These soft & chewy kitchen sink cookies can be made in one bowl and are loaded with chocolate chips, pretzels, and caramel! Inspired by Panera, these are the sweet & salty cookies of your dreams!
These cookies went Tiktok viral with almost 4 million views - watch the video here!
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Why are they called kitchen sink cookies?
Kitchen sink cookies are made with a chewy, chocolate chip cookie base & lots of delicious mix-ins! The name is based on the phrase "everything but the kitchen sink" where you can add anything you have in the pantry!
This recipe is inspired by Panera bread and is a slight alteration to my popular Panera chocolate chip cookie recipe...but is loaded with semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips, chopped caramel chunks, and pieces of pretzels! Some other kitchen sink cookie recipes add things like nuts, potato chips, or whatever sweet & salty things you have on hand!
Panera Kitchen Sink Cookie Ingredients & Notes
This is just an overview showing step-by-step photos, click here to jump down to full recipe card with exact instructions.
- Chocolate Chips: Panera uses a mix of both semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips but you can add whatever you like. Just be sure to chop at least half of the chocolate chips so that you have those small chocolate pieces in every bite (this also helps give the cookie that darker signature color!).
- Caramel: I used Kraft caramel and tore them into small pieces. You can also use the Kraft bits but I find they don't melt as well in cookies.
- Pretzels: Any salty pretzels will work!
- Butter: Use real butter here, not margarine. To get that signature flat vs. puffy cookie, we're melting the butter until it's pretty hot & then slightly flattening the top of the scooped cookies.
- Sea salt: Panera tops theirs with flaky salt, which is totally optional! My pretzels were already salty, so I left it off.
Make it gluten-free! You can substitute the all-purpose flour for half-almond flour and half of your favorite gluten-free flour! My favorite brand is Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour.
How to Make Kitchen Sink Cookies
This is just an overview showing step-by-step photos, click here to jump down to full recipe card with exact instructions.
Step 1: Chop & Prep Mix-Ins
Measure out ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, ½ cup milk chocolate chips, 10 caramels, and ½ cup chopped pretzels. Use a sharp knife to chop half of the chocolate chips into smaller shards and slivers. Next, chop the caramel into smaller pieces (I cut each into 6 pieces).
Tip: I recommend 1.5-2 cups of total mix-ins, so feel free to add more or less of each item as you wish!
Step 2: Make Cookie Dough
In a small microwave-safe bowl, add ½ cup (1 stick) butter and cover with a paper towel (will help for splattering). Melt the butter for 30-60 seconds until all is melted (no chunks left). You want it hot; if you hear it "pop" then it's most likely done.
Add in ½ cup brown sugar and ¼ cup granulated sugar, then use a spatula to stir until combined (* do not use a mixer for this recipe). The sugars should cool off the butter but if it's still piping hot, let cool for a minute or two.
Stir in 1 large egg and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Next, mix in ½ teaspoon baking soda and ¼ teaspoon salt. Add in 1 ¼ cup flour and mix until all the flour disappears into the dough.
Note: The dough will be wet and sticky, this is normal and it will firm up as it sits.
Step 3: Add Mix-Ins
Add the chopped chocolate chips, whole chocolate chips, chopped pretzels, and chopped caramel into the dough and mix. Allow dough to sit for 1-2 minutes to slightly firm up, then stir (it will still be a soft & slightly sticky dough).
Tip: If your dough is really runny after it sits, you can add 1-2 tablespoons of flour to help it firm up.
Step 4: Scoop & Roll
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop dough into ¼ cup-sized scoops (i.e. 4 tablespoons) then gently roll into your hands to create a ball. Flatten the tops so that they're a thick disc vs. a round ball. Without flattening, your cookies will be thicker and more cakey. If desired, press extra pretzel pieces on top.
Step 5: Bake & Cool
Bake at 350°F for 12-14 minutes. You want them to be slightly brown on the edges & top and look slightly underbaked in the center (my oven was perfect at 13 minutes).
If your cookies are wonky-shaped, immediately after taking out of the oven, use a bowl that is slightly larger than the cookie to "wiggle" it back into a circle shape.
Tip: The key to soft & chewy cookies is to take them out while the center still looks a tiny bit wet, as they will finish baking on the hot pan and firm up as they cool.
Storage & Freezing
Storing: For best texture, these are best enjoyed within 2 days but will last in an airtight container for 3-5 days.
Freezing: Freeze baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 month, then allow to thaw before eating (as the caramel will be too hard to eat when frozen).
Frequently Asked Questions:
I think they're better! I've found that most Panera locations overbake their cookies, which results in dry, hard cookies. These homemade kitchen sink cookies are perfectly soft & chewy!
If you follow the instructions and use a ¼-cup sized scoop, your cookies should end up being around 4 inches. This can vary depending on your altitude and climate, but that's how big mine spread in Tennessee. The "real" Panera kitchen sink cookies are even bigger than this, so if you want to make them true-to-size, I'd suggest using a ⅓ cup scoop of dough.
They do not contain nuts but you can certainly add some if you'd like! Other fun mix-ins are marshmallows, butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips, chopped Reeses candy, and more!
Kitchen Sink Cookies (Panera Copycat!)
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter i.e. 1 stick
- ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (not packed, just scooped and leveled with a knife)
- 1 cup chocolate chips I did half semi-sweet and half-milk chocolate
- ½ cup pretzels, chopped
- ½ cup caramels, chopped I used ~10 Kraft caramels (you can use the Kraft caramel bits but they don't melt as well)
Before you begin! If you make this, will you do me a huge favor and leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe? This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Chop half of the chocolate chips (½ cup) into small shards and slivers. Cut caramels (½ cup) into small chunks (about the size of the chocolate chips) and break up the pretzels (½ cup). Set aside.
