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These cookies came to life last December when my children were digging through our snack stash. We had tons of leftover chips and pretzels from holiday get-togethers, and my little girl thought we should toss them into cookie batter. What began as a simple cleanup turned into our family's most loved holiday custom! They're super soft cookies packed with a bit of everything – crunchy pretzels, crispy potato chips, colorful M&Ms, and loads of white chocolate chunks. My boy calls them trash cookies but believe me, they're absolute gold!
What Makes These Cookies So Special
You'll get something unique in every mouthful. You might taste that salty crunch from a pretzel piece, then enjoy the sweet pop of an M&M. The potato chips might sound odd but they make these cookies completely irresistible. Kids from next door wait in our kitchen when they catch a whiff of these baking, and even my picky mother-in-law who says she hates 'strange' cookies wanted my method. And you won't need fancy tools – just grab a bowl and spoon!
Round Up These Items
- Butter: One cup melted then cooled so you won't cook your eggs!
- Brown Sugar: Press it down firmly for extra chewiness
- Regular Sugar: Only half a cup needed
- Eggs: Two large ones not cold from the fridge
- Vanilla: Use genuine extract for best taste
- Flour: Standard all-purpose around 2¼ cups
- Baking Soda and Powder: These give the right rise
- Salt: Just a tiny bit
- The Fun Stuff: Seasonal M&Ms white chocolate chunks broken pretzels potato chip pieces and colorful sprinkles
Create Your Own Cookie Wonder
- First Steps
- Start by melting your butter and setting it aside while watching something festive. Mix your flour with other dry stuff in a separate bowl.
- The Sugary Bit
- In another container, stir your cooled butter with both sugars until it looks damp and grainy. Drop in those eggs and vanilla, give everything a good stir.
- Mixing Together
- Gradually add your dry mix. Then comes the exciting part! Throw in all those goodies – M&Ms, chips, pretzels, everything. My kids always want to help with this part though many M&Ms somehow vanish.
- Cooling Period
- Make your cookie balls and stick them in the fridge. I know waiting seems tough but it'll pay off!
- Oven Time
- After chilling, bake until they're slightly golden around the edges. The center should still look a bit soft.
- Finishing Touch
- Here's my trick – stick extra M&Ms and chips on top while they're still hot, and they'll look like they came from a fancy shop!
Customize Your Creation
What's great about these cookies is you can add whatever snacks you've got lying around. I sometimes use butterscotch bits instead of white chocolate. Once I smashed some leftover Halloween candy and mixed that in. My buddy makes them with dark chocolate pieces and coconut and says they taste like a gourmet candy bar. Just keep the basic cookie mix the same and get creative with your additions!
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Think About The Shape
I often make tiny versions for holiday platters – just use a teaspoon instead of the big scoop. Adding sea salt on top really brings out the flavors – my man says it makes the sweet-salty combo even more amazing. During festive times I like to drizzle melted white chocolate over them with extra sprinkles for a truly holiday look!
Tips For Cookie Triumph
After baking these countless times, I've learned some tricks. Don't push down when measuring flour or your cookies will end up hard. You can't skip the chilling step unless you want one massive cookie instead of several! I always put parchment on my cookie sheets to stop sticking and make cleanup super easy.
Getting That Golden Bake
Keep your eyes on these cookies while they're baking – they can burn really fast. Look for edges just turning golden but with centers that seem slightly undercooked – that's exactly right! Let them sit on the hot pan for a bit after coming out, they'll finish cooking and set up nicely.
Giving Them A Store-Bought Look
Want to know my trick for fancy-looking cookies? Right when they leave the oven, push a few more M&Ms and chips onto the tops. They'll melt right into the warm cookie and look amazing. Also, if your cookies aren't perfectly round, you can gently push them into shape with a big round cookie cutter while they're still warm.
Storing Your Sweet Treats
These cookies stay soft for days when kept in a sealed container – if they last that long! I like to make extra dough balls to freeze – they're perfect when friends drop by unexpectedly. Just bake them straight from frozen, adding a minute or two to the cooking time. Nothing makes people feel more welcome than the smell of cookies baking!
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Why should I chill the dough?
Chilling keeps them from spreading flat while baking, making thicker, chewier cookies.
- → How do I make cookies perfectly round?
Use a cutter to nudge freshly baked cookies into shape while they're still soft and warm.
- → What's the right way to measure flour?
Scoop flour with a spoon into the measuring cup, then level it off to get the perfect amount.
- → Why do mix-ins fall off?
Gently press extras onto warm cookies right out of the oven so they stay put as they cool down.
- → What else can I add to these?
Get creative with things like nuts, other chips, or candies! Just stick to the same overall mix-in quantity to avoid overloading the dough.
Conclusion
A mix of chewy candies, crispy chips, and salty pretzels makes these cookies a must for holiday fun. Every bite brings a new surprise.