The BEST Monster Cookies Recipe (SO chewy)

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If there was ever a cookie recipe that can make you feel like a kid again while simultaneously thinking you're being healthy-ish, it would be my Best Monster Cookie Recipe! These Monster Cookies are super chewy, incredibly delicious from nutty peanut butter and rolled oats with big puddles of melty dark chocolate and an assortment of M&M's. Warning: they are highly addictive! I found it very difficult to stop eating these. The chewiness of the cookie dough combined with the sweet/salty peanut butter and crunch from the candy-coated chocolate is all just so fun to eat. I think what makes this recipe stand out from the rest is the texture - they really are perfectly chewy and they stay that way for days!

the best monster cookies on cooling rack

WHAT ARE MONSTER COOKIES?

Monster cookies always have three main ingredients: peanut butter, oats and colorful candy-coated chocolate. They are big, thick and chunky with a chewy texture and always contain oats. They're similar to a kitchen sink cookie, except they're more fun!

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

Chewy oatmeal cookies - these monster cookies have the most delightful chewy texture and they stay chewy forever! I mean... after a week they were still so chewy for me.
Chocolate chunk oatmeal cookies - big chunks of dark chocolate turn into lovely glistening puddles which make these Monster cookies stand out from the rest.
M&M cookies - you can't make Monster Cookies without candy-coated chocolate and my favorite is M&M's. If you use Smarties, I might judge you (I'm very passionate about this debate!)
Delicious peanut butter flavor - just the right amount of peanut butter makes these outstanding oatmeal cookies without overpowering the taste of the oats.

INGREDIENTS FOR THE BEST MONSTER COOKIE RECIPE

Here are some notes on some of the key ingredients for this recipe. For a full list of ingredients and measurements, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Unsalted butter - there's no substitute for butter in delicious homemade cookies for me. If you only have salted butter, then reduce the added salt by half.
Peanut butter - this recipe works best with smooth or creamy peanut butter, and I like to use the regular emulsified type. If you use natural peanut butter they will be slightly more crumbly.
Brown sugar - I like to use light brown sugar for this recipe so the taste of the peanut butter and oats still shines. You can also use dark brown sugar.
Rolled oats - this recipe is designed to use rolled oats. If you use quick oats the cookies will be too crumbly and drier because quick oats absorb more moisture. They will also be thicker.
Honey - honey is the key ingredient to make sure these cookies stay nice and chewy! Do not leave it out.
Pure vanilla extract - vanilla is essential to making delicious cookies. I like this Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla extract.
Dark chocolate - this recipe works best with chopped dark chocolate from a bar or block of chocolate. It creates irregular chunks that melt more smoothly into the cookie dough.
Candy-covered chocolate - they wouldn't be Monster Cookies without them! You can use M&Ms or just generic candy-coated chocolate pieces.

the best monster cookies recipe ingredients

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR BEST MONSTER COOKIE RECIPE

STEP 1). Combine dry ingredients. Add all of the dry ingredients except for the oats in a large bowl and whisk to blend evenly.
STEP 2). Cream butter and sugar. Beat together the butter with brown sugar until smooth and a bit fluffy.
STEP 3). Mix in peanut butter and honey. Add in peanut butter and honey and mix until well combined.
STEP 4). Mix in egg. Add the egg and mix well until evenly incorporated then mix in vanilla.
STEP 5). Mix in oats. Add the oats and mix them in.
STEP 6). Add dry ingredients. Add the flour mixture and fold it in until just combined.
STEP 7). Add the mix-ins. Add the chocolate chunks and M&M's and fold them in.
STEP 8). Chill the dough. Cover the dough and refrigerate for about 1 hour.
STEP 9). BAKE. Scoop heaped 2 tablespoon portions of dough and roll into smooth balls. Place them onto lined baking sheets and bake until golden and still soft in the middle!

