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 cookie of your dreams!
Prep time: PT10M
Cook time: PT12M
Total time: PT25M
Rating
4.93 stars (498 reviews)
Keywords
kitchen sink cookies, panera copycat recipe
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
Categories
Dessert
Cuisine
Cookie
Steps
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Chop half of the chocolate chips (½ cup) into small shards and slivers. Cut ½ cup caramels, chopped into small chunks (about the size of the chocolate chips) and break up the ½ cup pretzels, chopped. Set aside.
In a large microwave-safe bowl, add ½ cup unsalted butter, 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.
To the hot butter, add in the ½ cup light brown sugar, packed and ¼ cup granulated sugar 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 1 large egg and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract. Next, mix in ½ teaspoon baking soda and ¼ teaspoon salt.
Add 1 ¼ cups all-purpose 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.
Mix the chopped chocolate chips (½ cup), whole chocolate chips (½ cup), ½ cup pretzels, chopped, and ½ cup caramels, chopped 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!
Nutitrion
Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 399 kcal
Carbohydrates: 58 g
Protein: 5 g
Fat: 17 g
Saturated Fat: 10 g
Trans Fat: 1 g
Cholesterol: 49 mg
Sodium: 239 mg
Sugar: 39 g
Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
Reviews
Gillian H on 2026-06-29 (5 stars): Just finished making this recipe!! I am obsessed!! Chewy and crunchy!! Perfect cookie!
Michelle on 2026-05-27 (5 stars): Delicious! Super easy to make and amazing
Marlyn Kurzhals on 2026-05-23 (5 stars): !!Amazing !!
Kurt on 2026-04-20 (5 stars): Followed your instructions to the letter. Came out perfect...my only dig was after they sat for several hours, the Carmels were a bit hard on my teeth.
Mary on 2026-04-05 (5 stars): Loved the cookies. Will definitely make again
Nanette Harris on 2026-03-14 (5 stars): Best cookies ever. I don’t leave recipe reviews EVER, but I’d be disgracing the masses if I didn’t hype these up. They are perfect. Everyone make them please. I put one whole pretzel on top of each one as a decoration and it’s so cute!!!
Lisa on 2026-03-04 (4 stars): Cookie is very good !!! Tastes nothing like the Panera cookie but I would make again.
Day on 2026-02-26 (5 stars): Great recipe that has become a household staple! I do agree with the comments that the pretzels could be a bit crisper if added in later, but I've also found that if I bake them as soon as the dough's done being mixed, that they come out great. May experiment further but overall love this recipe!