Description
These festive Christmas Monster Cookies combine a chewy texture with the perfect holiday crunch from mini pretzels and colorful M&M’s. Bursting with chocolate chips and oats, they deliver a delightful mix of flavors and textures, ideal for celebrating the season with friends and family.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 2 sticks (1 cup) salted butter at room temperature
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
Mix-ins
- 1 1/4 cups holiday M&M’s
- 1 cup mini pretzel sticks, crushed
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks
- 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350° F (175° C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the room temperature butter, dark brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Then, add the 2 whole eggs and 1 egg yolk one at a time, beating well after each addition to ensure everything is fully combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and kosher salt into the wet mixture. Beat together until just combined. Then fold in the old fashioned oats, ensuring an even distribution throughout the dough.
- Incorporate Mix-ins: Gently fold in 1 cup of the holiday M&M’s, the crushed mini pretzel sticks, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and white chocolate chips. This step adds texture and bursts of flavor to the dough.
- Form Cookie Balls: Roll the dough into 1/4 cup sized balls, roughly the size of a golf ball. Place them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving at least 3 inches between each to allow for spreading.
- Bake Cookies: Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 8 minutes. Then rotate the pan for even cooking and bake an additional 2 minutes.
- Add Remaining M&M’s and Finish Baking: Remove the pan from the oven and press the remaining M&M’s gently into the surface of each cookie. Return the cookies to the oven and bake for another 2 to 3 minutes until the edges are golden and the centers set.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet. They will continue to firm up as they cool. Enjoy them warm for the best texture, or store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Notes
- Using room temperature butter ensures better mixing and a softer cookie texture.
- Do not overmix the dough once flour is added to keep the cookies tender.
- Spacing cookies 3 inches apart prevents them from spreading into each other while baking.
- Pressing extra M&M’s on top after initial baking enhances appearance and adds extra color.
- These cookies keep well for up to 4 days stored in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Christmas cookies, monster cookies, holiday cookies, oatmeal cookies, chocolate chip cookies, festive baking, holiday treats
