Patriotic Monster Cookies (Printable)

Festive, chewy cookies with oats, peanut butter, chocolate chips and red-white-blue candies for gatherings.

# What You'll Need:

→ Wet Ingredients

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 cup packed light brown sugar
04 - 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
05 - 3 large eggs
06 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Dry Ingredients

07 - 4 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
08 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
09 - 2 teaspoons baking soda
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Add-Ins

11 - 1 1/2 cups red, white, and blue chocolate candies
12 - 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
13 - 1 cup mini pretzels, lightly crushed (optional)

# How to Prepare:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, beat together unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
03 - Mix in creamy peanut butter. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then incorporate vanilla extract.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together old-fashioned oats, all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.
05 - Gradually add the dry blend into the wet mixture and mix until just combined.
06 - Gently fold chocolate candies, semisweet chocolate chips, and mini pretzels, if using, into the batter.
07 - Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing each portion two inches apart.
08 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until edges are golden and centers remain soft.
09 - Cool cookies on baking sheets for five minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You can sneak in crushed pretzels or extra candies and every batch still comes out perfectly chewy.
  • These cookies are crowd-pleasers at any festive get-together, thanks to their pops of color and gooey centers.
02 -
  • Overbaking even by a minute leads to dry cookies—watch for those golden edges and trust in a soft center.
  • I discovered adding candies to the tops right before baking makes them look bakery-worthy every time.
03 -
  • Weigh your flour and oats for consistency—too much, and you risk dry cookies.
  • A sprinkle of flaky salt over baked cookies gives a grown-up twist that always impresses guests.

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