Happy Friday! Am I the only one completely blindsided by the fact that Christmas is a week away? I think I have become way too reliant on Amazon Prime, knowing I can order everything last minute if I need to- but I should probably get cracking don’t you think?? I may be behind on the gift buying, but I sure am doing well on the cookie making front! I have another easy, festive and delicious recipe here for you and I hope you love it!
Truth be told, this isn’t a new recipe on this site, I shared it a few years ago, but it’s SO incredibly good and easy that I thought it needed a little holiday revamp with some new picture to bring it back to life. These monster cookies are made with creamy peanut butter, lots of oatmeal, and all sorts of delicious mix-ins tossed in. For these festive beauties I mixed pretzel chunks and toffee bits along with the original chocolate chips and M&Ms (I have to say that finding the right M&Ms in holiday appropriate colors really does make any old cookie seem to fun and festive!)
The original recipe just contained chocolate chips and M&Ms, but the mix in options for these cookies are endless. I’m already envisioning them with butterscotch chips, toasted coconut etc. Also- they don’t contain any flour which was weird to me at first, but the chewy oatmeal-y texture was pretty darn perfect. I can’t wait to make these thick and chewy cookies again and again!
- 1 stick butter (softened)
- 1¼ c. brown sugar
- 1 c. sugar
- 2 cups of creamy peanut butter
- 3 eggs
- ½ tsp. vanilla
- 2 tsp. baking soda
- ½ tsp. salt
- 4½ c. quick oatmeal
- ½ c. M&Ms
- ½ c. chocolate chips
- Additional mix-ins like crushed pretzels, toffee bits, or coconut
- Cream together the butter, sugars and peanut butter with an electric mixer until fluffy and creamy.
- Add the eggs and vanilla mix until just combined. Add the baking soda and mix.
- Fold in the oats and then the chocolate chips and M&Ms.
- Using medium/large cookie scoop or spoon, place rounded balls of dough onto a parchment-lined cookie sheet and press down slightly. Bake for 11-12 minutes at 375 degrees. Makes 24-30 large cookies.
Mmm big, chewy, goodness.
These totally remind me of Appleton, Wisconsin. Thanks for the trip down nostalgia lane!
I love monster cookies. My son was allergic to peanut butter but can now have it since he passed his peanut challenge test. Thanks for the wonderful idea. My husband is from Wisconsin and we love the Packers too. Happy wedding planning.
Yum! Monster cookies are some of my absolute favorites! I haven’t made them in a while…I think I might need to fix that problem!
Your pictures are making my mouth water. I don’t know what it is, but those cookies look fantastic! I think it’s really interesting how there isn’t any flour though? Hm! I pinned this recipe, can’t wait to try them!
The essence of baking and cooking are always exploring new challenges, and you’ve been doing an amazing job with that Audra! But you’re so right – sometimes you just gotta go back to basics. These monster cookies look so chewy and delicious! Great recipe. Have a nice weekend!
These are classic and perfect and a great alternative to the challenges that you have been taking on. They looks so chewy and moist. Love it!
I love baking M&Ms into cookies!
These look great, and if they last a week, I am all over them!
Yum! Peanut butter, M&M’s, chewy…heaven :)
Ohhh I loev soft & chewy cookies!! They’re the best! Plus you threw in the PB & M&MS sounds amazing!
Oh my! Lovely cookies, I’d probably inhale a batch. Sometimes simple is best :)
Right now, toddler is going through a phase… every time you ask her what her name is, she replies ‘cookie monster’! She would LOVE these :) Thanks for sharing!
I love monster cookies! Oats, peanut butter, M&Ms, what more could you want? These look like excelent monster cookies.
yum, yum and yum!
Oh yum. I love cookies where you can toss in so many options. I also love anything with peanut butter. These cookies look delicious. I am sure they would never last a week in my house.
I need on of those cookies right now, please…..
Hahaha no wonder they’re called Monster cookies :) It’s got so many ‘goodies’ in them! Bookmarking this!!! :D
I just made these and they came out great! I found the M&Ms sometimes got lost in the cookies, and I wanted to show the fun colors. Sticking 2-3 M&Ms on the top of the dough before baking did wonders for making sure they looked as good as they taste. Thanks for the great recipe!
Nom Nom Nom!
I co-worker of mine frequently brings these into the costume shop…they usually don’t last more than an hour!
Hey Audra – I love your site. This post reminded me of one thing– do you think you could ever reproduce the Leslie Jensen’s mom’s cookies from our musical days? I’ve tried numerous times and it’s been so long, I can barely remember the tastes that made them SO good. But they were a variation of a monster cookie, right? OR at least they were “monster” big, hey-oh. ;) Anyway just a thought… wish you the best! Katy O.
Good idea Katy- I LOVED those cookies. I think they were just huge fluffy sugar cookies with M&Ms. I should really try to figure them out. I’ll let you know if I do! :)
Mashed-up goodness that will really leave you wanting for more! I love this recipe and I hope that I can do this as perfect or as tasty as these photos looks like!
Monster cookies are the best. And yes the holiday M&Ms always get me in the mood.
Do you have to use quick oats or would regular work?
I made this for a Christmas party so my gluten-intolerant friend would have a festive treat. Trouble is, I ate as many as she did. OK , maybe more if you count the ones that weren’t good enough for company. And the dough.