Christmas Monster Cookies are soft, chewy, festive, and packed with holiday cheer! Loaded with oats, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and red and green M&M’s, these cookies bring together everything you love about Christmas in one magical bite. They're so good, you’ll find it impossible to stop at just one!
The charm of Christmas monster cookies lies in their delightful combination of three iconic cookies: Peanut Butter Cookies, Oatmeal Cookies, and Chocolate Chip Cookies. To make them extra special for the holidays, we add plenty of seasonal M&M’s, giving them a bright, merry look and a fun crunch. Affordable, simple to make, and utterly irresistible, these cookies are the perfect way to spread holiday joy to friends, family, or even Santa himself!
Why You’ll Love these Christmas Monster Cookies
- A festive twist on a classic. Monster cookies are a classic with their tried-and-true combination of peanut butter, oats, and chocolate, but when you add holiday-colored M&M’s, these cookies become a cheerful, irresistible Christmas treat.
- The best texture. The oats bring a hearty chewiness, the peanut butter adds its signature nutty richness, and the M&M’s provide pops of color and a delightful crunch. They’re as festive to look at as they are delicious to eat!
- Quick and hassle-free. With just over 20 minutes from start to finish, these cookies are perfect for busy holiday schedules. Plus, there’s no need to chill the dough before baking, so you can whip up a batch at the last minute, filling your kitchen with that cozy, sweet aroma that says Christmas is here!
- Perfect for sharing. Whether you’re contributing to a cookie exchange, leaving a treat for Santa, or spreading joy with homemade gifts, these cookies are a hit with kids and adults alike. Their bright colors and comforting flavors make them a guaranteed crowd-pleaser at any gathering.
Ingredient Notes
To make these delicious Christmas Monster Cookies, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):
- all-purpose flour - suitable for almost all types of baked goods.
- old-fashioned rolled oats - these hold their shape during baking and provide a chewier texture than quick oats.
- peanut butter - use creamy peanut butter to add a rich, buttery flavor yet still keep the cookies soft.
- butter - softened to room temperature.
- sugar - I use both white (granulated) and dark brown sugars to produce light, chewy, and moist cookies.
- egg - binds everything together and maintains structure.
- vanilla extract - adds a nice flavor.
- baking soda - gives the cookies a light, airy texture.
- salt - enhances all the flavors in the cookies.
- M&M’s - use red and green to keep these cookies on theme. We used regular m&m's, but you can also use mini sized ones.
- chocolate chips - use store-bought chocolate chips or chop up your favorite chocolate bar. We used regular sized chocolate chips, but you can also use mini ones.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, large baking sheets, stand mixer or hand mixer, ice cream or cookie scoop, and wire rack.
How to Make the Best Christmas Monster Cookies
- Cream butter and sugar. In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer cream together butter and sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add wet ingredients. Add peanut butter, egg, and vanilla, and beat on low until incorporated.
- Add dry ingredients. Add flour, oats, baking soda, and salt and beat until just combined.
- Add mix-ins. Fold in the m&m’s and chocolate chips.
- Scoop cookies. Line a large half sheet baking tray with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper. Use a medium cookie scoop to scoop out 2 tablespoons of cookie dough. Place the cookie balls onto the lined baking sheet, spaced at least 2 inches apart (you can fit about 6-8 on a large cookie sheet). Press in extra chocolate chips and M&M's on top of the cookies
- Bake. Bake in a 350F preheated oven for 10-13 minutes, until edges just start to brown. The cookies may not look done in the middle, but they will continue to cook as they are cooling.
- Cool. Remove from oven and allow the cookies to cool in the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then carefully transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
- Repeat. Repeat baking in batches with remaining cookie dough balls.
Recipe Variations
- Change the mix-ins. Switch out the m&m's or chocolate chips and add in different mix-ins like mini marshmallows, peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, or nuts for a different flavor.
