Easiest Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies Recipe! These chocolate cookies are my go-to recipe after all my Christmas baking is complete because I use toppings leftover from previous Christmas recipes.
Related: Christmas, White-Chocolate Dipped Christmas Cookies
Ah, Christmas – a time of joy, festivity, and an undeniable excuse to indulge in delightful desserts!
Enter the “Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies.”
Ever heard of a cookie so packed with ingredients, it seems like it has everything but the kitchen sink in it? This festive treat brings together the best of both worlds: sweet and salty flavors.
From chocolate chips, both white and milk, to the surprising crunch of potato chips and the rich goodness of peanut butter chips.
With a hint of flaky sea salt and caramel bits, these cookies are a celebration of the classic Christmas kitchen sink tradition.
Ready your parchment paper, baking sheets, and stand mixer; we’re diving deep into this delectable dessert cuisine.
Table of Contents: Easiest Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies
Why You’ll Love These Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies
Easy: As the name suggests, this recipe is easy to make. If you’re preparing this recipe, it’s likely after Christmas, and you’ve likely already baked a TON of cookies. Why put in any extra effort when you can quickly and easily whip up a batch of these kitchen sink cookies?
Versatile: These cookies are packed with all your Christmas favors and are perfect to bring along to extended family you are visiting after the holidays, or for any last-minute gift exchanges, or Christmas movie nights.
Customizable Mix-Ins: Don’t have peppermint chips? No problem. Skip them all together or replace them with another Christmas mix-in you already have leftover at home.
Customizable Cookie: Feel free to swap chocolate cake mix for vanilla cake mix, or add the kitchen-sink mix-ins to your favorite brownie recipe!
Ingredients To Make The Easiest Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies
Chocolate Cake Mix
Eggs
Oil
Leftover Christmas Mix-Ins (potato chips, pretzels, dark chocolate chips, milk chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, sprinkles, etc)
Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookie Mix-Ins
I used the following mix-ins, but feel free to get creative with the leftover Christmas candy you have at home!
Christmas M&M Minis
Mini Marshmallows,
Shaved Chocolate
Pecans
Christmas Sprinkles
Peppermint chips
Pretzels
Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies Equipment
Parchment paper
How To Easy Make The Easiest Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies
Step 1: Prepare The Cookie Dough
First, pour the chocolate cake mix into a large bowl.
Then, add in the eggs and oil and mix to combine.
Next, fold in the Christmas topping mix-ins.
Step 2: Prepare For Baking
Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes or freeze it for 10 minutes.
While the dough is chilling, line the cookie tray with parchment paper.
Then, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Once the dough is chilled, using a cookie scooper, scoop12 one-inch round balls onto the lined cookie tray.
Optionally, roll the cookie dough balls in additional Christmas mix-ins for added flavor, color, and texture (as pictured above).
Note: if the dough feels significantly softer than when you removed it from the fridge or freezer, chill the dough for another 5-10 minutes before baking. This will help hold the cookies’ shape.
Step 3: Bake The Cookies
Then, bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.
Lastly, remove the cookies from the oven.
Let the cookies set on the cookie tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Repeat Step 2 and Step 3 with the remaining dough for a total of 24 cookies.
Enjoy!
Recipe Tips for Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies:
Mix Diversity
Get creative with your mix ins! From chocolate chips to peanut butter chips and even butterscotch chips, this Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookie recipe allows you to add everything but the kitchen sink.
Perfecting the Dough
Using a stand mixer, combine the granulated and light brown sugar with unsalted butter until fluffy. This helps in achieving those chewy cookies we all crave during Christmas.
Salty Surprise
Want that iconic sweet and salty flavor? Don’t skip on the crushed potato chips or a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. It’s this salty combo that sets these cookies apart from the usual Christmas cookies.
Baking Essentials
Always line your baking sheets with parchment paper. Not only does it ensure an even bake, but it also makes clean-up a breeze.
Cooling is Key
After baking, transfer the cookies to a cooling rack and let them cool completely. This step helps them set, and the flavors to meld beautifully.
Storage
Want to enjoy these treats later? Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container to maintain their freshness and sweet and salty flavors.
Flour Fundamentals:
When using cake mix flour, you may want to add a touch of baking soda and salt.
