Christmas Monster Cookies
These Christmas Monster Cookies are bursting with peanut butter, M&M’s, semi-sweet, and white chocolate flavors in a warm cookie with a soft center and crispy edges. It’s a sweet twist on a classic cookie to enjoy all season long.
The Best Christmas Cookies
So many cookies are holiday classic desserts like Peanut Butter Blossoms, Snickerdoodles, and Thumbprint Cookies. Each of them brings a little something special and is perfect to share with loved ones and in cookie exchanges and cookie trays.
These Christmas Monster Cookies combine many of my favorite classics into one delicious cookie. They have a creamy peanut butter base and are loaded with oats, semi-sweet chocolate, white chocolate chips, and M&M’s. They are such a show-stopper and always get rave reviews wherever I take them.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Flavorful! These cookies combine the best flavors with peanut butter, oats, and chocolate.
Festive! They have bright pops of red, green, and white on each cookie.
Popular! Everyone from kids to adults will enjoy these treats.
Ingredients
- M&M’s– Bright red and green M&M’s look so festive on cookies! Plus they give a nice little crunch when you bite into them. You can switch this up and use regular colors of M&M’s for any time of year.
- Semi-Sweet and White Chocolate Chips– I think this combination is both festive and delicious but you can use any type of chocolate including dark or milk.
- Peanut Butter– I like to use creamy peanut butter so that it blends easier into the cookie but you can easily swap this out for crunchy with similar results.
- Butter– I highly recommend using real butter. It gives it such a better flavor in my opinion than margarine. I use salted because I think a hint of extra salt helps to bring out the sweetness from the chocolate but unsalted could be used also.
- Granulated and Brown Sugar– Using both granulated white sugar and brown sugar gives it that tender chewy center with a crispy edge.
- Egg and Egg Yolk– The extra egg yolk helps make the cookies have a chewier center.
- Vanilla Extract
- All-Purpose Flour
- Old Fashioned Oats
- Baking Soda & Baking Powder
- Salt
- Cornstarch– This is an optional ingredient but one I do recommend. Cornstarch is the secret ingredient to help make the cookies soft in the center.
*See the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page for detailed instructions and a list of ingredients.
How To Make Monster Cookies
- Cream the butter and sugars: Mix until the butter starts to turn almost white in appearance so there are plenty of air pockets- around 5 minutes. It doesn’t seem like this is an important step, but it helps the cookies puff up and hold their shape.
- Add the rest of the wet ingredients: Stir in the peanut butter, egg, egg yolk, and vanilla extract until it is well blended.
- Combine dry ingredients– Whisk flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder, cornstarch, and salt together in a medium bowl.
- Mix it all together– Add the dry ingredients into the butter/sugar mixture and stir until just combined.
- Add the mix-ins– Fold in the M&M’s, semi-sweet, and white chocolate chips.
- Refrigerate the dough– Chilling the dough helps the cookies hold their shape. It’s optional but I often recommend chilling for at least one hour.
- Bake the cookies– Place in the oven and bake for 9-11 minutes or until cooked through. The edges will turn golden brown and the centers will just be set.
- Cool– Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to finish cooling. Enjoy!
Variation Ideas
These cookies are so fun to make for all occasions and seasons. Here are a few ways to switch them up:
- Sprinkles: Add in a few sprinkles to make it even more festive.
- Chocolate: Try adding in a few different flavors like dark chocolate, butterscotch, or peanut butter chips.
- Pretzels: Mix in half a cup of crushed pretzels for a little more salt and crunch.
Storage Options
To store: Allow the cookies to completely cool and then store them in an air-tight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
To freeze: These cookies freeze really well when placed in an air-tight container or freezer bag and frozen for up to 2 months.
Make Ahead Option
These cookies are easy to make ahead to enjoy later. Make the cookie dough, scoop it into balls, and place the dough balls into an air-tight container and freeze. When ready to bake, you can either bake the dough from frozen or allow them to come to room temperature. If baking from frozen, just add a few minutes to the baking time.
Helpful Tips
* Try lining the sheet pan with parchment paper to help make cleanup much easier.
* Chilling the cookies is highly recommended to help them hold their shape. But you can always skip this step if you’re short on time.
* Use room-temperature eggs to help them blend better into the cookie dough.
More Delicious Dessert Recipes
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Christmas Monster Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch optional
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup Christmas M&M's divided
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease. Set aside.
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream together butter and sugars until it becomes light and fluffy- around 5 minutes. Mix in egg, egg yolk, vanilla extract, and peanut butter until smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder, cornstarch, and salt. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until blended.
- Fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, and 1/2 cup of M&M's.
- Scoop dough using a heaping tablespoon or cookie scoop and place onto the cookie sheet around 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 9-11 minutes or until the edges are just slightly golden and the center looks just finished (it will continue to cook on the baking sheet). Remove from oven and top with additional M&M's. Allow to cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheet before removing to a cooling rack to finish cooling. Enjoy!
Notes
- Cookies bake more evenly on cooled baking sheets. Alternate between two baking sheets or allow the baking sheet to fully cool before baking another batch.
- Do not overbake these cookies to prevent the white chocolate chips from turning too brown. Remove from oven when the edges are just slightly golden and the center almost looks underdone. They will continue to cook on the cookie sheet while cooling.
- Cornstarch is optional but it helps cookies keep their shape and gives them a great texture.
