Description
Celebrate the holiday season with these festive Christmas Monster Cookies, packed with creamy peanut butter, oats, chocolate chips, and vibrant red and green holiday M&M's. Soft, chewy, and irresistibly colorful, these cookies are perfect for sharing at parties or enjoying as a seasonal treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet 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 as 3/4 cup for batter and 1/4 cup for topping)
- 3/4 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and sugar for 4 minutes or until the mixture is light and fluffy to ensure a smooth cookie texture.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Incorporate the creamy peanut butter, egg, and vanilla extract into the butter and sugar mixture, beating for an additional 1 minute to blend everything thoroughly.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Fold in the rolled oats, flour, baking soda, and salt gently, stirring just until the dry ingredients are combined. Then, fold in the chocolate chips and 3/4 cup of the holiday M&M's, reserving 1/4 cup for decoration after baking.
- Chill Dough: Tightly wrap the cookie dough and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to firm up the dough, which helps maintain shape during baking.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 365 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a light-colored baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat for even baking and easy cleanup.
- Scoop and Bake: Scoop the chilled dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing the cookies at least two inches apart to give them room to spread. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes until the edges are set but centers remain soft.
- Add Remaining M&M's: Remove the cookies from the oven and immediately press the reserved 1/4 cup of M&M's gently onto the tops to create colorful holiday accents.
- Cool Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 to 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- You can substitute rolled oats with quick oats if desired for a different texture.
- Use semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips depending on your taste preference.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain freshness.
- These cookies freeze well; place them in a large gallon-sized freezer bag and freeze for up to two months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