EXPERT BAKING TIPS

Add the oats to the wet mixture. This allows the oats to get a head start on hydrating which will give the cookies a chewier texture.
Refrigerate the cookie dough. Even 30 minutes will improve the taste and texture of these cookies. Oats need time to soften and absorb some moisture so that they bake into the cookie dough rather than remain hard.
Leave plenty of space. For best results, bake 6 to 8 cookies per tray so there is room for spreading and also room for the hot air to circulate around the dough balls and brown the edges nicely.

the best monster cookies with melty chocolate

RECIPE FAQ

Do I need to chill the cookie dough?

You can make these cookies without chilling the dough, but I promise it's worth it. Giving the cookie dough time to rest and chill in the fridge allows the oats and flour to fully hydrate. This produces thicker, chewier cookies. Even 30 minutes will do in a hurry.

Why did my cookies spread too much or why did my cookies come out flat?

If your cookies spread a lot, then it could be that there was not the right amount of flour added. Too little flour will mean the cookies will not have enough structure to hold their shape and the dough will be too wet. The best way to measure the flour is using a scale to ensure you use the right amount. If you skip the chilling time, the cookie dough will spread more as well.

Can I use quick oats to make monster cookies?

This recipe for calls for rolled oats which provide wonderful texture and the right amount of spread in this cookie dough. You can use quick oats, however they will absorb more moisture and these cookies will turn out thicker (they will spread less).

How do I store Monster cookies?

These cookies are best stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to a week.

How to make chewy monster cookies?

These cookies stay chewy with a tablespoon of honey. Honey is a "humectant" and that's a technical term for compounds or ingredients that hold onto water very tightly. This prevents excessive moisture loss from the cookie so that the moisture stays IN the cookie.

Can I add nuts to this monster cookie recipe?

Yes! You can add ½ cup of chopped almonds, walnuts or pecans . Peanuts would also be delicious!

Can I freeze Monster cookies?

Yes, just place the cooled cookies in a resealable freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. They just about 20 minutes to thaw.

If you love cookies, check out these recipes!

Chewy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies The BEST Chewy Pumpkin Cookies Chewy Brown Butter Snickerdoodles Cookies Brown Butter M&M Cookies Recipe Lemon Blueberry Cookies with White Chocolate Chunks Coffee Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies Double Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies Hazelnut Double Chocolate Chunk Cookies THE BEST Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies – Bakery Style!

Video

The BEST Chewy Monster Cookies

Christina Marsigliese

These are the ULTIMATE chewy Monster Cookies! They're big fat oatmeal cookies with peanut butter, m&m's and chocolate chips!

4.96 from 23 votes

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 12

Servings 16 cookies

Ingredients

¾ cup 105g all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup 113g unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup 165g packed light brown sugar
¼ cup 60ml smooth regular peanut butter
1 tablespoon 15ml honey
1 large egg at room temperature
1 teaspoon 5ml pure vanilla extract
1 cup 100g large flake rolled oats
⅔ cup 113g dark chocolate chunks
⅓ cup 85g regular M&M's or other candy coated chocolate
⅓ cup 85g mini M&M's or other candy coated chocolate

Instructions

Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl and whisk to blend evenly.
Combine soft butter and brown sugar in a large bowl and "cream" it together with a spatula until evenly blended, smooth and a bit fluffy. The mixture will look like fluffy wet sand. Mix in peanut butter, then mix in honey. Add the egg and vanilla and mix until well combined. Mix in oats.
Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and fold it in until it is just combined. Add chocolate chunk and both types of M&M's and fold them in until evenly distributed.
Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the dough in the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line two large cookie sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
Scoop up about 2 tablespoons of dough and roll into balls. Place them onto prepared baking sheets spacing them at least 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes until lightly golden around the edges but still slightly soft in the center (they will set as they cool). Let cookies cool for 1 minute on the baking sheets, then transfer them individually to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Keyword chocolate, cookies, oatmeal, oatmeal cookies, oats