If you are looking to add some festive joy and a whole lot of flavor to your holiday baking, this Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe is exactly what you need. These cookies are a delightful celebration of sweet, salty, and chewy textures, packed with colorful M&Ms, chocolate chunks, pretzels, and oats, all wrapped in a buttery, soft yet slightly crispy cookie base. Every bite bursts with holiday cheer, making these monster cookies an instant crowd-pleaser that will keep everyone coming back for more throughout the season.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe relies on ingredients that are simple, familiar, and each one plays a vital role in creating those perfect textures and vibrant flavors we crave during the holidays. From the richness of butter to the crunch of pretzels and the festive colors of M&Ms, it’s the combination that makes these cookies truly special.
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour: The foundation of your cookie dough, providing structure and chewiness.
- ½ teaspoon baking soda: Helps the cookies rise just right and keeps them soft.
- ½ teaspoon baking powder: Adds a subtle lift for a tender crumb.
- ½ teaspoon salt: Balances sweetness and enhances all the flavors.
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature: Gives richness and that melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- ¾ cup dark brown sugar: Adds moisture and a deep caramel flavor.
- ¼ cup granulated sugar: Adds a touch of sweetness and helps with cookie crispness.
- 2 large eggs, room temperature: Binds everything together and adds fluffiness.
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract: Infuses warmth and enhances all the other ingredients.
- ½ cup red and green M&Ms: Festive colors plus a chocolatey crunch.
- ⅓ cup semi-sweet chocolate chunks: Rich, melty pockets of chocolate in every bite.
- ⅓ cup white chocolate chips: Sweet contrast with a creamy texture.
- ⅓ cup pretzel pieces: A salty crunch that perfectly offsets the sweetness.
- ⅓ cup old fashioned oats: Adds chew and rustic texture.
- 2 tablespoons red and green jimmies sprinkles: For a little extra whimsy and holiday flair.
How to Make Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prep Your Oven and Dry Ingredients
The very first step to baking these gorgeous Christmas monster cookies is making sure your oven is ready at 350 degrees Fahrenheit and your baking sheets are lined for easy cleanup. Meanwhile, whisking the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together ensures your dry ingredients are evenly distributed. This simple combo sets the stage for perfectly risen and tender cookies.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars Until Fluffy
Next up is the magic in your stand mixer bowl. Beating the soft butter with both brown and granulated sugars together for a full five minutes is key to getting that light, airy, and creamy texture that makes these monster cookies so irresistible. This step develops the perfect base for a tender crumb with just enough chew.
Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla for Fluffiness
Adding the eggs and vanilla extract brings the dough together beautifully. Mixing for two more minutes transforms the buttery, sugary base into a pale and fluffy batter that’s bursting with flavor and ready for your vibrant mix-ins.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients and Fold in Mix-Ins
Pour the flour mixture into your wet batter slowly, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the dough. Then gently but thoroughly fold in the M&Ms, chocolate chunks, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, oats, and holiday sprinkles. This colorful mix is what makes this Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe stand out with layers of varied textures and tastes.
Step 5: Scoop, Chill, and Bake
Scooping out your dough and spacing them on baking sheets keeps the cookies plenty roomy to spread without touching. Chilling the dough for 30 minutes is a crucial step that helps control spreading for thick, picture-perfect cookies. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, keeping an eye on those edges to achieve just the right golden-brown color. For extra festive flair, add a few M&Ms on top mid-bake for perfect color distribution, and if you want perfectly round cookies, try shaping them with a cookie cutter right after baking.
How to Serve Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
These Christmas monster cookies are already spectacular, but you can elevate their festive appeal with a quick dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of melted white chocolate. Placing a single M&M or chocolate chunk atop each cookie just before serving adds that final touch of holiday cheer that will wow friends and family.
Side Dishes
Pair these cookies with a chilled glass of milk, hot cocoa topped with whipped cream, or even a cup of coffee or tea for a perfectly comforting holiday treat. The sweet and salty complexity of the monster cookies complements warm beverages beautifully, making any snack time feel extra special.
Creative Ways to Present
Presentation matters at holiday gatherings! Arrange your Christmas Monster Cookies on a festive platter with sprigs of holly or candy canes, or deliver them in a charming gift box for hosts or neighbors. You could even stack them with wax paper between layers and tie with a red ribbon to create an irresistible edible gift that’s as lovely to give as it is to eat.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
After baking, store any leftover Christmas monster cookies in an airtight container at room temperature to keep them soft and chewy for up to a week. Separating layers with parchment paper prevents sticking and keeps their festive look intact.