- In a medium-sized microwave-safe bowl, add unsalted butter (½ cup, i.e. 1 stick) and cover with a paper towel (will help for splattering). Melt the butter in the microwave for 30-60 seconds until all is melted (no chunks left). You want it hot; if you hear it "pop" then it's most likely done.
- Add in light brown sugar (½ cup) and granulated sugar (¼ cup) and use a spatula to stir until combined (* do not use a mixer for this recipe). The sugars should cool off the butter but if it's still piping hot, let cool for a minute or two.
- Stir in egg (1 large) and vanilla extract (2 teaspoons). Next, mix in baking soda (½ teaspoon) and salt (¼ teaspoon).
- Add all-purpose flour (1 ¼ cups) and mix until all the flour disappears into the dough. Note: the dough will be wet and sticky, this is normal and it will firm up as it sits.
- Mix the chopped chocolate chips (½ cup), whole chocolate chips (½ cup), chopped pretzels (½ cup), and chopped caramel (½ cup) into the dough. Allow dough to sit for 1-2 minutes to slightly set so it's not as sticky, then stir (if needed, you can add 1-2 tablespoons flour to help it firm up).
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop dough into ¼ cup sized scoops (i.e. 4 tablespoons) then gently roll into your hands to create a ball. Flatten the tops so that they're a thick disc vs. a round ball. See image in post above for reference. Without flattening, your cookies will be thicker and more cakey.If desired, press extra pretzel pieces into the top.
- Bake at 350°F for 12-14 minutes. You want them to be slightly brown on the edges & top and look slightly underbaked in the center (my oven was perfect at 13 minutes). Tip: If your cookies are wonky-shaped, immediately after taking out of the oven, use a bowl that is slightly larger than the cookie to “wiggle” it back into a circle shape.
- Remove from oven and place entire pan on a cooling rack. Allow the cookies to cool on the hot pan for 10-15 minutes before removing them. This will allow them to finish baking on the hot pan. Once cooled, use a spatula to transfer them to a wire cooling rack.
- Enjoy slightly warm for gooey caramel or allow to fully cool...both ways are amazing!
Last Step! Please leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe! This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Sarah Hart says
These cookies are so great! I had previously used another Kitchen Sink cookie recipe and found those too dry and cakey. These are just the right chewy consistency with all of the yummy kitchen sink ingredients. Loved the melted butter method instead of getting the mixer out. I made them a little smaller than 1/4 cup, and I used Heath toffee chips instead of the caramels, but might try them again following this recipe exactly. Seems like they will be delicious.
Melissa says
I'm so glad you enjoyed the kitchen sink cookies, Sarah! Thanks so much for taking time to leave a review!
Deborah says
This recipe only makes nine giant cookies!!! Not enough 😆
I do expect a little more salt flavor in kitchen sink cookies. But that might be because I forgot to add bigger pretzels chunks on the top of the cookies (I did add the pretzel bits in the batter).
Thank you for a great recipe!!
Melissa says
I'm glad you enjoyed the kitchen sink cookies, Deborah! Thanks so much for taking time to leave a review!
Nanette H says
I like to experiment, but i followed this recipe exactly. I made 18 for the biker gang my dad is in, and they all had raving reviews. I ended up making another 18 for the house lmaooo! Really great recipe!
Melissa says
I'm so glad everyone loved the Kitchen Sink Cookies, Nanette!
Nathan says
These were amazing
Melissa says
I'm so glad you loved the Kitchen Sink Cookie recipe, Nathan. Thanks so much for taking time to leave a review!
Kathy Arrington says
Absolutely delicious and easy to make. Thank you for sharing this recipe
Melissa says
Thanks, Kathy. I'm so glad you enjoyed the Kitchen Sink Cookies!
Kay Filice says
I will start a batch as soon as I get off the computer. Your directions seem easy to follow and clear to read.
I'm making a batch for the guys at the automotive shop, they will even pick up our car and deliver it back if we needed.
Thanks, I'm sure they will love these!
Melissa says
What a kind thing to do, Kay! I hope you all love them! Report back and let me know how it goes. Happy baking!
Penny says
Thank You so much for this recipe . I love kitchen sink cookies. It's my go to at Panera's.
Melissa says
I'm so glad you're giving this recipe a try! Let me know how you like it! Happy baking!
Anna says
These are some of the best cookies I've EVER made!! I want to make them for christmas cookies...would the recipe worked if we cut the 1/4c scoop in half and halved the baking time? Just so I can make more with less pans...LOL
Melissa says
I'm so glad you love the kitchen sink cookies, Anna! Thanks so much for taking time to leave a review. I'm sure you can make smaller cookies, but I'm not sure exactly what the bake time will be. I don't know that they will bake through in half the time, so you'll just want to watch them and make sure they are done! Also, if you're trying to use less pans (always my goal!) you could also try my kitchen sink cookie bars. They bake in one pan and you can cut them into as many bars as you'd like! Happy baking!
Kitchen Sink Cookie Bars
Anna says
As soon as I commented this, I saw the recipe for the bars, LOL! Thank you for the quick response :-) Making them this weekend!!! I add some marshmallows to the top when they’re almost done baking and it is sooooo good!!
Melissa says
Yay! I'm so glad! Report back and let me know how you like the bars:)
Sharon says
Excellent cookies. I followed the recipe to the letter and they turned out beautifully. Delicious!
Melissa says
I'm so glad you enjoyed the Kitchen Sink Cookie recipe, Sharon! Thanks so much for taking time to leave a review!
Sharon says
Excellent cookies! Followed the recipe to the letter and they turned out beautifully. Delicious!