Why is it called a kitchen sink cookie?

When I first heard the name, I laughed—“everything but the kitchen sink?”—and I quickly realized it’s true. These cookies include a little bit of everything you love: chocolate, candies, nuts, pretzels, and sometimes coconut. When I’m mixing the dough, it feels like I’m just throwing in whatever looks good in the pantry, and yet somehow it all comes together perfectly.

What is the most famous Christmas cookie?

In my experience, traditional sugar cookies and gingerbread often steal the spotlight, but honestly, when I bring Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies to a holiday gathering, they’re the first to disappear. The combination of colors, textures, and flavors makes them a standout, and people can’t resist grabbing just one (or three).

What’s in a kitchen sink cookie?

For me, a kitchen sink cookie is all about variety. The base is a buttery, soft cookie dough, and I mix in chocolate chips, M&M’s, chopped pretzels, and sometimes nuts or coconut. It’s the contrast between sweet, salty, chewy, and crunchy that makes each bite exciting and unique. Every time I bake a batch, I like to experiment and toss in a few surprise ingredients, which keeps it fun and festive.

What’s in an everything but the kitchen sink cookie?

Essentially, it’s the same idea as a kitchen sink cookie—just even more indulgent. I usually take my standard recipe and add any leftover holiday treats I have: white chocolate chunks, mini marshmallows, or even bits of candy canes. The goal is to capture as many flavors and textures as possible, making each cookie a small holiday celebration in itself.

Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe

Description

Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies are a festive holiday treat packed with chocolate chips, M&M’s, chopped pretzels, nuts, and coconut. Soft, chewy, and full of flavor, these cookies combine sweet, salty, and crunchy textures in every delightful bite.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup M&M’s

1/2 cup chopped pretzels

1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

1/2 cup shredded coconut (optional)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.

In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.

Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract.

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.

Stir in the chocolate chips, M&M’s, chopped pretzels, and any optional ingredients like nuts or coconut.

Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.

Bake for 9-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers are still slightly soft.

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 10 min
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Christmas