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Skip plain sugar cookies and go for something more flavorful and fun with these Healthy Kitchen Sink Cookies. Made with loads of mix-ins and delicious ingredients, these are pretty much guaranteed to be your new favorite cookie.
Your new favorite healthy cookie recipe
If you’ve ever had the Panera Bread kitchen sink cookie, you know. That’s alI have to say… you just know. A ginormous cookie made of delicious ingredients, it’s the best bakery item that they make.
And now, we’re making our very own copycat version! These cookies come together in a pinch (only about 20 minutes) and taste like absolute heaven. We’ll be going a little crazy with the mix-ins (a bit moreso than Panera does) to give the cookies a rocking combination of salty and sweet.
Trust me when I say that after trying these delicious little concoctions, no other cookie will ever taste as good.
Ingredients in healthy kitchen sink cookies
Healthy kitchen sink cookies are made of standard baking ingredients like butter, sugar, egg, and flour. It gets fun when we add the toppings, a tasty mixture of salty and sweet!
- Butter
- Coconut sugar
- Egg
- Vanilla
- Flour
- Rolled oats
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Mix-ins: Pretzels, M&Ms, coconut flakes, chopped walnuts, mini chocolate chips
Note: See below for more delicious mix-in ideas! For this recipe, the more, the better.
Tools needed to make this recipe
Though this kitchen sink cookie recipe calls for way more mix-ins than regular cookie ingredients, the kitchen item list is pretty much standard. Nothing unusual to see here, folks! Just grab your baking sheet, mixing bowls, and a few other items and you’ll be ready to go.
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Large mixing bowl
- Hand mixer
- Medium mixing bowl
- Stirring utensil
Finally, you will need a chopping block or cutting board for chopping the mix-ins, as well as the following measuring cups: 1/4 tsp, 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, and 3/4 cup.
How to make copycat Panera kitchen sink cookies
If you have about 20 minutes to spare, you have time to whip up a batch of these healthy kitchen sink cookies. And that includes the hands-off baking time! Just mix everything together, place the dough on a tray, bake, and BAM. Delicious, jam-packed cookies that are ready faster than you can say “healthy kitchen sink cookies!”
To begin, preheat the oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, cream the butter and coconut sugar using a hand mixer.
Next, add the egg and vanilla and beat until creamy. Set it aside.
In a medium sized bowl, mix the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt.
Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet until everything is combined.
Stir in your mix-ins of choice.
Scoop 1/4 cup of dough per cookie, roll into a ball, and flatten/press slightly onto the baking sheet. Top with more mix-ins if desired.
Bake for 14 to 16 minutes, or until golden brown.
Let the cookies cool on a wire rack before eating.
Recipe Tips
You’ve got recipe questions, and I’ve got the answers! Below are common kitchen sink cookie Qs.
What are some additional mix in options?
The options are endless! Kitchen sink cookies are a treat where you can literally get as creative as you want. Additional ideas include sprinkles, crushed up candy (like Kit Kats!), or even a caramel drizzle.
Can I use vegan butter?
Definitely! Feel free to sub the regular butter with a dairy-free option if preferred. If you’d like these cookies to be completely vegan, see below for subbing the egg.
Will sea salt taste good on top?
Oh, yes! Sea salt always tastes good atop chocolate cookies and sweets, and these are no different. Sprinkle it on and enjoy!
Substitution Tip
Wondering how to make these cookies your own? It’s easy! Here are a few ingredients that allow you to mix things up.
- Butter: As mentioned above, any plant-based or dairy-free butter will work in these cookies. Use a 1:1 ratio.
- Coconut sugar: Coconut sugar can be swapped with any other sugar.
- Egg: Skip the egg by using 1/4 cup applesauce, or make a chia seed “egg” by mixing 1 tbsp of seeds with 3 tbsp of water.
- Baking soda: Out of baking soda? Use powder! For this recipe you’d need 1.5 tsp of baking powder to replace the soda.
How this is a healthy cookie recipe
In all of my baked goods I use a number of ingredients that are more nutrient-rich than their standard alternatives. For this recipe, I chose to use coconut sugar, whole wheat flour, and rolled oats.
The rolled oats, for example, add protein and fiber. Coconut sugar contains magnesium and potassium and has a lower glycemic index, meaning it won’t spike your blood sugar as drastically as white sugar.
All in all, these simple swaps do a bit to make these cookies a better option than most!
More treats to satisfy your sweet tooth
Can’t get enough sweets? I know the feeling! Below are some of my favorite sweet tooth-approved recipes that you’re guaranteed to love!