Freezing
You can freeze the unbaked dough balls or the baked cookies themselves. Place dough balls on a baking sheet to freeze individually before transferring to a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Baked cookies freeze well when wrapped tightly and thawed at room temperature, making holiday baking stress-free and future-ready.
Reheating
If you want that fresh-baked warmth, gently warm your cookies in a 300-degree oven for about 5 minutes or microwave for 10 seconds. This revives the softness and brings back that just-out-of-the-oven magic in each bite.
FAQs
Can I substitute the M&Ms with other candies?
Absolutely! Feel free to swap M&Ms for your favorite holiday-themed candies or chocolate chips. Just be mindful of colors and textures to keep that festive vibrancy and delightful crunch.
Why do I need to chill the dough before baking?
Chilling solidifies the butter which helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much in the oven. This means thicker, chewier cookies with better texture.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Yes! Use your favorite gluten-free all-purpose flour blend in a 1:1 ratio, and make sure the mix-ins are also gluten-free. The texture may vary slightly but the flavors will still shine.
What is the best way to keep these cookies soft?
Store them in an airtight container with a slice of fresh bread or an apple wedge. This helps maintain moisture and keeps your cookies soft and chewy longer.
Can I add nuts to this Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe?
Of course! Chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds would add a wonderful crunch and nutty flavor that pairs beautifully with the sweet and salty elements.
Final Thoughts
This Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe is one of those delightful treats that brings joy not only in eating but also in sharing with loved ones during the holiday season. With its colorful, crunchy, and chewy delights packed into every bite, it’s sure to become a tradition you treasure year after year. So grab your mixing bowl, sprinkle in those festive M&Ms, and get ready to bake memories as sweet as these cookies!
Print
Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe
Sweet, salty, and packed with festive mix-ins, these Christmas Monster Cookies are buttery, colorful, and perfect for holiday celebrations. Loaded with M&Ms, chocolate chunks, pretzels, oats, and sprinkles, these cookies offer a delightful combination of textures and flavors with an easy-to-follow recipe that guarantees soft, chewy cookies every time.
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 20 cookies
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 ½ cups (200 g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- ½ teaspoon (3 g) baking soda
- ½ teaspoon (3 g) baking powder
- ½ teaspoon (3 g) salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, room temperature (12 tablespoons)
- ¾ cup dark brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tablespoon (15 g) vanilla extract
Mix-Ins
- ½ cup (120 g) red and green M&Ms
- ⅓ cup (52 g) semi-sweet chocolate chunks
- ⅓ cup (60 g) white chocolate chips
- ⅓ cup (18 g) pretzel pieces
- ⅓ cup (35 g) old fashioned oats
- 2 tablespoons red and green jimmies sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (176°C) and position the rack in the center. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats and set aside.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until well combined. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: Using a stand mixer with a beater attachment, cream the room-temperature unsalted butter with the granulated sugar and dark brown sugar on medium-high speed for 5 minutes until the mixture is light and airy.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the creamed butter mixture and continue mixing for 2 minutes until pale and fluffy. Scrape down the bowl sides to ensure all ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
- Fold in Mix-Ins: Gently fold in the M&Ms, semi-sweet chocolate chunks, white chocolate chips, pretzel pieces, oats, and sprinkles using a rubber spatula to evenly distribute all mix-ins without breaking them.
- Scoop and Chill: Use a small cookie scoop to portion out dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Add a few extra mix-ins on top and around the edges of each dough ball for decoration. Cover the trays and chill the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to firm up.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the chilled cookies at 350°F (176°C) for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are slightly golden and the centers are puffed. After 7-8 minutes of baking, optionally add more M&Ms on top for even distribution. For perfectly round cookies, after removing from the oven, gently swirl a large round cookie cutter around each warm cookie to shape them.
- Cool: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy your festive Christmas Monster Cookies!
Notes
- Use room temperature butter and eggs for better mixing and texture.
- Chilling the dough helps prevent spreading and results in thicker cookies.
- Adding extra M&Ms partway through baking enhances the color and festive appearance.
- You can substitute pretzel pieces with nuts if preferred.
- For softer cookies, reduce baking time slightly; for crispier edges, bake a minute or two longer.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
