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