- Go gluten-free. Swap out the all-purpose flour for a 1:1 gluten-free baking mix to make these cookies accessible to everyone, without sacrificing their chewy, delicious texture.
- Spice them up. Add some holiday spices like cinnamon or nutmeg .
- Add extra chocolate. Make them extra indulgent with a drizzle of melted chocolate over top.
How to Serve
Serve these Christmas Monster Cookies with a hot drink like warm milk, tea, or coffee. We love pairing them with:
- Chai Tea Latte
- Peppermint Hot Chocolate
- Golden Milk Turmeric Latte
- Slow Cooker Apple Cider
- White Hot Chocolate
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Avoid overmixing. Mix the ingredients just until the dry ingredients are combined with the wet ones. This helps maintain a soft, chewy, and gooey cookie texture —exactly what you’re aiming for!
- Use a cookie scoop. Shaping cookie dough by hand can be time-consuming. An ice cream or cookie scoop makes it quick and easy to create evenly sized cookies every time.
- Don’t overbake. Remove the cookies from the oven while they’re still slightly soft. They’ll continue to bake from the residual heat on the hot baking sheet as they cool, ensuring a perfectly tender cookie.
- Soften the butter. Softened butter is key for light, fluffy cookies. Let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before baking. In a hurry? Microwave it in 10-second bursts until it’s soft but not melted.
Storing Instructions
How to Store
Keep your cookies fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. If needed, you can refrigerate them for up to a month, though the texture may decline over time.
How to Reheat
Enjoy a warm cookie after meals by popping it into the microwave for 10-15 seconds or until warm.
How to Freeze
Store baked cookies in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to three months. You can also freeze unbaked dough balls. Place them on a lined baking tray and freeze for 1-2 hours until hard. Then transfer to a freezer bag or airtight container for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, place the dough balls in the fridge to thaw overnight before baking. Bake according to recipe instructions.
More Cookie Recipes
- 50 Best Cookie Recipes
- Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
- Chocolate Chunk Peanut Butter Cookies
- M&M Christmas Cookies
- Brownie Cookies
- Coffee Cookies
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Recipe
Christmas Monster Cookies
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 18 cookies
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Christmas Monster Cookies are soft, chewy, festive, and packed with holiday cheer! Loaded with oats, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and red and green M&M’s, these cookies bring together everything you love about Christmas in one magical bite. They're so good, you’ll find it impossible to stop at just one!
Ingredients
- ½ cup (114 grams) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup white sugar
- ¾ cup (180 grams) peanut butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ¾ cup old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick oats)
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup Christmas m&m’s, mini or regular (plus more for the top)
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, mini or regular (plus more for the top)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line a large half sheet baking tray with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or stand mixer cream together butter and sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Add peanut butter, egg, and vanilla, and beat on low until incorporated.
- Add flour, oats, baking soda, and salt and beat until just combined. Fold in the m&m’s and chocolate chips.
- Use a medium cookie scoop to scoop out 2 tablespoons of cookie dough. Place the cookie balls onto the lined baking sheet, spaced at least 2 inches apart (you can fit about 6-8 on a large cookie sheet). Press in extra chocolate chips and M&M's on top of the cookies
- Bake for 10-13 minutes, until edges just start to brown. The cookies may not look done in the middle, but they will continue to cook as they are cooling. Remove from oven and allow the cookies to cool in the baking sheet for 5 minutes, carefully transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
- Repeat baking in batches with remaining cookie dough balls.
Notes
How to store: Keep your cookies fresh by storing them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. If needed, you can refrigerate them for up to a month, though the texture may decline over time.
How to reheat: Enjoy a warm cookie after meals by popping it into the microwave for 10-15 seconds or until warm.
How to freeze: Store baked cookies in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to three months. You can also freeze unbaked dough balls. Place them on a lined baking tray and freeze for 1-2 hours until hard. Then transfer to a freezer bag or airtight container for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, place the dough balls in the fridge to thaw overnight before baking. Bake according to recipe instructions.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 13 minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
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