Easter Trash Cookies (Printable)

Colorful Easter treats loaded with candies, pretzels, and white chocolate chips.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking soda
03 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

04 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1 cup packed light brown sugar
06 - ½ cup granulated sugar
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

→ Mix-ins

09 - 1¼ cups pastel-colored candy-coated chocolates
10 - 1 cup mini pretzels, roughly broken
11 - ¾ cup crispy rice cereal
12 - ½ cup white chocolate chips
13 - ½ cup mini marshmallows
14 - ⅓ cup sprinkles
15 - ½ cup roasted salted peanuts or chopped pecans (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.
03 - Beat butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes.
04 - Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract.
05 - Gradually mix in dry ingredients until just combined.
06 - Gently fold in candy-coated chocolates, pretzel pieces, rice cereal, white chocolate chips, marshmallows, sprinkles, and nuts if using.
07 - Drop heaping tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart.
08 - Bake for 9 to 11 minutes until edges are lightly golden. Centers will appear slightly underbaked.
09 - Let cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • These cookies are basically an edible scavenger hunt of everything delicious in your pantry right now
  • The sweet and salty combo hits that perfect spot where you cannot decide if you want dessert or a snack
  • Kids go absolutely wild for the colors, and adults secretly love the nostalgia
02 -
  • Underbaking slightly is the secret to chewy cookies that stay soft for days
  • Room temperature ingredients matter more than you think, so do not rush the butter softening step
  • The marshmallows will melt into sticky pools and that is completely normal and wonderful
03 -
  • Chill your dough for 30 minutes if you have time because thicker edges and better flavor development are worth the wait
  • Press a few extra candies on top of each cookie before baking for that professional bakery look

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