Delightful Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies

Holiday Everything Cookies are always the first to vanish from my Christmas cookie boxes thanks to their soft middles, crunchy perimeter and exciting pops of chocolate, candy and savory bites in every mouthful. I created this treat when I wanted something festive but also needed to use up my leftover baking supplies. Everyone picks a different chunk and tries to figure out what they just found inside.

I originally baked these with my niece when we couldn't pick just one cookie type and now we've made it our Christmas Eve ritual to grab bowls and dump in whatever fun ingredients we can find.

Collect Your Supplies

• Unsalted butter: Pick a quality block butter for fuller taste and tender chew
• Brown sugar: Either variety brings toffee-like richness to your dough and keeps things moist
• White sugar: Creates those crispy edges and evens out the sweetness level
• Eggs: Get fresh large ones to provide structure and bind everything nicely
• Vanilla extract: Try to grab pure vanilla for that cozy background note
• All-purpose flour: Measure carefully by scooping and leveling to avoid dry results
• Baking soda: Gives lift and helps cookies spread just right
• Baking powder: Creates uniform puffiness throughout
• Salt: Regular table salt works in the mix, with optional flaky finishing salt for contrast
• Chocolate chips: Dark or milk varieties will create those melty pockets
• Crushed pretzels: Pick the salted kind for that addictive salty snap
• M and Ms or Christmas sprinkles: Add holiday colors and fun candy bits
• Chopped nuts: Walnuts or pecans add buttery flavor and extra crunch
• White chocolate chunks or marshmallows: Either will create sweet, gooey spots throughout

How to Make It

Make the Cookie Dough:

In a big bowl, beat your softened butter with both brown and white sugars using an electric mixer for a full three minutes. Don't stop until the mix looks lighter and feels airy, making sure to scrape the bowl halfway. Add your eggs one by one, mixing well after each addition, then pour in the vanilla for that deeper taste.

Mix Dry Ingredients:

In another bowl, stir together your flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt until they're totally combined. This step makes sure your cookies rise evenly and turn a beautiful golden color.

Combine Wet and Dry:

Slowly add your flour mixture to the butter mix on low speed. Don't rush this part - mix just until the flour disappears. Too much mixing now can make your cookies tough. Don't forget to scrape the bottom so everything gets mixed in properly.

Add the Mix-Ins:

Here's the best part - gently fold in your chocolate chips, broken pretzels, M&Ms or sprinkles, nuts and white chocolate or marshmallows. Use a strong spoon to turn everything over a few times so each cookie gets plenty of goodies. Go easy so you don't smash the candies.

Shape and Chill:

Scoop out balls of dough using a cookie scoop or spoon, about 1.5-2 tablespoons each. Put them on a paper-lined baking sheet with two inches between them. For extra thick cookies, stick the whole sheet in the fridge for at least 10 minutes before baking.

Bake:

Turn your oven to 350°F or 175°C. Cook your cookies for 12-14 minutes depending on how soft you want the centers. Look for golden brown edges but middles that still look slightly underdone. Let them sit on the pan for 5 minutes before moving to a cooling rack.

Finish and Serve:

After cooling, you can drizzle with melted white chocolate or add more decorations if you want. Serve them with milk or your favorite holiday drinks.

I can't help adding extra marshmallows because they get puffy and golden, reminding me of toasting s'mores by the campfire when I was little. My nephew's shocked expression last Christmas when he bit into a surprise pretzel had the whole family giggling for ages.

Flavor Boosters

While shopping, look for recently packaged nuts and premium chocolate. Always sample your pretzels beforehand to make sure they're still snappy and fresh.

Serving Suggestions

Display your cookies on a festive tray with some fresh cranberries and tiny rosemary branches for a gorgeous presentation. Bundle cookie stacks with ribbon for easy but thoughtful gifts for your neighbors or your kid's teachers. Try putting ice cream between two cookies for an extra special holiday treat.

Creative Twists

Toss in some chopped dried cranberries or cherries for tangy bites. Add a sprinkle of cinnamon or ginger for extra warmth. Replace M&Ms with smashed candy canes for a minty kick that feels like Christmas morning. Try adding crushed potato chips or diced caramel pieces for a crazy sweet-and-salty combo.

These cookies bring so much happiness to our family traditions and make wonderful gifts for friends and relatives. Make a batch and watch everyone hunt for their favorite hidden surprise inside.

Common Questions About This Recipe

→ What gives these cookies their 'kitchen sink' appeal?

These treats combine chocolate chips with M&Ms, pretzels, nuts, and various sweet and crunchy additions, capturing the essence of tossing in everything except the kitchen sink.

→ Can I swap out the candy or nuts?

Absolutely! Feel free to switch up your mix-ins whenever you want. White chocolate, little marshmallows, or smashed candy canes can create totally different flavor combos.

→ How do I get a chewy texture?

Make sure you really beat the soft butter and sugars together well. And don't leave them in the oven too long if you want them to stay soft and chewy.

→ What's the best way to shape the dough?

Grab about 1.5–2 tablespoons of dough for each cookie. Make sure to put them far enough apart on your baking sheet because they'll spread out.

→ Can these cookies be stored or frozen?

Keep them in a sealed container and they'll stay good for about a week. You can also freeze the baked cookies for a few months and enjoy them later.