If you’re anything like me, the holiday season means indulging in all kinds of festive treats, and I have to say, this Christmas Cookie Sink Cookies Recipe is one of my absolute favorites to bake and share. It’s like the ultimate mix of everything delicious—sweet, salty, crunchy, and chewy all in one cookie. Keep reading because I’m sharing all my tips to help you nail this recipe perfectly every time. Trust me, your kitchen is about to smell amazing, and your family will go crazy for these!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Everything-but-the-kitchen-sink flavor: You get sweet, salty, chocolaty, and crunchy all packed into one perfect cookie.
Easy to customize: The recipe invites your creativity—swap or add mix-ins to suit your taste or pantry.
Perfect holiday treat: Your friends and family will absolutely love these as part of your festive cookie platter.
Simple prep, big impact: You don’t need to be a pro baker to get fantastic results with this recipe.

A white round plate is full of soft cookies stacked in two layers, with the top layer showing about seven cookies. Each cookie is light brown with bright red and green candy pieces on top, along with white chips and small pretzel pieces embedded inside. Green and red sprinkles scattered across the cookies add extra color. A woman's two hands with red painted nails holding the plate on either side, wearing a red sweater. The plate sits on a white marbled surface with small white bowls filled with pretzels, green and red candies, and white chips around it. A red ribbon is also visible near the right side. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Christmas Cookie Sink Cookies, holiday cookie recipes, festive cookie ideas, easy Christmas treats, best holiday cookies

Ingredients You’ll Need

The magic behind this Christmas Cookie Sink Cookies Recipe is all about the mix-ins and the rich, buttery dough. Each ingredient plays a distinct role, and I’ve found that using quality basics really helps these cookies shine.

Flat lay of a few chunks of salted butter, a small mound of light brown sugar, a small mound of granulated white sugar, two whole brown eggs with clean shells, a small white bowl of vanilla bean paste, a small mound of all-purpose flour, a small pile of baking powder, a small pile of baking soda, a small pile of salt, a small white bowl filled with red and green M&M's, a small white bowl of white chocolate chips, a small white bowl of pretzel pieces, a small white bowl of potato chip pieces, a small white bowl of red and green jimmies placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997 - Christmas Cookie Sink Cookies, holiday cookie recipes, festive cookie ideas, easy Christmas treats, best holiday cookies

Salted butter: Make sure it’s softened, not melted—that helps with the creamy texture.
Light brown sugar: Adds a lovely caramel undertone and keeps the cookies gooey.
Granulated white sugar: Balances the sweetness and gives just enough crispness at the edges.
Egg yolks: Using yolks only gives the cookies richer flavor and a soft crumb.
Vanilla bean paste or extract: I swear by vanilla bean paste for that lovely speckled look and deep flavor.
All-purpose flour: Spoon and level it to avoid dense cookies—this is a crucial step!
Baking powder & baking soda: The combo gives the perfect lift and chewiness.
Salt: Just a pinch to balance the sweetness and enhance flavor.
Red and green M&M’s: Classic Christmas colors add festive fun and color.
White chocolate chips: Adds creamy pockets of sweetness that contrast nicely with the pretzels.
Pretzel pieces: Give your cookies that addictive salty crunch.
Potato chip pieces: My little secret addition for crunch and a salty pop.
Red and green jimmies (sprinkles): For that extra festive touch and a bit of texture on top.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

This recipe is kind of like a base camp for cookie creativity, and I love trying out little tweaks depending on what’s on hand or my mood. Feel free to make it truly your own!

Swap mix-ins: If you don’t have M&M’s, try festive chocolate chunks or chopped peppermint bark—I’ve had great success with both.
Add nuts: Chopped walnuts or pecans bring a lovely nutty crunch and work beautifully.
Gluten-free: You can substitute all-purpose flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour blend; just watch the texture as you go.
Extra chocolatey: Add cocoa powder to the dough or toss in mini dark chocolate chips. My chocoholic friends swear by this!

How to Make Christmas Cookie Sink Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Cream Butter and Sugars Until Fluffy

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining two baking sheets with parchment paper. Then, in a large bowl, cream the softened salted butter with both the light brown and granulated sugars using an electric mixer for about two minutes until the mixture is fluffy and pale. I love this step because it sets a light, tender texture in the cookie dough — don’t rush it!

