Name: Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 9 min
Total time: 19 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 1/4 cups enriched wheat flour (can also use all purpose flour); 1 tsp baking soda; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 cup salted butter; 1 cup brown sugar; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1 egg; 2 tsp vanilla extract; 1 cup milk chocolate chips; 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips; 3/4 cup junior caramels (toffee bits); 3/4 cup chopped pretzels; Flaky sea salt for sprinkling

Print Recipe· 4.1 from 8 reviews

If you love cookies packed with every good thing you can imagine, the Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe is your new best friend. This indulgent treat brings together a delightful mix of buttery dough, rich chocolate chips, crunchy pretzels, sweet caramel bits, and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt to create cookies bursting with flavor and texture. Whether you’re baking for a crowd or just craving a snack loaded with surprises, these kitchen sink cookies are irresistibly chewy, crispy around the edges, and endlessly satisfying.

Ingredients You’ll Need

There is a silver baking tray on a white marbled surface with seven small, round cookie dough balls placed on it in two uneven rows. Each cookie dough ball is light brown with visible dark chocolate chunks and some textured bits that look like nuts or oats. To the left, there is a clear plastic bowl filled with the same cookie dough, showing a rough, chunky texture with dark and lighter bits mixed in. A metal ice cream scoop with cookie dough inside rests on the edge of the bowl. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

This recipe keeps things wonderfully straightforward, but each ingredient plays a crucial role in elevating the taste and texture of these cookies. From the rich butter that forms the luscious base to the mix of sweet and salty add-ins, everything combines for a perfectly balanced bite.

Salted butter: Provides a creamy richness and helps achieve a tender, chewy cookie texture.
Brown sugar: Adds deep molasses notes and keeps the cookies moist and soft.
Granulated sugar: Contributes to a lovely crisp edge and helps cookies brown beautifully.
Egg: Binds all the ingredients together and adds moisture.
Vanilla extract: Enhances the overall flavor and brings warmth to the dough.
Enriched wheat flour: The foundation of the dough, providing structure and tenderness.
Baking soda: Helps the cookies rise slightly and spread just enough.
Salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies other flavors in the cookie.
Milk chocolate chips: For creamy, melty pockets of sweetness throughout.
Semisweet chocolate chips: Adds a richer, more complex chocolate note.
Junior caramels (chopped): Offers gooey, buttery bursts in every bite.
Chopped pretzels: Introduces a delightful crunchy saltiness that contrasts beautifully with the sweet elements.
Flaky sea salt: Sprinkled on top to finish with a perfect hint of sparkle and flavor contrast.

How to Make Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Equipment

Preheat your oven to 350°F so it’s hot and ready when your dough is mixed. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easy.

Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars

In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is smooth, light in color, and fluffy. This step is key for that perfect cookie texture, as the air in the creamed butter creates lightness in each bite.

Step 3: Add the Egg and Vanilla

Scrape down the sides of the bowl before mixing in the egg and vanilla extract. This ensures an even blend, which makes your dough consistent throughout.

Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients

Stop the mixer and add the enriched wheat flour, baking soda, and salt. Begin mixing slowly so the flour doesn’t fly everywhere and gets fully incorporated into the dough.

Step 5: Incorporate All the Fun Add-Ins

Once the flour is halfway mixed into the dough, add in the milk chocolate chips, semisweet chocolate chips, chopped caramels, and pretzels. Let the mixer gently combine everything so that all those delicious bits are evenly distributed but not crushed.

Step 6: Portion the Dough

Decide on your cookie size: for bite-sized treats, scoop 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough each; for larger, shareable cookies, opt for 3 tablespoons. Arrange each ball on the parchment-lined cookie sheet, leaving plenty of space so they can spread without sticking together.

Step 7: Bake to Perfection

Pop the tray in the oven and bake small cookies for about 7 to 9 minutes, or larger cookies for 9 to 11 minutes. You want the edges to start turning a lovely golden brown while the centers remain soft. Watch closely to avoid over-baking.

Step 8: Shape and Add Finishing Touches

Right after removing the cookies from the oven, press the edges toward the center with the back of a metal spoon to create a perfect circle. Then, sprinkle the tops generously with flaky sea salt for a stunning flavor contrast.

Step 9: Cool and Enjoy

Let the cookies cool on the pan for about 20 minutes so they firm up just enough while still staying soft and chewy inside. Serve them warm for the ultimate cozy treat experience.

How to Serve Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe

A close-up of a cookie broken in half placed on white parchment paper over a white marbled surface, the cookie has a golden brown, chewy texture with melted dark chocolate chips inside and on top. One half of the cookie is topped with a crunchy, orange-brown pretzel and a ridged light tan potato chip, both lightly embedded in the warm chocolate. Another whole cookie with similar toppings is partially visible at the top left, with scattered chocolate chips and a small pretzel piece nearby. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

A light sprinkle of extra flaky sea salt right before serving enhances the complex flavors of these cookies. You could also drizzle melted chocolate or caramel over them for a little extra indulgence at special occasions.

Side Dishes

Pair these cookies with a cold glass of milk, hot coffee, or even a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert. Their rich, salty-sweet profile complements simple, creamy drinks and frozen treats perfectly.

Creative Ways to Present

For a party, stack these kitchen sink cookies into a tiered cookie tower or serve them on a rustic wooden board surrounded by bowls of extra chocolate chips, pretzels, and caramels for an interactive snack station everyone will love. Wrapping individual cookies in parchment and tying with twine also makes a charming homemade gift.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Place leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They will stay fresh and flavorful for up to 5 days, making them perfect for packing as lunchbox treats or a quick grab-and-go snack.

Freezing

You can freeze unbaked cookie dough balls by placing them on a tray to firm up, then transferring to a freezer-safe bag. When ready, bake them straight from frozen, adding a minute or two to the baking time. Baked cookies also freeze well when wrapped tightly, keeping that fresh-baked flavor for up to 2 months.

Reheating

Warm your cookies briefly in the oven at 300°F for about 5 minutes or microwave for 10 to 15 seconds to revive that fresh-from-the-oven softness. Be careful not to overheat, or they might dry out.

FAQs

Can I substitute the pretzels with something else?

Absolutely! If you’re not a pretzel fan, chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts work wonderfully to add crunch. Just be mindful of the saltiness they add, and adjust accordingly.

What if I don’t have junior caramels on hand?

You can swap the junior caramels for chopped store-bought caramel candies or even soft toffee bits. If those aren’t available, a handful of butterscotch chips could also add a lovely buttery sweetness.

How do I make sure the cookies turn out chewy and not cakey?

The key is to avoid overbaking. Pull your cookies out when the edges are golden but centers still look slightly undercooked. Cooling on the baking sheet helps them set while retaining that chewy texture.

Can I make the Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe gluten-free?

Yes! Use a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend, and make sure it contains xanthan gum or a similar binder for the best results. The texture might vary slightly, but the flavor will still be incredible.

Why do I press the cookies with a spoon after baking?

This step helps create a more uniform shape, making sure your cookies have that classic round, slightly flattened look. It also encourages even baking and slightly softens the edges without making them crumbly.

Final Thoughts

There is something truly magical about the Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe because it combines everything you could want in a cookie—sweet, salty, soft, crunchy, gooey—in one delightful bite. Whether you’re sharing these with friends or keeping them all to yourself, these cookies promise to bring smiles and satisfy cravings any day of the week. So don’t hesitate—grab your ingredients and dive into this fun, rewarding baking adventure!