- Healthy Salted Caramel Blondies
- Healthier Walnut Magic Bars
- Double Chocolate Mint Paleo Cookies
- Healthy Mini Apple Pies
Photos by Moriah Sawtelle and recipe by Erin Antoniak.
Healthy Kitchen Sink Cookies
Skip plain sugar cookies and go for something more flavorful and fun with these Healthy Kitchen Sink Cookies. Made with loads of mix-ins and delicious ingredients, these are pretty much guaranteed to be your new favorite cookie.
Ingredients
- 1 stick butter, softened
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 3/4 cup white whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup each crushed pretzels, m&m’s, coconut, chopped walnuts, mini chocolate chips * see note for other ideas!
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl using a hand mixer, cream butter and coconut sugar.
- Add in egg and vanilla and beat until creamy. Set aside.
- In a medium sized bowl, mix together flour, oats, baking soda, and salt.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet, until all combined.
- Stir in mix-ins of choice.
- Scoop 1/4 cup dough per cookie, roll into ball, and flatten/press slightly onto baking sheet. Top with more mix-ins if desired.
- Bake for 14-16 minutes or until golden brown.
- Let cook on wire rack before eating.
Notes
*other mix in ideas – dried cranberries, chopped pecans, peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, crushed potato chips
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Robyn Cerone says
Hi Erin! Can’t wait to make these for my son’s at college. Question: I would like to bulk up the protein a bit. Can I sub some protein powder for some of the flour? My boys are always working out and looking for higher protein snacks. Would love your insight?
Erin says
Hi Robyn, yes, you can add a scoop of vanilla protein – you may need to add another egg or more liquid though. Let me know how your cookies come out!
Genevieve says
Hi Erin! Is salted and unsalted vegan butter ok to try!? Thx
Erin says
Hi Genevieve, yep that should be fine! How did they come out?
Camille says
These were so easy and fun to make, and turned out sooo delicious! We made them vegan and gluten free, and used crushed Jingle Jangle from Trader Joe’s as the topping (plus added coconut, pecans, and almonds). Absolutely recommend!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Camille, so happy you loved them and made them your own!! ๐
Julianne says
I love to keep a sweet treat on hand and these are my go to.
I sub the whole wheat flour for a gluten free flour
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Julianne, so happy you loved them and made them your own!!
Morgan says
Iโve made this as cookies and they have been a huge crowd pleaser! Do you think they would work as bars as well? Anything you would change with baking time or temp??
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Morgan, I am so happy to hear that! Yes! I would try adding about 5-10 more minutes cook time. Let me know how they come out!
Rachel E. Holz says
AAAAMAZING COOKIES! I tried used a nut-blend flour because I didnโt have any white whole wheat flour- they spread out very thin- do not recommend that substitution ๐ they are still insanely delicious!!! Used what was in my cupboard: white chocolate chips, pretzels, dark chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, coconut & Oreos!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Rachel, I am thrilled you loved the cookies!!
Cara says
These are so delicious and so fun to pick the mix ins! The oats make them so chewy and delicious. Love all your recipes Erin!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Cara, I am so happy you loved them!
Bernadette says
So easy and so good! Love the flexibility and love that I was able to add the salty and sweet to it which is my favorite combo!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Bernadette, I am so happy you enjoyed them!
Kellyn says
Love that you can change your mix-inโs depending on what you have in your pantry! I used regular sugar and gluten free flour and it turned out perfectly!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kellyn, so happy you liked them!!
Caroline says
Made these with my friend last week, we had so much fun shopping for all the mix ins and the cookies did not disappoint! The oats were my favorite they made the cookies so chewy.
Erin says
Hi Caroline, I am so happy you both liked them!
Christine says
Made these for New Years dinner desert & they were a hit! Also made the sโmores bars too (tried & true for my group of friends)
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Christine, thanks for sharing!!
Emily says
I love this recipe because you can make it your own! Whatever you have in your cab it, throw it in and the cookies are amazing! The perfect blend of salty and sweet!
Erin says
Hi Emily, I am so glad you liked them!!
christina says
nothing makes me more excited than seeing a new nut-free ELW recipe ๐ these were amazing! so easy to make, and delicious. i should have doubled the recipe because my family finished them in one day haha!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Christina, thanks for your kind words! So happy everyone liked them!
Amanda says
Can you make the dough ahead of time and refrigerate until ready to bake?
Erin says
Hi Amanda, yes you can! Let me know how they come out for you!