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 feels quite as comforting as a cookie that surprises you at every bite—that's exactly what the Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe delivers. It's packed with all sorts of delicious goodies and textures, making it a fun, unforgettable treat for any occasion.

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

From the moment I made these cookies, I knew they’d become a staple in my kitchen. This recipe brings together so many flavors and textures that your taste buds will feel like they’re on a joyful rollercoaster. If you want a cookie that’s both nostalgic and exciting, this one checks all the boxes.

Unexpected Mix-ins: This cookie combines sweet, salty, crunchy, and chewy ingredients for a full sensory experience.
Perfect Texture: The addition of corn starch and careful butter temperature means these cookies are thick yet tender.
Festive and Fun: Holiday sprinkles and colorful mix-ins make these an instant crowd-pleaser, especially around festive seasons.
Easy to Customize: You can swap ingredients around to put your own spin on this kitchen classic.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in the Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe has a purpose, working together to deliver that perfect balance of flavor and texture. Plus, I’ve learned a few tips about choosing the best versions and how to prep them.

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: This gives structure to your cookie while letting all those mix-ins shine.
Baking soda: Helps with spread and rise for that ideal texture.
Cornstarch: Don’t skip this—it’s the secret ingredient for soft, thick cookies.
Salt: A little salt brings out the sweetness and enhances all the flavors.
Unsalted butter: Room temperature butter is key. It should be cool but soft to prevent spreading and ensure fluffiness.
Light brown sugar: Adds moisture and caramel notes that are so satisfying.
Granulated sugar: Balances sweetness and helps with the cookie’s chewy texture.
Egg and egg yolk: The duo provides richness and binds everything together nicely.
Vanilla extract: Always brings depth and warmth to any cookie.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips: You can mix in white or chopped chocolates for variety.
Toffee bits or holiday M&Ms: For that seasonal pop and crunch, plus a splash of color.
Crushed potato chips: Adding a salty, crispy surprise in every bite.
Chopped pretzels: More salty crunch and texture contrast.
Holiday jimmies (sprinkles): These hold up in the oven without melting or bleeding—trust me, I tried other sprinkles that fail.

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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

One thing I really enjoy about the Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe is how you can make it your own. I love switching up the mix-ins based on what I have at home or the time of year.

Variation: I’ve replaced toffee bits with chopped salted peanuts for an extra nutty crunch—delicious and it gives the cookie a more rustic feel.
Dietary twist: If you want gluten-free, swap the flour for a 1:1 gluten-free blend. Just watch the dough closely as it might bake slightly differently.
Seasonal spin: Around Halloween, I swap in orange and black sprinkles. In summer, dried cranberries and white chocolate chips make a fresh, tangy change.

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: Getting the Dry Ingredients Ready

Start by whisking together the flour, baking soda, cornstarch, and salt in a medium bowl. I always make sure to whisk thoroughly to evenly distribute everything—it sets the stage for the perfect cookie texture.

Step 2: Creaming the Butter and Sugars

Using a mixer, you want to beat the softened butter with light brown and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and creamy. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes. I find this step critical because it traps air for a fluffier cookie, so don’t rush it!

Step 3: Adding Eggs and Vanilla

Next, mix in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract. I like to pause halfway and scrape down the sides with a spatula to make sure it all blends evenly. This helps the dough come together beautifully without any streaks.

Step 4: Combining the Dry and Wet Ingredients

Turn your mixer to low and slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet. Mix just until you no longer see flour; over-mixing can make your cookies tough, so keep an eye on the texture here.

Step 5: Stirring in the Magic Mix-ins

This is my favorite part—fold in the chocolate chips, toffee bits, crushed potato chips, chopped pretzels, and festive jimmies using a spatula. The dough will look overstuffed and wow-worthy—in a good way!

Step 6: Scooping and Baking

Use a large cookie scoop or a scant ¼ cup measuring cup to portion the dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets. I roll each scoop into a tall oval rather than a ball—this trick makes for thicker cookies that hold their shape perfectly.

Bake at 350°F for about 10-12 minutes until edges turn a gentle golden and the tops are just set. Let the cookies rest for about 5 minutes, then gently press any extra toppings on top while still warm for that picture-perfect look.

Finally, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. If you can resist, they’re stunning even once cooled!

Top Tip

Through my many batches of these cookies, I’ve learned that small tweaks make a big difference. These tips helped me nail the texture and flavor every time, and I hope they help you too!

Butter Temperature Matters: Leave your butter out for 30-60 minutes until it’s cool but soft—not melted. This stops the cookies from spreading too thin.
Use Holiday Jimmies: I tried regular sprinkles before and the colors bled everywhere. The classic jimmies keep their shape and look festive!
Don’t Overmix: When adding the flour, mix until just combined for tender cookies that aren’t gluey.
Shape for Thickness: Rolling dough into ovals instead of balls gives you thicker, bakery-style cookies each time.

How to Serve Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe

Kitchen Sink Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love dusting these cookies with a light sprinkle of flaky sea salt right after baking—not too much, just enough to highlight the salty-sweet magic inside. For festive gatherings, adding a few extra holiday jimmies on top gives a fun pop of color.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair beautifully with a cold glass of milk or a cozy mug of coffee. I’ve also served them alongside vanilla ice cream for a decadent dessert that’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I like putting these cookies in decorative tins layered with parchment paper. Another fun idea is stacking smaller cookies between layers of frosting or Nutella to make mini cookie sandwiches—it’s always a hit!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Just make sure the container isn’t too tight so the cookies don’t get too soft. If they start to lose their crunch, popping them in the oven briefly refreshes them beautifully.

Freezing

You can freeze both baked cookies and the dough. For dough, I scoop balls onto a tray and freeze them before transferring to a freezer bag—this way, you can bake fresh cookies anytime by adding a couple extra minutes to the baking time.

Reheating

To reheat leftover cookies, I pop them in a 300°F oven for about 5 minutes. This wakes up the chocolate and restores some of that fresh-baked chewiness without making them hard or dry.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What makes this a 'Kitchen Sink' cookie?

This cookie earned its name because it includes a little bit of everything you might find in your kitchen or pantry — chocolate, toffee, pretzels, chips, and sprinkles. The combination creates a unique, complex flavor and texture every time.

Can I substitute the mix-ins?

Absolutely! One of the best things about this Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe is its flexibility. You can swap chocolate chips for white chocolate, pretzels for nuts, or toffee for crushed candy canes. Just keep a good balance of sweet and salty for best results.

Why is the butter temperature so important?

Room temperature butter ensures the dough creams properly with the sugars and helps control spreading in the oven. Too warm butter means flat cookies, while too cold makes mixing difficult. Aim for cool but soft butter for perfect cookies.

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes! You can cover the dough and refrigerate it for up to 2 days before baking. This actually helps deepen the flavors. Just note that the potato chips and pretzels might soften slightly in the dough over time.

Final Thoughts

This Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe has become one of those treats I love sharing with friends and family—not just because it tastes amazing, but because each bite tells a story of comfort, creativity, and a little bit of fun chaos in the kitchen. I hope you give it a try and discover your own favorite mix-ins and memories along the way.