If you’re searching for a festive treat that perfectly blends chewy, crunchy, and chocolaty all in one bite, you’ve got to try this Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe. These cookies burst with red and green holiday M&M’s, rich peanut butter, hearty oats, and plenty of chocolate chips, making every mouthful an explosion of holiday cheer. Whether you’re baking for a Christmas party or just craving a nostalgic sweet that tastes like the holidays, this recipe delivers a joyful and utterly delicious experience that’s sure to impress everyone gathered around the cookie jar.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe is surprisingly simple, yet every ingredient plays an essential role in creating that perfect balance of texture and flavor packed in each cookie. From creamy peanut butter’s smooth richness to the pop of colorful M&M’s, each component contributes to a festive treat that’s as beautiful as it is tasty.
- Unsalted Butter: Softened to cream for a light and fluffy cookie base.
- Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and a subtle caramel sweetness that complements the chocolate.
- Sugar: Balances sweetness and contributes to the cookie’s slight crisp edge.
- Creamy Peanut Butter: The star ingredient that brings creamy nutty flavor and chewy texture.
- Large Egg: Acts as a binder to hold all ingredients together perfectly.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances all the flavors with its warm, aromatic notes.
- Rolled Oats: Provides a hearty chew and a rustic texture that pairs wonderfully with the peanut butter.
- Flour: The structure builder for classic cookie softness and shape.
- Baking Soda: Helps the cookies expand and achieve that perfect rise.
- Salt: Balances sweetness and intensifies the chocolate flavors.
- Red and Green Holiday M&M’s: These festive candies add vibrant color and a crunchy contrast in every bite.
- Chocolate Chips: Melted pockets of chocolate throughout for decadent chocolate goodness.
How to Make Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugars
Begin by combining half a cup each of softened unsalted butter, brown sugar, and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Cream them together for about four minutes until the mixture turns light and fluffy. This process is key to creating a tender cookie with the perfect texture that isn’t too dense.
Step 2: Add the Peanut Butter, Egg, and Vanilla
Next, add the creamy peanut butter along with one large egg and two teaspoons of vanilla extract to the bowl. Beat everything together for another minute to blend all those lovely flavors. The peanut butter not only adds richness but also a subtle saltiness that balances the sweetness.
Step 3: Fold in the Dry Ingredients and Mix-ins
Now, gently fold in the rolled oats, flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir just until you see everything combined, taking care not to overmix or your cookies could become tough. Then fold in three-quarters of the holiday M&M’s and all the chocolate chips, reserving the rest of the M&M’s for decoration after baking.
Step 4: Chill the Dough
Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for 30 minutes. Chilling firms up the dough so that once baked, the cookies hold their shape and don’t spread too thin — this step really helps you get that monster cookie look and texture.
Step 5: Scoop and Bake
Preheat your oven to 365 degrees. Using a cookie scoop or spoon, drop dough onto a light-colored baking sheet, spacing each mound at least two inches apart to give the cookies room to rise without merging. Bake for nine to ten minutes until the edges are just golden but the centers remain soft and chewy.
Step 6: Add the Final M&M Touch and Cool
Immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, gently press the reserved quarter cup of M&M’s on top of each warm cookie. This creates a colorful, festive look and adds an extra crunch. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes to set before transferring them to a wire rack.
How to Serve Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
While these Christmas Monster Cookies are already a visual delight, you can elevate their festive appeal with simple garnishes. A light dusting of powdered sugar gives a snowy effect, or you might drizzle melted white chocolate over the top for a swirled, elegant finish that contrasts beautifully with the bright M&M’s.
Side Dishes
Pair these cookies with a cold glass of milk or a warm cup of cocoa to fully embrace the holiday spirit. For a grown-up twist, a splash of peppermint schnapps or Irish cream in your hot chocolate complements the peanut butter and chocolate perfectly.
Creative Ways to Present
These Christmas Monster Cookies make fantastic gifts when stacked and wrapped with festive ribbon. Alternatively, create a cookie platter centerpiece with pine sprigs, cinnamon sticks, and fresh cranberries to make your holiday table inviting and merry.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
After enjoying your fresh-baked monster cookies, keep leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. This keeps them soft on the inside but still slightly crisp on the edges, perfect for snacking throughout the week.
