These monster cookies are the classic oatmeal peanut butter cookies dressed up for the holidays with red and green M&M’s, white chocolate chips and festive sprinkles. They’re a fun, crowd-pleasing treat perfect for cookie exchanges and gift-giving.
It’s Christmas cookie season, and alongside favorites like stained glass cookies and cream cheese spritz cookies, these Christmas monster cookies are one of my must-make recipes every year. The combination of oats and peanut butter gives them a slightly chewy texture while the candy and chips add bursts of color and flavor.
Table of Contents
- Christmas Monster Cookies Ingredients
- How Do You Make Monster Cookies?
- Tips For The Perfect Cookies
- Quick Tip
- Recipe FAQs
- Flavor Variations
- More Holiday Treats
- Monster Cookies Video
- Love This Recipe?
- Monster Cookies (Christmas Version) Recipe
Christmas Monster Cookies Ingredients
To make these cookies you’ll need: butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, an egg, creamy peanut butter, vanilla extract, all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, rolled oats, holiday M&M’s, white chocolate chips and holiday sprinkles.
How Do You Make Monster Cookies?
Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg, peanut butter and vanilla and mix until combined. Stir in the flour, baking soda and salt until just combined, then fold in the oats. Gently fold in the M&M’s and white chocolate chips.
Form the dough into 2-tablespoon balls and press each ball briefly into the sprinkles so the bottoms are coated. Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart and press a few extra M&M’s and white chocolate chips into the tops for a pretty finish. Bake for 11–13 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned. Cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store cooled cookies in an airtight container or enjoy them right away.
Tips For The Perfect Cookies
- For a festive presentation, press a few extra M&M’s and white chocolate chips into the tops of the dough balls before baking.
- Dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days before baking. If refrigerating, consider omitting the M&M’s and adding them just before baking to prevent color transfer.
- Choose white chocolate chips made with cocoa butter rather than palm oil for better flavor.
- These cookies stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- Use creamy peanut butter (brands like Skippy or Jif work well). Natural peanut butter can affect texture and spread.
Quick Tip
Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon measure so your cookies are uniform in size.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. Freeze baked cookies in a single layer in a resealable bag. When ready to eat, let them thaw at room temperature until soft.
Monster cookies are oatmeal peanut butter cookies loaded with mix-ins like M&M’s and chocolate chips. The base typically includes oats, flour, butter, sugar and eggs.
Flavor Variations
These cookies are great as written, but you can customize them to suit your tastes:
- Chocolate: Swap white chocolate chips for semisweet or milk chocolate chips if you prefer.
- Add-ins: Replace some or all of the M&M’s and chips with toffee bits, almonds, walnuts, peanuts, pecans or raisins.
These Christmas monster cookies are ideal for cookie exchanges and also make cheerful gifts when packed in tins or cellophane bags. They’re one of those recipes everyone asks for once they try them.
More Holiday Treats
Peppermint Brownies
1 hr 10 mins
Red Velvet Cookies
35 mins
Reindeer Chow
11 mins
Peppermint Patties
11 mins
Crock Pot Candy
1 hr 35 mins
Monster Cookies Video
Love This Recipe?
If you try it, please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and share a review in the comments.
Monster Cookies (Christmas Version)
These monster cookies are the classic oatmeal peanut butter cookies dressed up for Christmas with M&M’s, white chocolate and holiday sprinkles. A fun and festive treat for cookie exchanges and gifts.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Serves: 24
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/4 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup holiday M&M’s, plus more for topping
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips, plus more for topping
- 1/3 cup holiday sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 1–2 minutes.
- Add the egg, peanut butter and vanilla and mix until combined.
- Stir in the flour, salt and baking soda until just combined, then fold in the oats.
- Gently fold in the M&M’s and white chocolate chips.
- Form 2-tablespoon balls of dough and space them 2 inches apart on the prepared sheet pan.
- Press the bottom of each dough ball into the sprinkles, then press a few extra M&M’s and white chocolate chips onto the tops.
- Bake 11–13 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned.
- Cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store leftover cookies in a sealed container for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
Notes
- Dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days before baking. If refrigerating, omit the M&M’s and add them just before baking to avoid color transfer.
- Choose white chocolate chips made with cocoa butter (rather than palm oil) for the best flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 201 kcal | Carbohydrates: 24 g | Protein: 3 g | Fat: 10 g | Saturated Fat: 5 g | Cholesterol: 19 mg | Sodium: 95 mg | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 16 g
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