Santa’s Trash Cookies combine a little bit of everything: chips, festive M&Ms, chocolate chips, salty pretzels, and caramel. I mean, really, any snack in your pantry, feel free to throw in 🤣 Hence the name “trash” since they have a variety of mixed goodies! These cookies are so fun not only for holiday parties but for cookie exchanges, holiday cookie boxes, or if you just want to make Santa something a little extra special.
Why Add Vanilla Pudding Mix In Cookies?
Adding vanilla pudding mix is a secret weapon I use in some of my baked goods recipes like my Pumpkin Bread, Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies, Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake, and my Epic Twix Cookies. But why add it? What does it do? Cornstarch in the pudding mix helps make the cookies soft and tender, which is why I also like to add cornstarch to many of my cookie recipes. The pudding mix also helps with some added flavor and makes thick, fluffier cookies. (not super flat cookies!)
Why This Recipe Works
No Chill Time: Santa can’t wait any longer! Whip up a batch and bake them straight away, no need to wait and chill the cookie dough. Vanilla Pudding Mix: like I mentioned above, the pudding mix helps create a thick, flavorful, soft cookie. It’s the secret ingredient that takes cookies and baked goods to the next level! Sweet & Salty Flavors: You might think potato chips in cookies sounds bizarre, but I promise you the salty notes compliment all the sweetness and creates a delicious treat!
Ingredient Notes
(For the full recipe, scroll down to the recipe card below)
All-Purpose Flour: All-Purpose Flour provides a delicious texture and gives the cookies the perfect chewiness you love. Unsalted Butter: The biggest benefit of unsalted butter lets you control the overall flavor of your cookies, plus you get the pure sweet flavor of butter in the cookies. Brown Sugar: I use light brown sugar, but you can easily substitute dark brown sugar. Granulated Sugar: granulated sugar adds to the crispiness of the cookie, and makes for a lighter colored cookie. Vanilla: Vanilla is a must in cookies, it adds a complex and subtle spice, and I always recommend using real vanilla extract. Egg & 1 egg yolk: The protein in eggs adds to a chewy texture, so adding an extra yolk, gives the cookie the extra chewiness that makes these cookies perfect. All the mix-ins: pretzels, wavy potato chips, chocolate chips, caramel, sprinkles, festive M&Ms.
Step by Step Directions
(For the full recipe, scroll down to the recipe card below)
Other Variations
Peanut butter: you can add in some Reese’s pieces candy or a couple tablespoons of peanut butter for a nutty spin. Or make my Christmas Monster Cookies! S’mores: make a s’mores version by adding mini marshmallows and graham cracker pieces. Or try my epic S’mores Cookies. Trail mix: add in some oats, fruit, and nuts. Or try my Trail Mix Cookies!
Success Tips
Keep some extra M&Ms, chips, or pretzel pieces to decorate the tops of the cookies after they bake. Careful not to overbake; just as little as 30 seconds over can take a cookie from being perfect to overbaked and dry! Be sure to preheat the oven for 20-30 minutes so the oven is at a stable temperature when you’re ready to pop your cookies in the oven. Use a cookie scoop to keep your cookies uniform in shape and size.
Storage and Freezing
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. To freeze the cookie dough, scoop it into 2 Tbsp. balls and freeze in a single layer in an airtight container for up to 3 months. You can bake the frozen cookie dough from frozen; just add an extra minute or so to your baking time. Ovens vary. Make Ahead: You can make the cookie dough and chill it in the refrigerator for up to 2–3 days. Allow to come to room temperature, then continue to bake as directed.
