How to Make Trash Cookies

Hey cookie fans!

Got half a bag of pretzels? A handful of chocolate chips? Some nuts or a scoop of oats left over from another recipe? Don’t toss ’em — trash cookies to the rescue!

Also known as garbage cookies, these are the best kind of kitchen clean-out. Think soft and chewy cookies packed with all your favorite mix-ins: sweet, salty, crunchy, gooey — it’s a flavor explosion in every bite.

This recipe is flexible, fun, and totally foolproof. Let’s bake up a batch!

Trash Cookies (Garbage Cookies)

Image: theslowtable.com / Photograph by Alyssa

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Choose 2 to 3 cups total of mix-ins. Some ideas include:

• 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup butterscotch chips
• 1/2 cup crushed pretzels
• 1/4–1/2 cup chopped nuts (like peanuts or walnuts)
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut
• 1/4 cup rolled oats
• 1/4 cup crushed potato chips or cornflakes
• 1/4–1/2 cup M&Ms or candy-coated chocolates

Step 1: Preheat Oven & Line Baking Sheets

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars

In a large bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.

Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla

Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract.

Step 4: Mix Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add to the wet ingredients.

Step 5: Fold in the Mix-Ins

Stir in your trash mix-ins — get creative and go wild!

Step 6: Scoop and Bake

Scoop heaping tablespoons of dough onto your baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
Bake for 10–12 minutes or until edges are golden and centers are still slightly soft.

Step 7: Cool and Enjoy

Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

How to Make Trash Cookies

Recipe by The Slow Table TeamCourse: Dessert

Servings

24

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

10

minutes

Calories

150

kcal

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1 cup brown sugar

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

• 2 large eggs

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• Mix-ins please choose ONLY 2 to 3 cups of the following

• 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

• 1/2 cup butterscotch chips

• 1/2 cup crushed pretzels

• 1/4–1/2 cup chopped nuts (like peanuts or walnuts)

• 1/4 cup shredded coconut

• 1/4 cup rolled oats

• 1/4 cup crushed potato chips or cornflakes

• 1/4–1/2 cup M&Ms or candy-coated chocolates

Directions

• Preheat Oven & Line Baking Sheets
  Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Cream Butter and Sugars
  In a large bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
• Add Eggs and Vanilla
  Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract.
• Mix Dry Ingredients
  In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add to the wet ingredients.
• Fold in the Mix-Ins
  Stir in your trash mix-ins — get creative and go wild!
• Scoop and Bake
  Scoop heaping tablespoons of dough onto your baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
  Bake for 10–12 minutes or until edges are golden and centers are still slightly soft.
• Cool and Enjoy
  Let cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

No Waste, All Yum

Trash cookies are the ultimate no-waste dessert. They’re chewy, fun to make, and totally customizable based on whatever you’ve got in the pantry.