Christmas Monster Cookies
Christmas monster cookies are a festive twist on the classic peanut butter & oatmeal cookie filled with red & green candies, assorted chocolates, and pretzels. The perfect treat for cookie exchanges, gift giving, or for Santa to munch on Christmas Eve night!
It’s officially Christmas when the holiday baking begins. Christmas just doesn’t feel like Christmas to me without a house full of homemade sugar cookies, peanut butter blossoms, and monster cookies to munch on and give as gifts.
I have found memories of my mother baking cookies every Christmas all throughout my childhood, so when I started a family of my own, I knew the tradition of Christmas baking had to continue. There is something so cozy about baking Christmas cookies on a winters day; from the delicious scents that permeate the house from the cookies baking, to the warm, soft texture when you bite into a cookie fresh out of the oven.
These Christmas monster cookies will become a staple in your holiday baking. They are fun, festive, and easy to make! Each cookie is perfectly crunchy on the outside with a soft gooey interior filled with just the slightest crunch of salty pretzels along with delicious pieces of chocolate mixed throughout.
Virtual Cookie Exchange
Make room in your recipe box for new Christmas cookie & treat recipes! Today I am joining a few friends for a virtual cookie exchange. Thank you to my friend Jen of Midwest Life & Style for hosting this fun & delicious blog hop! You can find links to all the cookie & treat recipes at the end of this post.
If you are coming here from Lynne of My Family Thyme, welcome! Lynne’s eggnog snickerdoodle cookies look so delicious, it’s a recipe I can’t wait to try!
What is a monster cookie?
Monster cookies are traditionally a combination of peanut butter, oats, chocolate chips, and M&Ms. In our home, monster cookies are bigger too. I double the amount of cookie dough per cookie, to make a truly “monster cookie”. You can add other things to monster cookies like chopped pretzels, chopped nuts, coconut, chocolate pieces, but those four traditional ingredients, are what typically make a classic monster cookie.
Why You Will Want to Bake Christmas Monster Cookies
- These cookies are incredibly easy to make. All the ingredients are mixed in one bowl, scooped onto a cookie sheet, and baked in the oven. There is no need to chill the cookie dough before baking.
- The red & green candies are baked right into the cookie dough which makes this a festive Christmas treat perfect for cookie exchanges, bake sales, and holiday get togethers.
- You can easily swap out the ingredients. If you’re family prefers milk chocolate instead of white, use that instead!
- Christmas monster cookies are large. Eating just one will satisfy your sweet tooth.
- These compact cookies are great for gift giving. You don’t have to worry about messing up the frosting or sprinkles falling off when packaging these cookies up gifting!
How to Make Christmas Monster Cookies
Mix the eggs, vanilla, butter, sugar, flour, baking soda, and baking powder thoroughly.
Add the stir-ins. This is the fun part! You will need crushed pretzels, old fashioned oats, white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chunks, and Christmas M&M’s.
Scoop out dough onto cookie sheets, and bake.
Eat cookies right out of the oven or allow to cool before gifting & storing.
Tips for Perfectly Baked Christmas Monster Cookies
- Mix eggs one at a time into butter, then mix in the sugar.
- Measure dry ingredients into a bowl and stir together before adding to wet ingredients.
- Use a spoon to scoop flour into the measuring cup then use a knife to level the flour. Do not scoop the measuring cup into the flour this will result in using too much flour, making the cookie extra dense.
- Use a cookie scoop or a tablespoon measure to ensure all of the cookies are the same size for even baking.
- Place additional red & green M&M’s on the top of the cookie dough balls before baking for an extra festive touch.
- Cookie dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days before baking.
Storing Christmas Monster Cookies
Store monster cookies in an airtight container or Ziploc baggies on the counter for 1-2 days, in the refrigerator for up to 7 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Can you freeze Christmas monster cookies?
Yes! This is actually my preferred way of storing any cookie! The freezer will keep your cookies fresher longer, and once the cookies are defrosted, the inside will still be moist & yummy just like the day they came out of the oven. Allow cookies to defrost on the counter for an hour or so before serving.
More Christmas Cookie & Treat Recipes
Christmas sugar cookies are a favorite in our family, find my recipe for cut-out sugar cookies, here. We also love this Christmas popcorn with white chocolate & sprinkles. It’s perfect for family movie night!
