Name: Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 27 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 1/4 cups 270g all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 Tablespoon 8g cornstarch; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 3/4 cup 170g unsalted butter, room temperature; 3/4 cup 150g light brown sugar, packed; 1/4 cup 50g granulated sugar; 1 egg, room temperature; 1 egg yolk, room temperature; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (chopped chocolate or white chocolate chips work too); 1/2 cup toffee bits or red & green M&Ms; 3/4 cup crushed potato chips; 1/2 cup chopped pretzels; 1/4 cup holiday jimmies (not nonpareils)

Nothing beats the sweet and salty explosion of flavor in my Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe. These cookies are seriously the snack equivalent of a surprise party in your mouth—loaded with everything you love, from chocolate chips to crunchy pretzels and potato chips. They’re a fun twist on everyday cookies that never fail to impress at gatherings or after-school treats.

The image shows a baking tray lined with parchment paper holding 12 round cookies. Each cookie has a light golden brown base with colorful red, green, and white sprinkles embedded. On top of the cookies, there are broken small potato chip pieces and curved pretzel stick pieces scattered unevenly. The cookies have a slightly cracked texture with visible darker chocolate chips spread inside. Around the tray, there are extra pretzels and potato chips scattered on a white marbled surface. In the bottom left corner, there is a small wooden bowl filled with ridged potato chips. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Honestly, I can't get enough of this kitchen sink cookie combo. It’s the kind of recipe that makes you feel like a genius for throwing in all those random goodies from your pantry. Plus, every bite offers a little surprise, which keeps things exciting and satisfying.

Loaded with variety: The mix of chips, pretzels, toffee, and sprinkles creates irresistible sweet and salty layers.
Perfect texture: Crunchy bits and soft cookie dough collide for a delightful sensory experience.
Easy to customize: You can switch up mix-ins any way you want to fit your pantry or mood.
Fun to make and share: These cookies are always a hit, sparking conversation and smiles around the table.

Ingredients & Why They Work

The magic behind this Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe is really in the ingredients. A well-balanced dough with some cornstarch for softness pairs perfectly with salty crunch and sweet pockets of candy and toffee. Plus, the holiday jimmies add that festive pop without melting into a mess.

Flat lay of a small mound of all-purpose flour, a teaspoon of white baking soda powder, a tablespoon of fine white cornstarch, a pinch of salt crystals, a thick slab of pale unsalted butter, a small heap of packed light brown sugar, a small heap of white granulated sugar, one whole brown egg with a clean shell, one whole smaller brown egg yolk in a white ceramic bowl, a small white bowl filled with amber vanilla extract, a small white bowl of semi-sweet chocolate chips, a small white bowl with shiny red and green elongated holiday jimmies, a small pile of golden crushed potato chips, a small white bowl filled with broken pieces of pretzels, and a small white bowl of golden toffee bits, all 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

All-purpose flour: Provides the perfect structure for chewy yet sturdy cookies.
Baking soda: Gives the cookies lift and that classic cookie crumb.
Cornstarch: A secret weapon to keep them soft and thick rather than spreading too thin.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances flavor depth.
Unsalted butter: Room temperature butter helps with creaminess and texture; too warm and cookies spread too much!
Light brown sugar: Adds moisture and a hint of caramel flavor that’s so comforting.
Granulated sugar: Helps with that crisp edge and a touch of extra sweetness.
Egg and egg yolk: The combo ensures rich flavor and chewy texture.
Vanilla extract: Elevates all the other flavors with warmth and sweetness.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips: Classic melt-in-your-mouth goodness.
Toffee bits: Sweet and buttery crunch that's a wonderful contrast.
Potato chips: The salty crunch is the cookie’s surprise element.
Chopped pretzels: Adds that irresistible salty twist and crunch.
Holiday jimmies: These sprinkles bring festive color without melting away.

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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.

Make It Your Way

I love mixing up this Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe depending on the season or what’s lurking in my pantry. It’s like a blank canvas, encouraging you to have fun and make it your own.

Variation: One winter, I swapped in crushed peppermint candy for the toffee bits, and it was an instant holiday hit with a refreshing twist.
Dietary tweak: Want to go gluten-free? I’ve successfully used a gluten-free all-purpose blend with great results.
Seasonal changes: In summer, fresh chopped dried cherries and white chocolate chips add a splash of bright flavor.
Kids’ favorites: M&Ms mixed with mini marshmallows turn these into a fun, colorful party cookie.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe

The image shows several thick, round cookies with a light golden-brown color as the base layer. Each cookie is topped with broken pretzel sticks, dark chocolate chips, small toffee chunks, and thin, crinkled potato chip pieces. Bright red and green sprinkles are scattered across the top, adding color contrast and a festive touch. The cookies rest on a white marbled surface with some crumbs and sprinkles around them, creating a close, cozy feel. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Gather and Whisk Your Dry Ingredients

I like to start by whisking together the flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisking really helps distribute the leavening evenly – plus, it's a quick step that saves time later. Keeping the powdery stuff lump-free makes for cookies that rise just right.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars Until Fluffy

Using a stand or hand mixer with the paddle attachment, I beat the butter with both brown and granulated sugar for about 2-3 minutes until the mixture is light and creamy. This step is a must; it incorporates air into the dough, leading to tender, soft cookies. Don’t rush it—patience pays off here.

Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla

Next, I add the whole egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract, beating them in well. This builds flavor and ensures the dough has the right moisture and richness. Scraping down the bowl sides makes sure everything blends beautifully.

Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients Gently

With the mixer on low speed, I slowly add the dry ingredient mix to the wet ingredients until just combined. Overmixing here can make cookies tough, so I stop as soon as the clumps disappear.

Step 5: Fold in the Mix-Ins

Now comes the fun part—I stir in chocolate chips, toffee bits, crushed potato chips, chopped pretzels, and festive holiday jimmies with a rubber spatula. This step is all about evenly distributing those tasty surprises without breaking them up too much.

Step 6: Scoop and Shape for Perfect Cookies

I use a large cookie scoop or about a scant ¼ cup of dough and roll each ball into a tall oval shape rather than a round ball—this keeps the cookie thick and chewy. Set them on parchment-lined baking sheets, leaving enough space for spreading.

Step 7: Bake and Finish with a Swirl

Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes until edges are just golden and tops set but still soft. Right out of the oven, I gently swirl the rim of a large glass around each cookie to form a neat circle and press some extra mix-ins on top. It’s a simple trick that adds a gorgeous, professional touch.

Step 8: Cool and Enjoy

After about 5 minutes on the baking sheet, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Resist the urge to eat them warm—they’re good, but when cooled, all the flavors really come together and the texture sets perfectly.

Top Tip

After making this Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe many times, I’ve picked up a few tips that really help you nail the perfect balance of flavor and texture every time.

Butter Temperature: Make sure your butter is truly room temp—not melty! I usually leave it out for about 30-60 minutes. This controls spreading perfectly.
Mix-ins Matter: Use holiday jimmies (the long sprinkles) rather than nonpareils so colors don’t bleed into your dough during baking.
Shaping Trick: Rolling the dough into tall ovals keeps cookies chewy and thick instead of flat and crispy.
Baking Time: Don’t overbake! Pull them out when edges are golden but centers look just set; they’ll finish baking as they cool.

How to Serve Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe

Kitchen Sink Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually add a few extra mix-ins—especially colorful holiday jimmies or a sprinkle of toffee bits—on top of each cookie right after baking. It makes them look festive, plus adds a little crunch at first bite. Sometimes I even dust a tiny pinch of flaky sea salt for that extra salty-sweet pop.

Side Dishes

These cookies are perfect on their own, but I like serving them alongside a tall glass of cold milk (classic combo) or a hot cup of coffee or chai tea for a cozy afternoon treat. At holiday parties, they pair beautifully with a platter of fresh fruit or cheese to balance the sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I arrange these Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe cookies in a festive tin with parchment in between layers, or stack them in a decorative jar with a big ribbon on top. Another fun tip is to serve them warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an irresistible dessert.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once cooled, I keep these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay fresh and chewy for up to 5 days, though honestly, they rarely last that long! I also add a slice of bread to the container to help maintain moisture—trust me, it’s a game changer.

Freezing

I often freeze these cookies because they’re so easy to make ahead. You can freeze baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 2 months. For dough, I scoop and freeze the balls on a baking sheet, then transfer them into a freezer bag for up to 3 months. When ready, just bake straight from frozen adding a minute or two to the bake time.

Reheating

To enjoy leftover cookies warm, I pop them in the microwave for about 10 seconds or oven at 325°F for 3-4 minutes. This resets the texture and melts the chocolate just right, making them taste freshly baked again.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?

You can, but I recommend reducing or omitting added salt in the recipe to prevent the cookies from becoming too salty. Unsalted butter gives you better control over the final seasoning.

What’s the purpose of cornstarch in this cookie recipe?

Cornstarch helps keep the cookies soft and thick by tenderizing the dough. It prevents them from spreading too much during baking, resulting in a chewier texture that’s just perfect.

Can I swap out the mix-ins?

Absolutely! One of the best things about the Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe is how versatile it is. Feel free to swap in your favorite chips, nuts, candies, or even dried fruit. Just be mindful of quantities to keep the dough balanced.

What’s the best way to prevent my cookies from spreading too much?

Make sure your butter is properly softened—not melted—and handle the dough gently without overmixing. Chilling the dough for 15-30 minutes before baking can also help control spreading if you want thicker cookies.

Final Thoughts

In my kitchen, the Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe has become a go-to for anytime I want a cookie that feels special, fun, and effortlessly impressive. They remind me that sometimes, the best recipes come from simply combining all the good stuff with a little love. I hope you enjoy baking and sharing them as much as I do—it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that never disappoints.