Santa's trash cookies are the holiday version of the kitchen sink cookie. They're loaded with salty and sweet, chocolate and peanut butter. A fun mix of whatever you've got on hand.
Santa's trash cookies are thick, chewy and loaded with everything good! You'll love the crunch from the potato chips and pretzels, and the sweetness from the peanut butter chips and m&m's.
For more festive holiday recipes try my gingerbread blondies, peppermint hot chocolate cookies or my egg nog bundt cake.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- ANYTHING GOES: These cookies are the best because you can add whatever you want!
- FUN FOR THE HOLIDAYS: I always love anytime I can add red and green m&m's to something during the holiday time.
- SALTY & SWEET: My absolute favorite combo when it comes to any baked good!
Ingredient Notes
Full ingredient measurements and instructions can be found in the recipe card below.
- Butter: You will use room temperature butter, but make sure it isn't too soft or your cookies will spread too thin.
- M&M's: I used the traditional plain holiday m&m's, but they would be great with mint, or peanut too.
- PB Chips: I love the Reese's peanut butter chips, but I've also made these with chocolate chips and white chocolate chips.
- Chips & Pretzels: These will add some fun texture and flavor. Make sure you crunch them up a bit before mixing.
Recipe Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 365 and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 2: Place the butter and sugars in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla and mix in.
Step 3: Slowly mix in baking powder, baking soda, salt and flour, being careful not to over mix. I usually stop when I still have some flour remnants around the bowl.
Step 4: Fold in the m&m's, peanut butter chips, chips and pretzels.
Step 5: Scoop the dough into large balls, I like to use the ¼ cup cookie or ice cream scoop. Place 6-8 cookie dough balls on the cookie sheet, adding a few extra m&m's and mix in's on the top before sprinkling with the flaked sea salt.
Step 6: Bake the cookies for 11-14 minutes. You're looking for a nice golden brown outside, with a slightly glossy texture to the inside. If your cookies don't come out in a perfect circle, I like to take a spatula and circle the rim of the cookie to bring in any spots that have spread a little too far.
Expert Baking Tips
- This is one of those cookies where whatever you have on hand is what you'll add. I love having a mix of flavors which is why I did m&m's and PB chips. But chocolate chips, white chocolate or even chopped candy bars would be great!
- Make sure and break up the chips and pretzels so they aren't too big inside the cookie.
- I have given both cups and grams as measurements. Grams will be more precise, especially when measuring flour. If you don't have a kitchen scale, no problem! Just lightly spoon flour into your measuring cup to insure its not packed in there. Light and fluffy is the key.
FAQ
Yes, the cookie dough is a great base. The cookies will not be as thick though without all the mix-ins.
Yes, you will just need to decrease the baking time.
Yes, just make sure that you sub in gluten free 1:1 flour and that whatever mix-ins you use are also gluten free.
Storing & Freezing
Santa's trash cookies will remain fresh if stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days. You can prep the cookie dough in advance and store it in the fridge for about a week.
Freeze your cookies in an airtight container for 2-3 months with them remaining fresh. You can freeze the cookie dough balls if you would like to bake them one at a time, or as needed.
Other Popular Recipes to Try
For more yummy treats follow me on instagram @thesaltedsweets. And be sure to tag me and comment if you make them and love them as much as I do!
Santa's Trash Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup (227 g) butter
- 1 cup (220 g) packed brown sugar
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) baking powder
- 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) baking soda
- 1 tsp (1 teaspoon) salt
- 3 cups (420 g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (125 g) m&m's
- ½ cup (85 g) peanut butter chips
- ½ cup (25 g) potato chips
- ½ cup (40 g) broken pretzels
- flaked sea salt for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 365 and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Place the butter and sugars in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add eggs and vanilla and mix in.
- Slowly mix in baking powder, baking soda, salt and flour, being careful not to over mix. I usually stop when I still have some flour remnants around the bowl.
- Fold in the m&m's, peanut butter chips, chips and pretzels.
- Scoop the dough into large balls, I like to use the ¼ cup cookie or ice cream scoop. Place 6-8 cookie dough balls on the cookie sheet, adding a few extra m&m's and mix in's on the top before sprinkling with the flaked sea salt.
- Bake the cookies for 11-14 minutes. You're looking for a nice golden brown outside, with a slightly glossy texture to the inside. If your cookies don't come out in a perfect circle, I like to take a spatula and circle the rim of the cookie to bring in any spots that have spread a little too far.
laura w
Delicious!!!! I made these yesterday and skipped the chips and pretzels. Sweet and salty and perfectly soft and chewy.
Whitlee Jones
This recipe is so delicious, I am a dough person (oops I know, I know) and this dough is so good!! I changed up the chips a little because my daughter is allergic to peanuts and even though I know the peanutbutter chips would have been amazing I subbed in white chocolate and semi sweet chips.
Eman Najmeddine
These were delicious! I added everything that I had on hand into these cookies and they turned out amazing. The chips added a great touch!
Ashley Gunning
I absolutely loved these cookies! I made them for the first time this year and they came out so soft and chewy! They were a huge hit on my holiday platters. I recommend using a pretzel on top instead of a potato chip for presentation.
Jeannie
These were so yummy! Love the sweet and salty combo!
Bailey
This is the perfect recipe to make right after Christmas when you have so many leftover snacks and treats! I love that you can customize it. These are amazing!!