If you’ve never made Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies, this is your sign to try. These colorful, crunchy, and chewy holiday cookies are packed with red and green M&Ms, salty pretzels, buttery white chocolate chips, and crushed potato chips for a sweet-and-salty combo you’ll crave all season.
Known to some as “Santa’s Trash Cookies,” these treats are anything but trash—they’re a playful way to use up a variety of festive mix-ins. They’re perfect for a cozy December afternoon, whether you’re preparing a festive Christmas cookie bars idea platter for guests or looking for easy Christmas cookie ideas for gifts.
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Why You’ll Love This Festive Cookie Recipe
There’s a reason people keep making this style of cookie year after year:
- Rich buttery flavor thanks to European butter.
- The perfect texture—chewy centers with crunchy edges.
- Sweet and salty mix-ins like pretzels and potato chips.
- Fun for kids—let them help choose the candy add-ins.
If you’re a fan of versatile holiday recipes, you might also enjoy these classic sugar cookies for decorating with the family.
Santa’s Trash Cookies vs. Kitchen Sink Cookies
The name “kitchen sink” comes from the saying “everything but the kitchen sink,” meaning you toss in all sorts of goodies—pretzels, candies, chocolates, and more.
“Santa’s Trash Cookies” is the holiday twist: a riot of Christmas-colored candies, sweet morsels, and salty snacks all wrapped up in buttery dough. Whether you call them Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies or Santa’s Trash Cookies, they’re a unique Christmas cookie recipe that makes the holiday cookie table way more exciting.
Ingredient Spotlight & Holiday Baking Tips
Butter: European butter has a higher fat content than standard butter, giving the cookies a richer taste and less spread. Avoid margarine; shortening works in a pinch but loses flavor.
Eggs: One egg yields slightly crisp cookies; two eggs make them softer and chewier. If using two eggs, chill the dough for 20 minutes before baking.
Dry ingredients: Stick to all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt for structure.
Classic holiday mix-ins:
- Pretzels (chopped)
- Potato chips (crushed)
- Red & green M&Ms
- White chocolate chips
- Christmas sprinkles
Optional extras: Butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips, caramel bits, chopped candy bars, buttery popcorn, or Ritz crackers.
For another colorful Christmas bake, try these pink velvet cookies—perfect for gifting.
How to Make This Holiday Cookie Recipe Step-by-Step
- Cream the butter and sugars until pale and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Mix the dry ingredients in a separate bowl—flour, baking soda, salt.
- Combine wet and dry mixtures gently.
- Fold in mix-ins: pretzels, chips, candies, chocolate, and sprinkles.
- Scoop dough into balls; chill for 20 minutes if you prefer thicker cookies.
- Bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes, just until edges are set.
- Let cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack.
If you love soft-centered cookies, these homemade whoopie pies will also win you over.
Fun Holiday Mix-In Ideas for Your Cookies
Want to put your own spin on Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies? Try:
- Sweet lovers: marshmallows, caramel bits, fudge chunks.
- Salty snackers: salted nuts, popcorn, crushed crackers.
- Extra color: dyed coconut flakes, rainbow sprinkles.
- For kids: cereal pieces, small gummy candies.
For even more colorful bakes, check out these Hershey’s Red Velvet Blossoms cookies.
Storing & Freezing Tips
- Room temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezing baked cookies: Store in freezer-safe bags for up to 2 months.
- Freezing cookie dough: Shape into balls, freeze on a tray, then store in bags. Bake from frozen with 2 extra minutes in the oven.
This make-ahead method works great for other recipes like these heart-shaped jam cookies.
Serving & Gifting Ideas
These cookies look great piled high on a holiday platter with peppermint bark, fudge, and shortbread. They make charming homemade holiday cookie gifts wrapped in clear bags with festive ribbon.
Pair them with hot cocoa or mulled cider for a cozy Christmas night in. For a sweet pairing idea, try chocolate-dipped strawberries alongside them.
Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
Description
These Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies, also known as Santa’s Trash Cookies, are a festive mix of sweet and salty treats—packed with red & green M&Ms, pretzels, white chocolate chips, and crushed potato chips for irresistible holiday flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 cup European butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1-2 large eggs (see notes)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup chopped pretzels
- 1 cup crushed potato chips
- 1 cup red & green M&Ms
- 1 cup white chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment.
- Cream butter and sugars in a large bowl until fluffy.
- Beat in eggs and vanilla.
- In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture.
- Fold in pretzels, chips, M&Ms, white chocolate, and sprinkles.
- Scoop dough onto prepared sheets; chill 20 minutes if desired.
- Bake 10–12 minutes until edges are set.
- Cool on sheet 5 minutes before transferring to rack.
Notes
Use 1 egg for crispier cookies, 2 for chewy. Chilling dough helps cookies hold shape. Store at room temperature for up to 5 days or freeze for later.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 218
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Final Thoughts
Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies are the ultimate “throw it all in” holiday treat—bursting with flavor, texture, and holiday cheer. Whether you keep the classic mix-ins or experiment with your own, they’ll become a tradition worth keeping.
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