Celebrate the holidays with a batch of these delicious Christmas monster cookies — a peanut butter cookie studded with oats, chocolate chips and red-and-green M&M’s, finished with festive sprinkles for a cheerful, chewy treat.
Today is day 8 of the “12 Days of Christmas Cookies” here on Modern Crumb.
Looking for more Christmas cookie ideas? Try: Peanut Butter Blossoms, Buckeye Balls, Peppermint Bark Oreos, or Jam Pinwheels — all excellent options for the season.
This recipe was first published on 12/15/20.
Christmas monster cookies are all about fun and bright flavor. The base is a simple peanut butter cookie with quick oats folded in for chew, plus semi-sweet chocolate chips and Christmas-colored M&M’s. A handful of sprinkles pressed on top gives every cookie a festive finish. These cookies are large, hearty, and perfect for sharing at holiday gatherings.
Christmas Monster Cookie Recipe Tips
Here are a few tips to help you bake a perfect batch of Christmas monster cookies so your baking day goes smoothly and the cookies turn out exactly how you want.
- These cookies do not require refrigeration. Once the dough comes together, scoop and bake.
- The recipe is sized for a standard cookie scoop. Using a scoop keeps the cookies uniform in size so they bake evenly.
- Monster cookies are thick and won’t spread as much as traditional chocolate chip cookies. If you prefer flatter cookies, gently press the dough balls with your hand before baking.
- For an extra polished look, press an M&M and a chocolate chip into the top of each dough ball just before baking, then dip the top in sprinkles.
How To Make Monster Cookies
Make the dough: Start by creaming together the softened butter and peanut butter until smooth. Add both the white and brown sugars and cream until the mixture is light and slightly fluffy. Mix in the egg until incorporated, then stir in the vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and kosher salt. Stir the quick oats into the dry ingredients, then add the dry mix to the wet mixture and stir until just combined.
Add the mix-ins: Fold in semi-sweet chocolate chips and red-and-green M&M’s. You can substitute milk chocolate chips if you prefer a sweeter bite, but semi-sweet balances nicely with the sweet candies.
Preparing to bake: Pour a small amount of Christmas-themed sprinkles into a shallow bowl. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and reduce spread. Use a standard cookie scoop to portion dough, roll into balls, then dip the top of each ball into the sprinkles and place them sprinkle-side up on the sheet. Leave space between cookies for slight spreading.
Bake: Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes. The cookies may look slightly underbaked when you remove them; they will continue to set as they cool. Avoid overbaking to keep them soft and chewy.
Why Are They Called Monster Cookies?
Monster cookies get their name from the generous list of ingredients and large size. They are loaded with mix-ins and have a playful, “messy but delicious” appearance that feels festive and indulgent.
Key components that make these Christmas monster cookies special:
- Creamy peanut butter — forms the rich base of the cookie.
- Quick (instant) oats — add chew and texture without making the cookies gritty.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips — balance the sweetness from the candies.
- Red and green M&M’s — for color and crunch; you can pick red and green from a regular bag if specialty colors aren’t available.
- Festive sprinkles — a colorful finishing touch; mix sprinkles from different jars for variety.
FAQ
Answers to common questions when baking monster cookies.
My cookies came out hard and dry.
This usually happens when too much flour was added, the oven runs hot, or the cookies were baked too long. Measure flour carefully and check oven temperature with an oven thermometer if possible.
Can I use old-fashioned (rolled) oats?
Yes — pulse them briefly in a food processor so they are finer before adding, which gives a better texture similar to quick oats.
Can I make these gluten free?
Using a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend often works well, but results can vary by brand. If you try a substitution, allow for slight differences in texture.
Can I make monster cookies without peanut butter?
Peanut butter is central to classic monster cookies. For allergies, try an alternative like almond butter or sunflower seed butter, but note the texture and flavor may change and the recipe has not been fully tested with those swaps.
Recipe — Christmas Monster Cookies
Yield: about 30 cookies
Prep time: 15 minutes • Cook time: 10 minutes • Total time: 25 minutes
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ½ cup white sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- ½ tsp vanilla
- ½ cup peanut butter
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup quick oats
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup red and green M&M’s
- 1 tbsp Christmas sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cream together the butter and peanut butter until smooth.
- Add the white and brown sugars and beat until light and fluffy.
- Mix in the egg and vanilla until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the quick oats.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined.
- Fold in the chocolate chips and M&M’s.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment. Scoop dough with a standard cookie scoop, roll into balls, dip the tops in sprinkles, and arrange on the sheet.
- Bake for 10 minutes. Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for a couple of minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 148 • Total fat: 8g • Saturated fat: 4g • Unsaturated fat: 3g • Cholesterol: 15mg • Sodium: 98mg • Carbohydrates: 18g • Fiber: 1g • Sugar: 13g • Protein: 2g
12 Days of Christmas Cookies Recipes
- Christmas Peanut Butter Blossoms
- The Best Pecan Sandies Cookies
- Double Chocolate Peppermint Bark Cookies
- Brown Sugar Walnut Rugelach Cookies
- Christmas Butter Cookies (Tin Can Cookies)
- Christmas Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
- Raspberry Jam Thumbprints
- Triple Chocolate Hot Cocoa Cookie Bars
- Cream Cheese Jam Pinwheel Cookies
- Christmas Snickerdoodles
- Cranberry Cheesecake White Chocolate Cookies