Christmas Monster Cookies
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Christmas Monster Cookies are the ultimate festive holiday treat! Starting with hearty rolled oats and creamy butter as a base, they are loaded with red and green M&Ms, white chocolate chops and mini chocolate chips. So chewy, colorful and delicious! Naturally gluten-free and great for holiday cookie exchanges, you’ll love making a big batch of these monster cookies!
Baking a lot of Christmas cookies was always a tradition in my house growing up. We’d dedicate a weekend to our holiday baking and enjoy the treats throughout the season. I’m not sure if I enjoyed the quality time or the sweet treats more!
One of my favorite types of cookies are those that are easy to stack to store and easy to transport. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good thumbprint cookie recipe with icing but they are more delicate and tricky with their jam centers. These monster cookies are perfect as they are not only festive, they are sturdy and very stackable! Plus, this recipe makes 4 1/2 dozen so they are great for cookie exchanges or parties.
If that didn’t get you, monster cookies are gluten-free since they are made with oats and peanut butter instead of flour. It’s always wonderful to have a gluten-free cookie available for guests like my husband who avoid gluten because of a gluten sensitivity or if they have a gluten allergy.
Christmas Monster Cookies Ingredients
Monster cookies need some simple ingredients as the base and then can be customized to fit a specific holiday or your personal preferences!
- peanut butter: I prefer creamy but crunchy peanut butter could be substituted
- sugar: both white sugar and brown sugar
- butter
- eggs
- vanilla extract
- rolled oats: old fashioned not quick cooking unless you prefer a less chewy cookie. Do not use instant oats as they are too fine.
- baking soda
- salt
- M&M candies: red and green for Christmas
- chocolate chips: I used mini semi-sweet chocolate
- white chocolate chips
I really wanted a festive look for these monster Christmas cookies so I opted for regular red and green M&M candies in addition to red and green mini M&Ms candies. I also included mini semi-sweet chocolate chips and white chocolate chips to offer variety. However, you can use approximately 2 cups of whatever combination of M&Ms and chocolate chips you like best.
How to Make Monster Cookies
Monster cookies are quite easy to make! Start by beating your granulated sugar, brown sugar, softened butter and peanut butter together.
Add in your eggs and vanilla and mix until fully combined.
Stir rolled oats, baking soda and salt until well incorporated.
Now it’s time for the good stuff! Pour in your M&Ms, chocolate chips and white chocolate chips.
Give it a good but gentle stir so it is evenly mixed in without breaking your candies.
Monster Cookie Variations
There are so many monster cookie substitutions. You can also try chocolate chunks, dark chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips. Consider branching out from chocolate and try peanut butter chips, or butterscotch bits.
Other mix-ins could include toffee bits, shredded coconut, crushed pretzels or your favorite chopped up candy bars like Snickers or Milky Way.
For monster cookies year round, use regular M&Ms. For fall celebrations, try Reese’s pieces. For other holidays like Valentine’s Day, Easter or 4th of July, use coordinating M&Ms candies.
Christmas Monster Cookies
Christmas Monster Cookies are a delicious addition to your holiday baking list! These chewy cookies are naturally gluten-free featuring rolled oats, creamy peanut butter, festive red and green M&Ms, white chocolate chips and mini chocolate chips. They are the ultimate Christmas cookie for cookie exchanges, cookie trays and holiday parties!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup butter softened
- 3 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 1/2 cups rolled oats old fashioned
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup red and green M&Ms chocolate candies
- 1/2 cup red and green mini M&Ms chocolate candies
- 1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius)
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In large mixing bowl, cream peanut butter, white sugar, brown sugar and softened butter.
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Mix in eggs and vanilla.
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Add in oats, baking soda and salt and mix until combined.
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Fold in M&Ms, white chocolate chips and mini chocolate chips.
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On ungreased cookie sheets (or lined with parchment paper or silicone baking sheet), scoop cookie dough using a standard cookie scoop (approximately 1 1/2 tablespoons) or roll into 1 1/2 inch balls.
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Space evenly with approximately 12 cookies per sheet and lightly press down with the bottom of a glass.
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Bake until lightly golden brown, approximately 11 to 15 minutes.
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Cool 2 minutes before moving to wire rack to cool completely.
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Store in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Recipe Notes
Can add additional chocolate chips and M&Ms immediately after removing from the oven. Gently press them down, just slightly.
Makes approximately 4 1/2 dozen cookies.
Use whatever combination of M&Ms and chocolate chips that equal approximately 2 cups based on ingredients on hand or personal preference.
Variations:
- chocolate chunks
- dark chocolate chips
- milk chocolate chips
- peanut butter chips
- butterscotch chips
- toffee bits
- shredded coconut
- crushed pretzels
- favorite chopped up candy bars like Snickers or Milky Way
- Reese’s Pieces
- various holiday themed M&Ms
More Christmas Treat Recipes
Looking for more sweet treats to add to your Christmas baking list? Here are just a few of my favorite holiday dessert recipes:
- Gingerbread Chocolate Truffles (made with ginger snaps)
- Decorated Grinch Cookies (easy with fur frosting)
- Club Cracker Candy (Christmas Crack)
- Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes Dip
- Gingerbread Man Cake Pops (made with homemade gingerbread)
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