Happy Halloween! It seemed only fitting that on Halloween I’m bringing you a recipe for the best soft monster cookies. I have always loved an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie and peanut butter and chocolate is one of my favorite flavor combinations, so a monster cookie is just about the perfect everyday cookie in my book. There are a few tips to make sure your cookies are soft and perfect for any occasion. One of my favorite things about these cookies is that they don’t require any chilling time, making them the perfect cookie to enjoy anytime. I added candy eyeballs for a festive Halloween touch, but you can certainly omit them and use any color M&Ms for another holiday or time of year!
Ingredients for the Best Monster Cookies
First, we’re going to talk about the ingredients because there are a few key distinctions you may not expect!
- Peanut butter: I tested these monster cookies with natural peanut butter, which is what I always keep in my house and bake with, but they turned out dry and crumbly. The cookies need the extra oils of a regular peanut butter like Skippy or Jif to make them nice and soft. For this recipe, use one of those brands!
- Oats: I also tested this recipe with rolled oats initially and it also caused them to be crumbly and dry. Quick cooking oats gave the perfect texture and nutty flavor while still keeping the cookies nice and soft.
- Butter and Egg: Make sure these are both at room temperature before starting. The butter needs to be softened to properly cream with the sugar.
- M&Ms and Chocolate Chips: I really like using mini-sized chocolate chips and M&Ms in this recipe because the cookies hold together better and you get a little bit of each in every bite.
How to Make Your Soft Monster Cookies
- First, cream together your butter and sugars. Add the peanut butter and mix well to combine, then add in your egg and vanilla extract and beat until light in color and fluffy. I like using a stand mixer for this recipe but you can also use a hand mixer.
- Next, mix your dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Whisk together flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add these ingredients to the mixer and mix to combine.
- Finally, add in your M&Ms and chocolate chips and mix to combine. This recipe makes 24-26 cookies depending on how big you make them. If you’re adding in the candy eyes for Halloween, gently push them into the tops of the cookie balls after you roll them out, but before baking.
- Let the cookies cool on the cookie sheet before enjoying, but I don’t blame you if you sneak one off the tray while it’s still warm! They’re irresistible!
Pour a tall glass of milk and enjoy one or two of these cookies for the perfect sweet treat!
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed dark brown sugar
- ¾ cup peanut butter (not natural peanut butter, use Skippy or Jif)
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup quick-cooking oats (not rolled oats)
- ¼ tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. baking powder
- ½ tsp. baking soda
- ⅔ cup mini chocolate chips
- ⅔ cup mini M&Ms
- Candy eyeballs for topping (optional)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- Using a stand mixer or a large bowl with a hand mixer, cream together butter with both sugars until light and fluffy. Add the peanut butter and mix again to combine.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat until fluffy.
- In a separate bowl, mix together flour, oats, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Add to the mixing bowl and mix until combined.
- Add the M&Ms and chocolate chips to the cookie batter and mix to combine.
- Form the cookies into balls (this recipe makes 24 cookies) and place on the baking sheets. If using the candy eyeballs, press a couple into the top of each cookie ball.
- Bake for 12-13 minutes until the edges begin to turn golden brown. The cookies will continue to harden as they cool. so do not overbake!
- Let cool on the cookie sheet before enjoying!
[…] truly elevates a monster cookie recipe is its incredible texture. These cookies strike a perfect balance between being soft and chewy. […]