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Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies Recipe

If you’re craving a cookie that’s bursting with surprises in every bite, then you absolutely must try the Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies Recipe. This festive treat is packed with an irresistible mix of flavors and textures, combining everything from melty chocolate chips to crunchy pretzels and chewy dried fruit. It’s the kind of cookie that feels like holiday magic—and once you take a bite, you’ll understand why it’s a beloved crowd-pleaser every season.

Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

Gathering the ingredients for this recipe is delightfully simple, yet each one plays an important role in creating the perfect balance of flavor, texture, and festive cheer. From buttery richness to bursts of sweet, salty, and nutty notes, every ingredient contributes to making these cookies truly special.

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened: Provides the creamy base that makes the cookies tender and rich.
  • 1 cup granulated sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a slight crunch on the edges.
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed: Brings a deep, caramel-like sweetness and chewiness.
  • 2 large eggs: Bind everything together and add moisture.
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract: Enhances all the flavors and adds warmth.
  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour: The sturdy backbone that holds the cookie dough.
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda: Helps the cookies rise and spread just right.
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder: Provides a gentle lift and tender crumb.
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies flavors.
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips: Classic melty chocolate bites you can’t resist.
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips: Offers creamy sweetness and contrasts beautifully with dark chocolate.
  • 1 cup crushed pretzels: Adds a fantastic crunch and a hint of salty surprise.
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional): Provide earthy crunch and nutty flavor.
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins: Bring chewy bursts of tartness and sweetness.
  • 1/2 cup shredded coconut: Lends a tropical texture and extra dimension.
  • 1/2 cup festive sprinkles (optional): Infuse holiday spirit and a playful pop of color.

How to Make Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Preheat and Prepare

Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures it’s ready to bake your cookies evenly. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent sticking and make cleanup a breeze.

Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars

Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, beat the softened butter with both granulated and brown sugars until the mixture is creamy and fluffy. This step is crucial to build the perfect texture and sweetness in your cookies.

Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla

Next, beat in two large eggs, one at a time, along with the vanilla extract. This adds moisture and rich flavor, ensuring each bite feels indulgent.

Step 4: Mix Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Incorporating these dry ingredients evenly helps your cookies bake to the right consistency.

Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients

Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, stirring just until combined. Overmixing can make cookies tough, so mix until you no longer see flour.

Step 6: Fold in the Fun Mix-Ins

This is the part where the magic happens. Gently fold in the semi-sweet and white chocolate chips, crushed pretzels, nuts (if using), dried cranberries or raisins, shredded coconut, and festive sprinkles if you want that seasonal touch. Each one adds a unique texture and flavor that makes this the Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies Recipe.

Step 7: Scoop and Bake

Use a cookie scoop or spoon to drop tablespoon-sized dollops of dough onto the prepared sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are golden but the centers are still slightly soft. This gentle bake keeps the cookies chewy and delicious.

Step 8: Cool and Enjoy

Allow your cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. Patience here is key—the cookies firm up beautifully as they cool, locking in all those wonderful flavors.

How to Serve Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies Recipe

Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies Recipe - Recipe Image

Garnishes

For a festive touch, sprinkle a few extra crushed pretzels or colored sugar crystals on top right after baking. This adds sparkle and enhances both texture and presentation, inviting everyone to dig in.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair wonderfully with a cozy cup of hot cocoa or some lightly spiced mulled cider. The warmth of the beverage complements the cookies’ sweet, salty, and nutty notes perfectly for a holiday treat.

Creative Ways to Present

Stack them tied with a red ribbon for a charming gift, or arrange them on a festive platter surrounded by fresh cranberries and holly. You can even sandwich two cookies with a dollop of cream cheese frosting for an extra indulgent twist.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Keep any leftover cookies fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay soft and delicious for up to a week, making them perfect for those holiday cravings.

Freezing

For longer storage, freeze the cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. When you’re ready, thaw at room temperature and enjoy as if freshly baked.

Reheating

If you want to revive that just-baked warmth, pop the cookies in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 5 minutes. This brings back softness and enhances the melty chocolate moments that make this the Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies Recipe so irresistible.

FAQs

Can I substitute nuts if I have allergies?

Absolutely! You can skip the nuts altogether or use seeds like pumpkin or sunflower seeds for crunch without the allergen risk. The cookie will still be delicious and satisfyingly textured.

What if I don’t have both white and semi-sweet chocolate chips?

No worries! Use whichever chocolate chips you have on hand or mix in chunks of chocolate bars for a rustic effect. The cookie’s charm comes from its medley of mix-ins, so feel free to experiment.

Can these cookies be made vegan?

Yes, with a few tweaks. Substitute the butter for a vegan margarine, use flax eggs or another egg replacement, and choose dairy-free chocolate chips. While the texture might vary slightly, they will still be scrumptious.

How do I ensure cookies don’t spread too much in the oven?

Chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking can help control spreading. Also, make sure not to over-cream the butter and sugar, as too much air can cause excessive spreading.

Can I add other mix-ins to this recipe?

Definitely! The Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies Recipe is all about creativity. Feel free to add your favorite nuts, candies, or dried fruits to personalize your holiday cookie experience.

Final Thoughts

There’s something truly joyful about gathering around a plate of cookies that offer a little bit of everything you love. The Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies Recipe is a celebration of textures and flavors coming together in a way that’s both comforting and exciting. I can’t wait for you to try making them at home and share the magic with your family and friends. Trust me, once you do, these cookies will become a holiday tradition you look forward to every year.

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Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies Recipe


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4.4 from 89 reviews

  • Author: admin
  • Total Time: 32 minutes
  • Yield: 36 cookies 1x

Description

These Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies combine a delightful mix of flavors and textures, including chocolate chips, white chocolate, nuts, dried fruit, pretzels, and festive sprinkles. Perfectly soft and chewy, these cookies are festive, fun, and easy to make — a holiday treat that truly has it all.


Ingredients

Scale

Wet 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

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups (315g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Add-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

  1. Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent the cookies from sticking and to ensure even baking.
  2. Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, use a hand or stand mixer to cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes.
  3. Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs, one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Then mix in the vanilla extract for flavor.
  4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until evenly mixed.
  5. Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet butter mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Avoid over-mixing to keep the cookies tender.
  6. Fold in Add-ins: Using a spatula, 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 desired). This creates the “kitchen sink” effect with all your favorite goodies.
  7. Portion the Dough: Scoop rounded tablespoons or use a cookie scoop to place dollops of cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow spreading.
  8. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes until the edges are golden and the centers look set but still soft.
  9. Cool: Remove the baking sheets from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on the sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This helps them set perfectly.

Notes

  • You can substitute pecans with walnuts if preferred or omit nuts altogether for a nut-free version.
  • For chewier cookies, slightly underbake them and allow to finish setting as they cool.
  • Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or freeze for longer storage.
  • Feel free to customize the add-ins to your liking—swap dried fruit or nuts for your favorites!
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

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