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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, so be careful when cooking the cookie dough! 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, my trick is 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.
Watch the How-To Reel
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.
This post was originally published on December 3, 2021
Thank you for sharing this recipe ❤️These have become a year round favorite in this house! Question, have you ever made the dough and put in the freezer to have on hand for a quick sweet snack?
Hey Mandi,
Thanks for making this recipe so often, I’m so glad it always turns out nicely! Yes, you can freeze the dough to pop in the oven when needed:) Stay warm!
These cookies have become an absolute favorite for our family ❣️
Will be a Christmas staple🥰
Hey Beth,
Fantastic! I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, love to hear it always turns out well for you!
Have the best weekend!
Love these cookies, made 2 batches over the holidays, I used sea salt caramel instead of white chocolate, so yummy..keep the cookies train going Tieghan.
Hey Donna,
Awesome! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad it turned out nicely for you!
Merry Christmas!🎄🎁
Another hit Tieghan + team! For the past two Christmases, these have been a part of my family tradition. My brother uses two to make them into an ice cream sandwich. Next year, I will try them with various, seasonal M&M’s (i.e. Easter, 4th of July, and Halloween)! Thank y’all so much!
Thanks so much, Portia! Love to hear your family enjoys these cookies, I appreciate you making them!
Happy Holidays!🎄🎁
These cookies are delicious! The recipe was super easy to follow, and the cookies turned out perfect. I used them for my Christmas cookie boxes this year, and they were a fan-favourite across the board! Will definitely be making this again in the future.
Hey Amy,
Thanks for the thoughtful feedback after trying this recipe, I’m happy to hear it was a win!
Happy Holidays!🎄🎁
Wonderful holiday cookie! We are giving them as presents 🎁 and eating the rest!
Hey Robin,
Thanks for the thoughtful feedback after trying this recipe, I’m happy to hear it was a win!
Happy Holidays!🎄🎁
would it be possible to skip the oats?
Hi Michele,
If you skip the oats you will want to use more flour, I just don’t have those exact measurements.
Let me know if you give these cookies a try! Happy Holidays!
I’ve seen some monster cookies that add peanut butter. How would I do that in this recipe? Omit some butter? I love that yours has pretzels!
Thanks so much, Bridget! I have never tried this with peanut butter, but you could certainly give it a try!
I hope you love these cookies!
Best cookies! Making dough ahead, how many days can the dough be in the fridge? Thank you!
Thanks so much, Bridgette! I wouldn’t keep the dough in the fridge for more than 72 hours. You can also freeze the dough for 3 months.
Please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy Holidays!
Can these be frozen? Unbaked? Baked? Thank you!!
Hey Bekah,
Yes, you can freeze the cookies after baking or you can freeze the dough balls.
I hope you love these cookies, please let me know if you have any other questions!
Thank you!! This recipe is always a hit in our house. I baked some for everyone to enjoy now and froze the rest to have when they’re wanting one or two fresh ones.
Is it ok if I chill the dough? I plan to bake these tomorrow
Hi Janie,
You bet, that is just fine for you to do. I hope you love these cookies!
Happy Holidays!
I love these cookies, they taste so good with the chew from the oats and sweet and salty. Does anyone know why the cookies don’t spread as much as they do in the photo? Mine did spread but remained still quite thick.
Hey Carley,
Love to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it and your comment!
Are you chilling your dough? That will prevent the cookies from spreading.
Happy Holidays!🎄
So excited to make me these! Do you think adding in mini marshmallows would ruin them?
Thanks so much, Angie! I think that might be okay to do! Try adding to a couple just to see:)
Happy Holidays!