing can lead to a tough cookie texture.
- Uniform Sizes: Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to ensure uniform-sized cookies. This ensures even baking, and your cookies will look picture-perfect on the plate.
- Cooling Time: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a couple of minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This helps them set without becoming too brittle.
- Finished Look: You can reserve some of the mix-ins (pretzels, candy cane pieces, Smarties etc...). Then, when you take the cookies out of the oven, push some into the tops. You can then see all the ingredients and they aren't buried in the dough.
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📖 Recipe
Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Electric mixer
- Cookie sheet
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup butter at room temperature
- ⅔ cup light brown sugar
- ⅔ cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract or vanilla
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 cup red and white Smarties or similar candy
- 4 candy canes chopped
- ⅔ cup chopped pretzels
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F/190°C.
- Sift the flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Add the butter and both sugars to a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth.
- Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then beat in the peppermint extract or vanilla.
- Gradually beat in the flour mixture.
- Gently stir in the chocolate chips, Smarties, candy canes, pretzels and sprinkles.
- Drop rounded tablespoons of the cookie dough onto ungreased cookie sheets, 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden at the edges. Allow the cookies to cool on the cookie sheets for 2 minutes, then gently transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Room Temperature Butter: Ensure your butter is at room temperature for a smooth and creamy cookie dough. This makes it easier to incorporate with the other ingredients.
- Gentle Mixing: When adding in the mix-ins like chocolate chips and candies, fold them in gently. Overmixing can lead to a tough cookie texture.
- Uniform Sizes: Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to ensure uniform-sized cookies. This ensures even baking, and your cookies will look picture-perfect on the plate.
- Cooling Time: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a couple of minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This helps them set without becoming too brittle.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Holley says
These Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies are a brilliant idea! So fun, festive, and the kids love them!
Elisa says
Spotted this in your newsletter and had to jump right in and make a batch! Loved the recipe, so many textures and flavors in one cookie. I definitely will make them again soon. Thanks for sharing 🙂
MacKenzie says
I just made these this morning and I can’t wait to make them again. Next time I will double the batch and share with family and friends. These cookies turned out perfect
Andrea says
They were a perfect festive cookie! Sweet, salty and a hint of mint. This recipe is a keeper. Already printed out and in my recipe box!
TAYLER ROSS says
Kitchen sink cookies are already one of my favorites, but this Christmas twist made them even more delicious!