Name: Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter (softened); 1/2 cup Brown Sugar; 1/2 cup Sugar; 1/2 cup Creamy Peanut Butter (like Skippy's or Jif); 1 large Egg; 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract; 3/4 cup Rolled Oats; 1 cup Flour; 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda; 1/4 teaspoon Salt; 3/4 cup Chocolate Chips; 1 cup Red and Green Holiday M&M's (divided)

There’s something wildly fun and festive about this Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe that just makes the holidays brighter. You get that perfect chewy texture stacked with oats, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and those iconic red and green M&Ms — it’s like a holiday party in every bite!

Six round cookies are placed on a gold cooling rack over a white marbled surface. Each cookie has a light brown dough base with red and green candy-coated chocolates scattered on top and partially embedded, making the surface colorful and textured. Some candies have a small white

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I've made many holiday cookies over the years, but this Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe always steals the show at parties and family gatherings. It feels homemade yet special, and there’s a warmth to the peanut butter combined with a crunch from the oats that keeps everyone coming back for more.

Perfect texture balance: Chewy oats meet creamy peanut butter and melty chocolate chips for a cookie that’s tender yet hearty.
Festive look with ease: The red and green M&M's add instant holiday cheer without any extra work.
Easy to make well: Simple ingredients and straightforward steps mean even if you're not a pro baker, you'll still get great results.
Flexible and forgiving: You can tweak oats, swap chocolate chips, or freeze dough ahead without worrying about messing it up.

There are eight round cookies placed on a golden wire cooling rack over a white marbled texture. Each cookie is light brown with a rough surface and is decorated with red and green candy pieces scattered on top, some of the candies showing a small white

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient in this Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe is carefully chosen to create that classic "monster cookie" vibe — chewy, flavorful, and festive. Don’t skip the rolled oats; they add a satisfying bite that sets these apart from regular peanut butter cookies.

Flat lay of a small pile of softened unsalted butter, a mound of brown sugar, a mound of white sugar, a dollop of creamy peanut butter, one large whole uncracked brown egg, a small white ceramic bowl of vanilla extract, a small pile of rolled oats, a small pile of all-purpose flour, a small white bowl with baking soda powder, a small white bowl with salt, a scattering of red and green holiday M&M's, and a scattering of semi-sweet chocolate chips, all arranged with perfect symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Unsalted Butter: Using unsalted lets you control the saltiness; softened butter is key for creaming properly to get a fluffy dough.
Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and a subtle caramel flavor, which plays so well with peanut butter.
Sugar: Balances the richness with sweetness and helps the cookie edges crisp slightly.
Peanut Butter: Creamy style like Skippy or Jif mixes smoothly and contributes creamy, nutty goodness.
Egg: Helps bind ingredients and lends structure, so the cookies hold their shape.
Vanilla Extract: Brings warmth and depth to the flavors — don’t skip this!
Rolled Oats: Gives the cookies body and a wonderful chewy texture — quick oats can be a substitute, but rolled oats are best for texture.
Flour: The foundation that keeps everything together without getting dense.
Baking Soda: The leavening agent that helps the cookies rise just right.
Salt: Enhances sweetness and balances flavors perfectly.
Holiday M&Ms: Red and green candies not only add festive color but also create melty, chocolatey pockets.
Chocolate Chips: Semi-sweet or milk chocolate both work beautifully for pockets of gooey chocolate.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love how versatile Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe can be. Over time, I’ve added little extras or swapped ingredients to suit my mood or what I have on hand, and it always turns out fantastic—try it and find your favorite twist!

Variation: One of my favorite tweaks is swapping regular chocolate chips for peanut butter chips — it intensifies that peanut butter flavor and gives the cookie an extra layer of richness.
Make it chewy gluten-free: Use a gluten-free flour blend and stick with rolled oats labeled gluten-free. The texture remains delightfully chewy.
Nut-free option: If peanut butter isn’t your thing, almond or sunflower seed butter work well for a different spin but still great results.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugars Until Fluffy

This is the heart of getting that light texture—beat your softened butter with brown and white sugar for about 4 minutes until it’s pale and fluffy. I usually scrape down the bowl a couple of times with a spatula to make sure everything’s evenly mixed.

