Next Post
Frosted Spicy Ginger Moscow Mule.
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
Christmas Monster Cookies for your December weekend baking…festive, easy, and sweet. Homemade chocolate chip cookies, made with oats, pretzels pieces, plenty of chocolate chunks, white chocolate, and plenty of holiday M&M’s. There’s nothing not to love about these sweet chocolate (crunch) cookies. Each bite is slightly crisp on the edges but soft and gooey in the center…with just a little salty pretzel crunch and milk chocolate throughout.
Fridays in December are just better! There are holiday parties, searching for the perfect gift for someone you love, and baking the nights away with family and friends. Well, at least that’s the “Hallmark” version I have in my head.
The reality is a little less picture-perfect for sure, but I’m definitely doing the baking! It’s one of the reasons we love this season the most. I mean there are so many cookies! As I said on Tuesday, this year I’m really focusing on all of the holiday cookies I haven’t made before.
My list of cookies is a mile long, but I only have a handful of days to share them. So, I’m trying to pick the very best on my list. It’s tricky, but I always knew these cookies needed to be shared. The combination of ingredients is just too good.
The steps are easy
One: gather your ingredients. You’ll need the basics…butter, sugar, flour, etc. Simple, simple, nothing fancy, but all good.
Two: the stir-ins, they’re are the most important part. You’ll need old fashioned oats, salted pretzel twists, semi-sweet or dark chocolate chunks, and white chocolate chips. And then plenty of red and green holiday M&M’s, which really make these cookies.
Three: beat, mix, stir, bake.
Four: eat these cookies warm, just out of the oven, because these are those kind of gooey delicious cookies.
A couple notes
It’s important to note that these cookies do spread. They’re meant to have slightly crisp edges and perfectly soft gooey centers, just like in the photos. My favorite type of cookie…totally delicious.
If you want a bit of a thicker cookie, simply omit the additional egg yolk and use only two eggs. This will give you a thicker cookie without as much spreading.
To get the M&M’s to really pop, I like to add in a few just before the cookies finish baking completely. This way each cookie has a bit of the festive M&M’s right on top.
What I love about these cookies is that they’re so easy to make. They require no chilling and they really are completely no fuss. Especially when it comes to Christmas cookies.
These cookies have perfectly crisp edges, yet soft and gooey centers. They’ve got a nice crunch plus a little saltiness from the pretzels – the best kind of cookie.
I’m excited to include these in the year’s Christmas cookie box. They’re perfect for packing up and gifting to friends for the holidays!
Looking for other Christmas cookies? Here are my favorites:
Easy Vanilla Bean Christmas Lights Cookies
Easy Hot Chocolate Lace Cookies
Lastly, if you make these Christmas Monster Cookies, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Christmas Monster Cookies
Servings: 20 cookies
Calories Per Serving: 364 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 sticks (1 cup) salted butter at room temperature
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, plus 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
- 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
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.2. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla until combined. Beat in the eggs and 1 egg yolk, 1 at a time, until combined. Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Beat in the oats. 3. Fold in 1 cup of the M&M's, the pretzels, chocolate chips, and white chocolate. 4. Roll the dough into 1/4 cup size balls. Place 3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. 5. Transfer to the oven and bake for 8 minutes, then rotate the pan and bake another 2 minutes. Pull the pan out and push the remaining M&M's into the cookies. Bake 2-3 minutes. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet. They will continue to cook slightly as they sit on the baking sheet. 6. Eat warm (highly recommended) or let cool and store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Is it ok to make the dough the day before baking (store in fridge overnight for one night) or should I freeze it?
Hi! You can definitely store in the fridge for one night! xT
I have made these cookies 4 times so far this holiday season. I get so many compliments every time I make them, some even tell me it’s the best cookie they’ve ever had. As my boyfriend said “these can’t just be Christmas cookies, they have to be year round cookies.” Thank you, Tieghan, for making me feel like a true baker!
Hey Kacy! Thank you so much for giving this recipe a try! So glad to hear you enjoyed it! xT
These were such a big hit last Christmas, so, I’m making them again this Christmas. So good are these.
Thank you so much Tracey! Have an amazing Christmas! 🙂 xT
Hi Tieghan!
I am looking forward to making these and a few others for this weekend!! I am making my first attempt at cookie boxes. For these (and the Gingerbread latte ones) are you able to make the dough a day or two before and store in the fridge before baking? I am trying to work on better kitchen time management.
Thank you!!
Hi Alyssa! Yes, you can definitely make the dough ahead of time! xT
My first time making these they turned out so thin and flat. They were chewy and tasted delicious, but were way thinner than the pictures. Followed the recipe exactly. Any suggestions?
Haha I’m having the OPPOSITE issue!!! Mine are like SO thick and cakey – can’t get them to be gooey like at all!
Hi Cecilia! I would maybe add a little bit more flour if you’re wanting them to not be as thin! xT
Can I add peanut butter to this recipe? If so, what would the measurements be?
Hey Katie! I haven’t ever tried Peanut butter in this recipe before! So sorry! xT
Is there any adjustment for cooking at a higher altitude?
Hi Melinda! I would maybe add a little less flour and bake for less time! xT
Hi Teighan, can you use light brown sugar instead of dark? Just cause I have that on hand.
Hi Susan! Yes, you definitely can! xT
Can you freeze these before baking?
Yes you can definitely freeze the dough! xT
Just made these to share for the holidays. They are soooo good! Gooey & crispy at the same time. Will definitely put in my cookie tins to gift to friends!
Thank you so much for trying out this recipe! Hope you enjoyed this recipe! xT
How could i incorporate peanut butter into this recipe? do i sub half peanut butter for one half of the butter?❤️❤️
So gooey and lots of chocolatey goodness. Turned out rather flat but the flavor is good.
they smell so good and im drooling trying to make them:)
Thank you so much Henry! xT
I made these Christmas Monster Cookies and they were wonderful! Mine, however, did not look as beautiful as yours but they were still delicious and fun to make. This is a keeper recipe! Thank you❤️
Made these today for my neighbors and they were a hit! Thank you for your wonderful recipes and I hope you have a Merry Christmas 🎄🎁
The flavor of these is perfectly sweet and salty! My first batch came out the exact texture you described! (I overbaked my next batch so made sure to watch the time on the next one!) I used butterscotch chips instead of white chocolate chips and was happy with that substitution. My husband is not a big sweets guy but gobbled these up and gave them rave reviews!!
Thanks so much for trying out the recipe! Have a wonderful holiday season! xT