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