Step 2: Add Peanut Butter, Egg, and Vanilla

Next, stir in the creamy peanut butter along with the egg and vanilla extract. Beat for another minute until it’s fully blended and smooth. These ingredients add the classic monster cookie flavor and richness you crave.

Step 3: Fold in Dry Ingredients and Mix-ins

Stir in rolled oats, flour, baking soda, and salt just until combined—don’t overmix here, or the cookies get tough. Then fold in the chocolate chips and most of the holiday M&M's, leaving a small handful aside for topping later.

Step 4: Chill the Dough and Preheat the Oven

Wrap the dough tightly and chill for about 30 minutes. This step helps the cookies keep their shape and develop flavor. When you’re ready, preheat your oven to 365°F (185°C).

Step 5: Scoop and Bake

Use a cookie scoop to place dough balls about 2 inches apart on a light-colored baking sheet (a dark sheet can cause burning). Bake for 9-10 minutes — don’t worry if they look a bit soft; they’ll firm up as they cool.

Step 6: Press Remaining M&Ms and Cool

Right after pulling the cookies from the oven, gently press the remaining M&Ms on top for that pop of color and extra candy goodness. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack or plate.

Top Tip

Having made these cookies quite a few times, I've learned that the chilling step absolutely makes a difference in flavor and texture. Plus, timing is everything when you take them out of the oven—don’t overbake! Let me share what helped me nail this every time.

Chilling for Flavor: Giving the dough time to rest lets the butter solidify and the flavors meld, which makes the cookies even tastier and easier to shape.
Don’t Overbake: The cookies will look soft and slightly underdone when you pull them out, but they’ll firm up as they cool—this helps maintain the chewy center.
Use a Light Baking Sheet: Dark pans absorb more heat and can cause your cookies to brown too fast on the edges, throwing off the texture balance.
Press M&Ms Immediately After Baking: This prevents them from cracking or melting too much and gives that beautiful, festive finish everyone loves.

How to Serve Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe

Christmas Monster Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I usually keep it simple with extra red and green M&Ms pressed on top of the cookies themselves. But if you want to get creative, a light dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of white chocolate makes them look extra special on the holiday dessert table.

Side Dishes

These monster cookies pair perfectly with a cold glass of milk or a warm cup of hot cocoa—my go-to winter combo. I’ve also served them alongside a homemade peppermint bark or spiced nuts for a festive cookie platter that gets rave reviews.

Creative Ways to Present

One fun idea I tried was stacking the cookies in a festive tin layered with parchment paper, tied with a bright red ribbon for gift-giving. For a party, arrange them on a platter shaped like a Christmas tree with green M&Ms acting as ornaments—it’s always a crowd-pleaser!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep my leftover Christmas Monster Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay soft and delicious for about 3 days that way. If I want them a bit softer the next day, I just pop one in the microwave for 10 seconds, and it tastes freshly baked.

Freezing

These cookies freeze beautifully! I either freeze the dough shaped into balls on a tray, then transfer to a gallon-sized ziplock, or freeze baked cookies stacked with parchment paper in between. Either way, they retain their great texture and flavor for up to two months.

Reheating

For frozen baked cookies, I recommend warming them in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes to bring back that fresh-baked softness. For dough, bake straight from frozen and just add a couple extra minutes to the baking time.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use quick oats instead of rolled oats?

Yes! Quick oats will work if that's what you have, but the texture will be slightly less chewy and more tender since quick oats break down more during baking.

How do I prevent the cookies from spreading too much?

Make sure your butter is softened but not melted, and chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes is key. Also, avoid flattening the dough balls before baking to help them keep their shape.

Can I make these cookies nut-free?

Absolutely! Swap the peanut butter for sunflower seed butter or a safe alternative, and avoid any nut-based mix-ins to keep the cookies nut-free and just as delicious.

How long do Christmas Monster Cookies stay fresh?

When stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies stay fresh and chewy for about 3 days. For longer storage, freezing is your best bet.

Final Thoughts

To me, this Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe is more than just a cookie—it’s a holiday tradition wrapped in peanut butter, oats, and colorful chocolate. Every time I make them, the house fills with that cozy, nostalgic scent, and friends and family always beg for the recipe. Grab your mixing bowl, and I promise you’ll be making them year after year too!