Freezing
If you want to bake ahead for a big holiday party, these cookie dough balls freeze beautifully before baking. Just scoop the dough onto a parchment-lined tray, freeze until solid, then transfer to a resealable bag. Bake directly from frozen, adding a minute or two to the baking time.
Reheating
To revive day-old Christmas Monster Cookies, warm them in a low oven (around 300 degrees) for about five minutes, or microwave for 10-15 seconds. The heat brings back the soft, melty delight of freshly baked cookies without drying them out.
FAQs
Can I substitute crunchy peanut butter for creamy?
Yes, you can! Using crunchy peanut butter will add extra texture to your Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe, giving a delightful crunch alongside the oats and M&M’s. Just keep in mind the cookies may be a little more textured overall.
What if I don’t have holiday M&M’s? Can I use regular ones?
Absolutely, regular M&M’s work just fine. The holiday-colored ones add a festive touch, but flavor-wise, they are the same. You can even mix in peanut M&M’s for an extra peanutty punch!
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
To make this Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe gluten-free, simply swap the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free flour blend and ensure your oats are certified gluten-free. They will still be delicious and festive!
Is there a way to make these cookies vegan?
You can make some substitutions like using vegan butter, a flax egg as an egg replacement, and dairy-free chocolate chips to create a vegan version of this cookie recipe. The taste and texture might vary slightly but will still be wonderfully tasty.
How do I prevent the cookies from spreading too much?
Chilling the dough before baking is the best way to keep your Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe from spreading out too thin. Also, use a light-colored baking sheet to prevent too much browning on the underside.
Final Thoughts
Once you try this Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe, it will surely become a beloved staple in your holiday baking traditions. It’s an easy, joyful recipe that combines festive colors, comforting peanut butter, and sweet chocolate into cookies that everyone will be talking about. So grab your apron, gather those simple ingredients, and get ready to bake up some monster-sized holiday happiness!
Print
Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 9 minutes
- Total Time: 54 minutes
- Yield: 16 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These festive Christmas Monster Cookies combine the chewy goodness of oats, peanut butter, and chocolate chips with colorful red and green holiday M&M’s for a fun and delicious treat perfect for the holiday season. Softened butter and sugars create a light and fluffy base, while chilling the dough ensures perfect texture. With a quick 9-minute bake time, these cookies are easy to make and sure to delight any holiday gathering.
Ingredients
Base Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter (softened)
- 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
- 1/2 cup Sugar
- 1/2 cup Creamy Peanut Butter (like Skippy’s or Jif)
- 1 large Egg
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
Dry Ingredients
- 3/4 cup Rolled Oats
- 1 cup Flour
- 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
Add-ins
- 1 cup Red and Green Holiday M&M’s (divided: 3/4 cup in dough, 1/4 cup for topping)
- 3/4 cup Chocolate Chips
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter, brown sugar, and sugar using a mixer for about 4 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy, ensuring a smooth texture for the cookie dough.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Incorporate the creamy peanut butter, one large egg, and vanilla extract into the creamed mixture. Beat everything together for an additional 1 minute to blend all ingredients uniformly.
- Fold in Dry Ingredients and Add-ins: Gently fold in the rolled oats, flour, baking soda, and salt into the wet mixture until just combined to avoid overmixing. Then fold in 3/4 cup of red and green holiday M&M’s and all of the chocolate chips, reserving 1/4 cup of M&M’s for topping after baking.
- Chill the Dough: Tightly wrap the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes. This step helps to firm up the dough, making it easier to handle and improving cookie texture.
- Preheat and Scoop: Once chilled, preheat the oven to 365°F (185°C). Use a cookie scoop or spoon to place dough mounds onto a light-colored baking sheet, spacing them at least two inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 9-10 minutes or until edges are lightly golden and centers are set but still soft.
- Add Toppings and Cool: Immediately upon removing the baking sheet from the oven, lightly press the reserved 1/4 cup of holiday M&M’s into the tops of the warm cookies for a festive appearance. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack or serving.
Notes
- Using light-colored baking sheets helps prevent cookies from browning too quickly on the bottom.
- Chilling the dough is essential for thicker, chewier cookies and easier handling.
- Feel free to substitute peanut butter with almond or cashew butter for a different flavor.
- For crispier cookies, bake an extra 1-2 minutes but be cautious not to overbake.
- Ensure the butter is properly softened to achieve the right creaming consistency.
