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Santa's Trash Cookies

Santa's Trash Cookies are like a party in a cookie, filled with unexpected snacks like wavy potato chips and pretzels. To make them festive, add in red and green M&Ms, semi sweet chocolate chips, caramel, and holiday sprinkles. They are the ultimate holiday treat and so easy to make!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 22 cookies
Calories 210kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • 1, 3.4 oz. box instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed, light or dark
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 large egg yolk, room temperature
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • flaky sea salt, for garnish

Mix Ins

  • 1/2 cup red and green M&Ms, plus more to garnish on top
  • 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips, plus more for on top
  • 1/2 cup pretzels, crushed
  • 1/2 cup wavy potato chips, crushed
  • 1/4 cup Kraft caramels, chopped or christmas sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a few baking sheets with parchment paper. 
  • In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, pudding mix, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
    1 3/4 cup all purpose flour, spooned and leveled, 1, 3.4 oz. box instant vanilla pudding mix, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. salt
  • In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugars until creamy, about 2-3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
    3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened, 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed, light or dark, 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • Add in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla and mix again until combined, again scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
    1 large egg, room temperature, 1 large egg yolk, room temperature, 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • Gradually add in the dry ingredients just until mixed.
  • Add in the festive M&Ms, chocolate chips, pretzels, crushed potato chips and caramels or sprinkles if using.
    1/2 cup red and green M&Ms, plus more to garnish on top, 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips, plus more for on top, 1/2 cup pretzels, crushed, 1/2 cup wavy potato chips, crushed, 1/4 cup Kraft caramels, chopped or christmas sprinkles (optional)
  • Place about 6-8 cookies at a time on a baking sheet and gently press a few more M&Ms and chocolate chips on top of the cookies. Gently press down on the cookies to flatten a little. Bake for 8-10 minutes (do not over bake), remove from the oven and let cool for just a couple minutes on the baking sheet then carefully transfer to a wire cooling rack. (You can swirl a cup around them to get perfect circles if needed when they’re warm right out of the oven)
  • Garnish with more potato chips or pretzel pieces and flaky sea salt. Enjoy!
    flaky sea salt, for garnish

Video

Notes

Store these Santa's Trash Cookies in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 210kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 160mg | Potassium: 78mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 229IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg