If you’re searching for a festive treat that checks every box—chewy, chocolatey, nutty, fruity, and downright fun—look no further than these Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies. They’re the ultimate holiday cookie, packed with a medley of everyone’s favorite mix-ins. Each bite is different, every batch a little unique, and the spirit of the season shines through in every colorful morsel. Whether you’re baking for a cookie exchange or just want to spoil your loved ones, these cookies will instantly become a cherished tradition.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of these cookies is in the joyful jumble of ingredients! Each element plays a key role—some bring crunch, some add chew, and others fill your kitchen with that unmistakable holiday aroma. Let’s dive into what makes the Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies so irresistible:
- All-purpose flour: This classic base gives your cookies structure and the perfect tender crumb.
- Baking soda: Lends a gentle lift, making your cookies beautifully soft and just puffy enough.
- Salt: Enhances all the sweet flavors and balances out the richness.
- Unsalted butter (softened): The foundation for flavor and texture—make sure it’s at room temp for the dreamiest dough.
- Granulated sugar: Brings sweetness and helps with that slight crispness around the edges.
- Packed brown sugar: Adds moisture and a deep, caramel-like note that makes these cookies so moreish.
- Large eggs: Bind everything together and keep the cookies chewy.
- Vanilla extract: The flavor booster that ties all the festive ingredients together.
- Semisweet chocolate chips: The classic cookie essential—melty, rich, and comforting.
- White chocolate chips: For sweetness and creamy pops of flavor in every bite.
- Chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, or almonds): Bring crunch and a toasty, earthy note. Choose your favorite or mix and match!
- M&Ms or festive candies: Adds color and a little extra chocolate fun—perfect for the holidays.
- Dried cranberries or raisins: These little gems provide tang and chew, cutting through the sweetness.
- Shredded coconut (optional): For a subtle tropical flair and extra texture.
- Cinnamon (optional): Just a hint infuses the dough with cozy, warm undertones.
How to Make Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies
Step 1: Preheat and Prep
Get things started by preheating your oven to 375°F and lining your baking sheets with parchment paper. This step ensures your cookies won’t stick and helps them bake up evenly with those perfectly golden bottoms. Taking a few moments to prep makes the baking process smooth and stress-free!
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon if you’re using it. Whisking helps distribute everything evenly, so you don’t get a surprise bite of baking soda or a cinnamon pocket. This base is the canvas for your Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies masterpiece!
Step 3: Cream the Butter and Sugars
In a large bowl, beat the softened butter with both sugars until the mixture is light and fluffy. This process makes your cookies tender and gives them that lovely, slightly crisp edge. Don’t rush this step—the more you cream, the better the texture!
Step 4: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Beat in the eggs one at a time, making sure each one is fully incorporated before you add the next. Stir in the vanilla extract, which adds that unmistakable, comforting cookie flavor and brings all the ingredients together in perfect harmony.
Step 5: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures
Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing just until combined. Over-mixing can make cookies tough, so stop as soon as you see the last streak of flour disappear. Your dough should be thick and pillowy at this point!
Step 6: Fold in All the Goodies
Here’s where the Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies really live up to their name! Gently fold in the semisweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, nuts, candies, dried fruit, and coconut. Every scoop of dough should look like a celebration.
Step 7: Shape and Bake
Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto your prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. This gives them room to spread into perfect circles. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden but the centers are still soft—don’t overbake!
Step 8: Cool and Enjoy
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This little rest helps them set up just right, so they’re sturdy but still deliciously soft in the middle. Then, all that’s left is to enjoy (and maybe share)!
How to Serve Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies
Garnishes
These cookies already look like a party, but if you want to take them over the top, sprinkle a few extra candies or a dusting of powdered sugar on top while they’re still a bit warm. You can even drizzle them with melted white or dark chocolate for an extra-special holiday touch.
Side Dishes
Serve your Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies with mugs of hot cocoa, spiced cider, or even a glass of cold milk. If you’re putting together a dessert buffet, these pair beautifully with buttery shortbread, zesty lemon bars, or classic gingerbread men.
Creative Ways to Present
For an unforgettable presentation, pile the cookies high on a festive platter, layer them in a clear cookie jar, or package them in cellophane bags tied with ribbon for sweet homemade gifts. For cookie swaps, stack a few in decorative boxes with tissue paper for a cheerful, professional look.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store leftover Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. Slip a slice of bread into the container to help maintain their soft texture—the cookies absorb moisture from the bread and stay bakery-fresh.
Freezing
You can freeze both baked cookies and unbaked dough. For baked cookies, let them cool completely, then layer with parchment paper in a freezer-safe container. For dough, scoop into balls and freeze on a tray, then transfer to a zip-top bag. Either way, they’ll keep for up to three months.
Reheating
To enjoy that just-baked taste, warm cookies in the microwave for about 10 seconds or in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes. This brings back their gooey centers and makes the chocolate chips all melty again—pure comfort!
FAQs
Can I use different mix-ins for Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies?
Absolutely! The beauty of these cookies is their flexibility. Swap in toffee bits, pretzel pieces, butterscotch chips, or anything your heart desires. Just keep the total amount of mix-ins about the same so the dough holds together nicely.
How do I keep the cookies from spreading too much?
If your cookies spread more than you’d like, try chilling the dough for 30 minutes before baking. This helps the butter firm up and prevents the cookies from becoming too thin in the oven.
What’s the best way to make these cookies ahead?
Prepare the dough and scoop it onto a baking sheet, then freeze the unbaked dough balls. Whenever you need fresh cookies, bake them straight from the freezer—just add an extra minute or two to the baking time.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Yes! Substitute a good-quality gluten-free all-purpose flour blend for the regular flour. Check your mix-ins to ensure they’re gluten-free as well, especially candies and chocolate chips.
What’s the secret to super-soft Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies?
Don’t overbake! Take the cookies out of the oven when the edges are set but the centers still look slightly underdone. They’ll finish cooking as they cool and stay wonderfully soft and chewy.
Final Thoughts
Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies are truly the perfect way to spread a little joy this season. With their festive mix-ins and unbeatable flavor, they’ll win over any crowd. Gather your favorite ingredients and bake up a batch—you’ll quickly see why these cookies are a holiday must-have!
Print
Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 36 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Best Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies are a festive, loaded holiday treat packed with a delightful mix of chocolate chips, nuts, candies, dried fruit, and coconut. Perfect for cookie exchanges, these chewy and flavorful cookies bring together a variety of textures and tastes, embodying the spirit of the season with every bite.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Mix-ins
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, or almonds)
- 1/2 cup M&Ms or festive candies
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it reaches the correct temperature before baking the cookies.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon if using; this helps to evenly distribute the leavening agents and spices.
- Cream butter and sugars: In a large bowl, use a mixer to cream together the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which contributes to a tender cookie texture.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time to fully incorporate them, then stir in the vanilla extract for flavor.
- Combine dry and wet ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined to avoid overworking the dough.
- Fold in mix-ins: Gently fold in the semisweet and white chocolate chips, chopped nuts, candies, dried cranberries or raisins, and shredded coconut if using, distributing them evenly throughout the dough.
- Portion dough: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing each cookie about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 10–12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden while the centers remain soft and chewy.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes to set before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- The “kitchen sink” approach means you can add any mix-ins you like—pretzels, toffee bits, or candy pieces work well to customize these cookies.
- These cookies are perfect for holiday cookie exchanges because of their festive look and delectable variety of flavors and textures.
- Be sure not to overbake to keep the cookie centers soft and chewy.
- Storing cookies in an airtight container helps maintain freshness for up to a week.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 13g
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