Step 2: Mix in Egg Yolks and Vanilla

Add in your room temperature egg yolks and the vanilla bean paste or extract. Beat on medium speed for another two minutes until the mixture is glossy and light – this part really helps the cookies turn out rich and moist. Patience here pays off!

Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients and Mix

Whisk together your all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl, then add them to the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed just until everything is combined—overmixing can lead to tougher cookies, so stop as soon as no flour patches remain.

Step 4: Fold in All the Goodies

Now comes the fun part! Gently fold in your red and green M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, potato chip pieces, and those festive red and green jimmies. Using a spatula here helps keep the mix-ins from breaking too much, so your cookies have nice texture and eye appeal.

Step 5: Scoop, Optional Toppings, and Bake

Scoop your dough into 20 equal-sized balls, spacing them about 2 inches apart on the baking sheets. This is where I like to sprinkle a few extra M&M’s and jimmies on top—it’s totally optional, but it makes the cookies look picture-perfect and festive! Bake for 10-12 minutes; 10 if you love chewy centers, 12 if you prefer crisp edges.

Step 6: Shape and Cool to Perfection

Right after the cookies come out of the oven, I use a large circular cookie cutter to swirl gently around each cookie—this shapes them into perfect rounds and helps the mix-ins stick together nicely. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. That waiting game is tough, but so worth it!

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Pro Tips for Making Christmas Cookie Sink Cookies Recipe

Measure Flour Correctly: I learned the hard way that scooping flour straight from the bag packs it and leads to dense cookies—spoon and level or weigh your flour for best results.
Use Egg Yolks Only: Using yolks instead of whole eggs enriches the cookie dough, keeping the texture soft and buttery.
Add Extra Mix-ins on Top: I always sprinkle a few M&M’s or sprinkles on top before baking—it makes the cookies look extra festive and inviting.
Shape While Warm: Swirling a cookie cutter on the freshly baked cookies helps round them out perfectly; don’t skip this step if presentation matters to you!

How to Serve Christmas Cookie Sink Cookies Recipe

Christmas Cookie Sink Cookies Recipe - Serving

Garnishes

I like to keep the garnish simple—just a few extra red and green sprinkles on top right before baking to add that festive sparkle. Sometimes I dust a tiny bit of powdered sugar for a snowy effect if I’m serving at a holiday gathering.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair wonderfully with a steaming mug of hot cocoa or freshly brewed coffee. For a party, I like serving them alongside other holiday cookies, fudge, or even a savory cheese platter to balance all the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

One Christmas, I arranged these cookies in a wreath shape on a large round platter, garnished with sprigs of fresh rosemary and cranberries—it looked festive and smelled amazing too! Wrapping small batches in clear cellophane bags tied with a ribbon makes lovely homemade gifts as well.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature and they stay perfectly chewy for about three days. If you notice they start to dry out, a slice of bread in the container overnight can help bring back some moisture—magic, right?

Freezing

I’ve had great luck freezing the cookie dough balls before baking. Just scoop them onto a baking sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag. When ready, bake straight from frozen, adding a minute or two to the baking time.

Reheating

If you want to enjoy leftovers warm, pop a cookie in the microwave for about 10 seconds or in a low oven (300°F) for 5 minutes. It revives the softness and melts the chocolate just right—trust me, it tastes almost like fresh-baked!

FAQs

Can I use whole eggs instead of egg yolks?

Yes, you can, but the texture and richness will change slightly. Using whole eggs makes the cookies a bit lighter and less rich. I prefer egg yolks because they give a dense, buttery crumb that pairs well with all the mix-ins.
What if I don’t have potato chips or pretzels?

No worries—try substituting with crushed cornflakes or nuts for a similar salty crunch. The idea is to balance the sweet and salty, so any crunchy salty snack works well as a replacement.
How do I ensure my cookies stay chewy?

Bake them for the shorter time range (about 10 minutes), and be sure not to overbake. Also, using room-temperature egg yolks and creaming your butter and sugars well helps keep them soft and chewy.
Can I prepare the dough ahead of time?

Absolutely! The dough can be refrigerated overnight or frozen for longer storage. Just bring it to room temperature before baking for best results.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Cookie Sink Cookies Recipe has become a staple at my holiday baking table because it’s not just tasty, it’s fun to make and share. The mix of flavors and textures keeps you coming back for more, and I love how flexible it is for whatever mix-ins you have on hand. If you’re looking to impress your friends or just want a delicious treat to fill your cookie jar, give this recipe a try—I promise you’ll love it as much as I do!