Now, head over to Pasha of Pasha is Home for her favorite fudge recipe! Then, scroll down to find links to the rest of the ladies joining this virtual Christmas cookie & treat exchange.
More Christmas Inspiration
Looking for more Christmas ideas and inspiration? Check out all things Christmas on the blog from seasonal ideas, DIY’s, home decor & more, here. Oh and don’t forget to grab your Christmas printables for the holidays, here!
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I look forward to sharing more of my home with you and inspiring you to have a well loved home! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and LIKEtoKNOW.it.
Heidi
Christmas Cookies and Holiday Treats
Are you looking to add some new recipes to your holiday rotation this year? Click on the links below to go to each post and see more.
Midwest Life And Style – Peanut Butter Balls | Cottage On Bunker Hill – Double Chocolate Oreo Bark | White Lilac Farmhouse – No Bake Christmas Cookies | Cottage In The Mitten – Holiday Peanut Butter Cookies
My Family Thyme – Eggnog Snickerdoodle Cookies | Eleanor Rose Home – Christmas Monster Cookies | Pasha Is Home – Christmas Fudge | Tatertots And Jello – Holiday Dipped Oreo Cookies
The Ponds Farmhouse – Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Bark | Vintage Home Designs – Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies | Our Tiny Nest – Pistachio Thumbprint Cookies | Bricks ‘n Blooms – Tiger Butter Fudge
The Tattered Pew – Daddy’s Molasses Cookies | Open Doors Open Hearts – Cinnamon Sugar Pecans | WM Design House – Cinnamon Popcorn | She Gave It A Go – Holiday Punch
Christmas Monster Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter room temperature
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
- 1 1/4 cups holiday M&M's
- 1 cup mini pretzel sticks crushed
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips or chunks
- 1/5 cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla until well combined. Beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, until combined. Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Fold in oats, 1 cup of the M&M's, pretzels, chocolate chunks, and white chocolate chips.
- Roll the dough into 1/8 cup size balls. Place 3 inches apart on prepared baking sheet. Place remaining M&M's onto the top of the cookie dough balls.
- Transfer to the oven and bake for 7 minutes on lower rack, then place the pan on the higher rake and bake another 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on baking sheet, then move to a cooling rack.
- Eat warm out of the oven, or let cool, and store.
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Thank you Lynne! The combination of sweet & salty is the best!
Yes, these cookies are so good! Thanks Kim!
These look amazing, Heidi! I love the combination of sweet and salty, and I can’t wait to make these. What a treat! Merry Christmas!
So much goodness all in one cookie!! Yummy! Pinned
Ooooh my…I shouldn’t be looking at all these cookie recipes when I’m so hungry!! These look fabulous!
Thank you Brendt!
Thank you Aliya! Merry Christmas!
Thank you Tammy, they were a big hit here!
Thank you Stacy!
Thank you Nicolle! Santa will love these cookies because they are extra big!
Thank you Michele! They are a family favorite!
Thank you for organizing this blog hop Jen, it was so fun! Merry Christmas!!!
Yea!!! My mom always made monster cookies growing up, this is the Christmas version!
Thank you Rachel!
Thank you Cindy, they will love them! I have already eaten way more than I should!
Thank you Wendy! They are absolutely delicious and your grandkids will love them!
These look amazing Heidi, I cannot wait to try them. My grandkids will love them.
Holy guacamole! Looking forward to baking some of these for our neighbors!
Heidi
These look so so good. Pinned.
You have thoroughly convinced me that I need to make Monster Cookies!!! Oh my word these look amazing. Thank you, pinned!
Carbs and chocoalte? What more could a person ask for?? Your monster cookies look so yummy, Heidi! Thanks so much for joining me on this hop today. I pinned your recipe to my holiday dessert board. I can’t wait to try it. Merry Christmas!
These sound delicious and look so festive! Can’t wait to try them out!
Heidi these look delish! These are perfect for Santa! Also I am loving your new blog design! It looks great.
These look SO good. Adding them to my baking list! Pinned.
Heidi, these would be a big hit with my family. These Monster Cookies look incredible.
Heidi! These look amazing!! I’m so glad you shared them!! Merry Christmas friend!!
I cannot wait to make these sweet friend!
Thank you so much for sharing this delicious Christmas treat idea…pinned.
xoxo,
Brendt