Monster cookies are one of the simplest cookie recipes around. Add what you like, take out what you don’t! This monster cookie recipe uses chocolate chips, peanut butter candy and more to create the most delicious cookie ever!
Give me the choice of what dessert recipe to make and I will almost always choose to make cookies. Short of my pumpkin roll recipe and a good cheesecake, cookies and milk will always be my go-to sweet treat.
But, I am particular about what cookies I like. I love cake mix cookies because they’re super simple and any cookie with M&M’s in the recipe have been a favorite since I was a little girl.
But I will always, always, love a good monster cookie recipe; especially a chewy peanut butter monster cookie recipe. My monster cookie recipe uses a peanut butter oatmeal cookie as its base and trust me, if you love peanut butter cookies or chocolate chip cookies, you’re going to love it!
Why Do They Call Them Monster Cookies?
“Everything but the kitchen sink” might be another great name for monster cookies. Basically they’re called that because they’re a “horrific” group of ingredients that is different from the typical cookie recipe.
In other words, if you can eat it and think it will taste good with the rest of the ingredients, you can add it to your monster cookies. As long as you have the basic ingredients – eggs as part of your wet ingredients, baking soda, and vanilla extract – you can play with the rest of what you add quite a bit.
In the case of my monster cookie recipe, you’re basically going to be making a peanut butter oatmeal cookie with a couple of additions.
This also means that each monster cookie recipe is very likely different from other ones you have seen.
What Ingredients Can I Add to Monster Cookies?
Like I said, as long as you have the basics, you can add quite a few other things. Each addition will give your cookie a different taste which makes a basic monster cookie recipe a really versatile recipe.
They’re especially if you need something for a bake sale or school function!
A few things you can add are:
- white chocolate chips
- semi-sweet chocolate chips
- milk chocolate chips
- mini M&M candies
- pecans
- walnuts
- peanut butter chips or candies
Really! The possibilities are endless!
What Kind of Peanut Butter Can I Use?
When you make monster cookies, you can use creamy peanut butter, natural peanut butter or like my recipe, chunky peanut butter. Changing the type will not have much of an affect on the final product.
However, if you choose to use natural peanut butter, be sure that you stir it well before measuring it. Since the peanut butter is considered one of the liquid ingredients in this recipe, your cookie dough will be too dry if the oil has separated in the peanut butter and it isn’t mixed back in very well.
If stirring the peanut butter doesn’t work, add it to a medium or large bowl and use a hand mixer on low speed to reincorporated and whip the peanut butter back up.
What Kind of Oats Can I Use?
While you can technically use old fashioned oats in this recipe, I don’t recommend it. Using quick oats makes for a much better cookie texture and tasting final product.
Old fashioned oats won’t cook as quickly as quick oats and no one wants to eat a cookie with puncooked ingredients.
Can Monster Cookie Dough Be Frozen?
This particular monster cookie recipe makes around 3 dozen cookies which is a lot of cookies. If you don’t need that many, you may be wondering if you can freeze monster cookie dough.
Yes! You absolutely can and even better is that the freezing instructions are fairly simple!
To freeze monster cookie dough, make the recipe as stated without baking. Drop your cookie dough onto a cookie sheet and place the entire thing in the freezer. You want around a tablespoon or two tablespoons of dough for each cookie depending on how large you want them. A cookie scoop like THESE can make measuring easier though if you don’t want to mess with it.
Freeze until solid then remove the cookie dough balls from the baking sheet and place in a bag or other airtight freezer safe container. You may want to consider using parchment paper to separate layers of dough.
Bake from frozen within 3-months. Honestly the sooner, the better as the dough will lose its flavor the longer it is frozen.
Can Monster Cookies Be Frozen?
Just like freezing monster cookie dough, the baked cookies can be frozen too. Bake as directed and allow to cool on a wire rack. Be sure to allow them to cool completely. Otherwise, you’ll have ice crystals form on the cookies which can make them soggy when you thaw.
Toss the cooled cookies in a freezer safe container and freeze. Consume within 3-months for the best flavor.
To eat them, remove them from the freezer container and allow them to come to room temperature on their own. You can also microwave them for 10-15 seconds and eat warm if you prefer.
How Long Do You Cook Monster Cookies?
If you scroll down to the recipe below, you’ll notice I have the baking time listed as 9-13 minutes. This is because one oven bakes differently than the next. The reason I specifically wanted to mention this is because my recipe is gluten free and does not contain flour at all.
Because it uses oats rather than a flour mixture, the could become very hard if they are baked too long.
To keep that from happening, begin checking them for doneness at around the 9 minute mark. They are done when the cookies are golden brown but still soft. If the center is goopy or runny, continue to bake them for another minute or two.
Monster Cookie Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ c. Chunky Peanut Butter
- 1 c. Granulated Sugar
- 1 c. Brown Sugar packed
- 8 tbsp. Butter room temperature
- 3 large Eggs room temperature
- 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
- 4 ½ c. Quick Oats uncooked
- 2 tsp. Baking soda
- 1 c. Chocolate Chips
- 1 ½ c. Reese Pieces candy separated 1 cup and 1/2 cup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F. While the oven is preheating, combine all ingredients except oats, chocolate chips and candy in a large mixing bowl.1 1/2 c. Chunky Peanut Butter, 1 c. Granulated Sugar, 1 c. Brown Sugar, 8 tbsp. Butter, 3 large Eggs, 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract, 2 tsp. Baking soda
- Add the oats one cup at a time making sure to mix well after each addition. Once the oats are added, add in the chocolate chips and 1 cup of Reese’s Pieces. Stir well to combine.4 1/2 c. Quick Oats, 1 c. Chocolate Chips, 1 1/2 c. Reese Pieces candy
- Using a cookie scoop, drop by rounded teaspoons onto the cookie sheet 2-3" apart.
- Bake for 9-13 minutes. Remove and cool on wire racks.
Notes
- Nutrition information is auto calculated and may not be correct. Please use your best judgement.
- Because oven heat can vary by oven, baking time may vary. Cookies are done when they are soft and golden brown.
- Do not overbake as cookies will become too hard to eat.
- Cookies will be soft when removed from the oven. They will set as they cool.
- Store cookies in an airtight food grade container and consume within 5 days. Cookies may be baked and frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw fully before consuming.
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