Festive Touch:
For that Christmas touch, consider adding red and green mini marshmallows or toffee bits to your mix ins.
Chocolate Choices:
Experiment with various types of chocolate chips – from milk chocolate to semi-sweet and white chocolate. Each brings a unique flavor profile to the Kitchen Sink cookies.
Crunch Factor:
If you’re a fan of the sweet and salty combo, don’t forget to add a hint of potato chip flavor with some crushed chips. The crunch and saltiness combined with the caramel bits make for an unforgettable cookie experience.
Conclusion
As the cookies cool on the wire rack and the sweet aroma fills the air, you can’t help but marvel at the medley of simple ingredients that went into the making of these Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies. It’s not just a cookie; it’s an experience, a fusion of flavors that sings carols of Christmas in every bite.
Whether you’re leaving these chewy cookies out for Santa on Christmas Eve or sharing them in an airtight container as a thoughtful gift, the sweet and salty combo will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression. So, the next time you’re looking for a unique Christmas cookie recipe that embraces the spirit of ‘everything but the kitchen sink,’ you know just the one to bake!
I Want To Hear From You!
Let me know if you have any questions or comments below.
Also, if you made these cookies, I’d love to see them!
Tag me on Instagram: @lifestyledbysam_
Easiest Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies
Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowls
- Spatula
- Measuring cups
- Cookie scoop
- Baking tray
- Cooling rack
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
- 1 Box Chocolate Cake Mix
- 2 Large Eggs
- 1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
- 1 Cup Leftover Christmas Mix-ins plus more for topping (optional)
Instructions
Prepare The Cookie Dough
- First, pour the chocolate cake mix into a large bowl.
- Then, add in the eggs and oil and mix to combine.
- Next, fold in the leftover Christmas topping mix-ins.
Prepare For Baking
- Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes or freeze it for 10 minutes.
- While the dough is chilling, line the cookie tray with parchment paper.
- Then, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Once the dough is chilled, using a cookie scooper, scoop 12 one-inch round balls onto the lined cookie tray.
- Optionally, roll the cookie dough balls in additional Christmas mix-ins.
- Note: if the dough feels significantly softer than when you removed it from the fridge or freezer, chill the dough for another 5-10 minutes before baking. This will help hold the cookies' shape.
Bake The Cookies
- Then, bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.
- Lastly, remove the cookies from the oven.
- Let the cookies set on the cookie tray for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling.
- Repeat the steps under "Prepare For Baking" and "Bake The Cookies" with the remaining dough, for a total of 24 cookies.
- Enjoy!
Christmas Kitchen Sink Cookies FAQs
Why Are These Cookies Called Kitchen Sink Cookies?
“Kitchen Sink Cookies” get their playful name from the idiom “everything but the kitchen sink.” The phrase is often used to describe a scenario where a multitude of items or elements are included, implying an abundance or overabundance.
When applied to these cookies, it means that they contain a wide variety of mix-ins. Instead of just having one or two primary add-ins like many traditional cookie recipes (e.g., just chocolate chips or just nuts), Kitchen Sink Cookies often include multiple ingredients such as chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, nuts, oats, raisins, and even salty items like pretzels or potato chips. The idea is to use whatever ingredients you have on hand or desire, much like when someone says they’ve thrown “everything but the kitchen sink” into a particular endeavor. It embodies a sense of creativity, resourcefulness, and fun in baking, where you can add a little bit of this and a little bit of that, depending on what you have available or what flavors you’re aiming to achieve.
Does the Kitchen Sink Cookie Have Nuts in It?
The term “kitchen sink cookies” refers to a type of cookie that incorporates a variety of ingredients—essentially, everything but the kitchen sink. While many recipes for kitchen sink cookies include nuts (like walnuts, pecans, or almonds), it’s not a requirement. The specific ingredients can vary widely based on personal preferences or whatever is on hand in the kitchen. Some versions might include chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, raisins, oats, coconut, pretzels, and yes, various kinds of nuts. If you have a nut allergy or dislike nuts, you can simply omit them from the recipe or replace them with another ingredient of your choice. Always check a specific recipe to see if nuts are included, and if so, whether they can be omitted or substituted.
