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Monster cookies are such a fun treat!  These giant, peanut-buttery oatmeal cookies with M&M’s are sure to make anyone smile.  Who doesn’t love a giant cookie chock-full of goodies like peanut butter, chocolate chips, and M&M’s?

Monster Cookies

This past Christmas, I got a new spring-loaded ice cream scoop from my husband.  After I opened it, he said, “It’s a big cookie scoop, so you can make monster cookies more often!”  It works great, but it makes some HUGE monster cookies!  I’m guessing that’s why he picked that one in particular… 🙂

Monster Lineup

Begin by beating together the butter and sugar.  After that’s well-mixed, beat in the eggs, vanilla, and baking soda.  Next is the peanut butter.  Once that’s well-blended, the batter is really smooth.  It’s now time for the oats.  You can use either quick cooking or old-fashioned.  I have used both in this recipe, and found that it really doesn’t make that big of a difference.  Just use what you have on hand.

Making Cookies

Hand-mix in the M&M’s and chocolate chips so that they don’t get smushed by the mixer.

Ready to Mix

Mixed Up

If you’re making true “monster cookies”, use a large cookie scoop or ice cream scoop to drop the dough onto baking sheets.  Otherwise, you can make “normal size” cookies with this recipe, and they will be great as well.  If you are using an ice cream scoop, you may want to slightly flatten the dough before popping them into the oven.  I can get 9 on one sheet with my new scoop, or about 2 dozen on one sheet with my old, small scoop.

Monsters

The “monster” scoop:

Monster Scoop

And here’s some normal size cookies (little monsters!) for those not desiring a cookie the size of their hand.  The smaller cookies are much better portions for little kids, too.

Little Monsters

Bake until they are puffy and light golden brown.  Let them cool on the baking sheet until they are firm and almost cooled completely.

Baked Monsters

Baked Little Monsters

Remove them from the cookie sheet and enjoy!

The Monster Family

To freeze the dough for monster cookies, drop dough onto the cookie sheet as if you were going to bake them.  Instead, pop the baking sheet into the freezer, and keep there until they are no longer sticky, about 1 hour or so.  Then, you can transfer the cookie dough balls into a resealable plastic bag for long-term storage.  Bake as you normally would, straight from the freezer!

Monster Cookies

Print Recipe
Servings 2 dozen "monster" cookies, or 4 to 5 dozen regular-sized cookies

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter softened
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 1/2 cups peanut butter
  • 4 1/2 cups oats quick cooking or old-fashioned
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup M&M's chocolate candies

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat together butter and sugars. Add eggs, vanilla extract, and baking soda, and mix well. Mix in peanut butter until well-blended. Add oats and stir until combined. Mix in chocolate chips and M&M's.
  • Drop cookies by ice cream scoopful (or normal sized) about 2 inches apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake in preheated 350 degree F oven for 15 to 20 minutes. Let cookies cool on baking sheets before moving to wire racks. Store in an airtight container.