Valentine’s Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe
Introduction
Valentine’s Kitchen Sink Cookies are a delightful mix of sweet, salty, and crunchy all in one bite. Packed with colorful M&M’s, pretzels, potato chips, and sprinkles, these cookies are perfect for sharing or gifting on Valentine’s Day.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 2 egg yolks (room temperature)
- 2 tbsp vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup potato chips
- 1/3 cup pretzel pieces
- 1/2 cup Valentine’s Day M&M’s
- 1/4 cup white chocolate chips
- 2 tbsp Valentine’s Day sprinkles
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- Step 2: In a large bowl, cream together butter, dark brown sugar, and white sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed for about two minutes until light and fluffy.
- Step 3: Add egg yolks and vanilla, then mix on medium speed for another two minutes until the mixture is pale and fluffy.
- Step 4: Toss in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix until just combined and no flour streaks remain.
- Step 5: Fold in M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, potato chips, and sprinkles gently with a spatula until evenly distributed.
- Step 6: Scoop dough onto baking sheets, about six cookies at a time. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until edges are lightly golden. (12 minutes worked well.)
- Step 7: If cookies flatten too much, remove from oven after 10 minutes and gently press down with a flat surface, like the bottom of a cup. Return to oven for 2-3 more minutes.
- Step 8: Optional: Right after baking, use a circular glass to lightly swirl around each cookie for a perfect round shape.
- Step 9: Let cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack. Add extra toppings if desired, and enjoy!
Tips & Variations
- Swap the Valentine’s Day M&M’s for regular chocolate candies if unavailable.
- Try adding chopped nuts for an extra crunch.
- If you prefer softer cookies, reduce baking time by a minute or two.
- Use kettle-cooked chips for a stronger salty flavor.
Storage
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. To keep them fresh longer, freeze the baked cookies for up to 3 months. To reheat, warm them in a low oven (about 300°F) for a few minutes until soft and slightly melty.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use whole eggs instead of egg yolks?
Using whole eggs may alter the texture slightly, making the cookies a bit cakier. Egg yolks provide richness and chewiness, but whole eggs can work in a pinch.
Why do my cookies spread too much during baking?
Cookies can spread if the dough is too warm or if there isn’t enough flour. Chill the dough before baking, or use the tip of gently pressing cookies halfway through baking to help maintain their shape.
PrintValentine’s Kitchen Sink Cookies Recipe
Delightfully festive Valentine’s Kitchen Sink Cookies packed with an irresistible mix of sweet and salty add-ins including M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzels, and potato chips. These cookies have a perfect balance of chewy and crunchy textures, infused with vanilla and baked to a golden perfection, making them a memorable treat for any special occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes per batch
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 18 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 3/4 cups unsalted butter (softened)
- 3/4 cups dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 2 egg yolks (room temperature)
- 2 tbsp vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
Add-ins
- 1/3 cup potato chips
- 1/3 cup pretzel pieces
- 1/2 cup Valentine’s Day M&M’s
- 1/4 cup white chocolate chips
- 2 tbsp Valentine’s Day sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set them aside for later use.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, combine the softened unsalted butter, dark brown sugar, and white sugar. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, cream together for about two minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy, creating the perfect cookie base.
- Add Egg Yolks and Vanilla: Add the two room temperature egg yolks and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture. Continue mixing on medium speed until the mixture turns pale and fluffy, about two more minutes, ensuring proper incorporation.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Toss in the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gently mix the ingredients until just combined, making sure no flour streaks remain without overmixing to preserve cookie texture.
- Fold in Add-ins: Add the Valentine’s Day M&M’s, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, potato chips, and sprinkles to the dough. Using a spatula, gently fold everything together until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Scoop and Bake: Scoop the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, placing about six cookies per sheet to allow room for spreading. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes; 12 minutes yields a nicely baked cookie with golden edges.
- Manage Cookie Flattening (Optional): If cookies start to flatten too much, remove them from the oven after 10 minutes. Gently press down the cookies using a flat surface such as the bottom of a cup. Return them to the oven and bake for an additional 2-3 minutes until edges turn light golden brown.
- Optional Shaping: For perfectly round cookies, immediately after removing them from the oven, lightly swirl a circular glass around each cookie to refine their shape.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes to set, then transfer them to a wire cooling rack. Add any extra toppings if desired, and enjoy your Valentine’s Day treat!
Notes
- The use of both potato chips and pretzels adds a delightful salty crunch that balances the sweetness perfectly.
- Room temperature egg yolks ensure better mixing and a softer cookie texture.
- Be cautious of overmixing the flour to maintain a tender crumb in the cookies.
- Pressing cookies halfway through baking helps prevent excessive spreading for thicker cookies.
- Swirling a glass over freshly baked cookies gives an attractive rounded shape ideal for presentation.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to 5 days.
Keywords: Valentine’s Day cookies, chocolate chip cookies, M&M cookies, salty sweet cookies, holiday cookies, festive cookies
