Halloween Monster Cookies are an easy Halloween dessert to make and share with your friends and family. These cookies are made with chunky peanut butter, Halloween M&M's, quick oats, and chocolate chips.
These chewy cookies are great for Halloween parties and they make a fun afternoon snack.
Incredibly easy to make, these monster cookies are a great Halloween activity to make with kids. Monster cookies are not only popular on Halloween but also during Christmas as well as any time of year.
This recipe was inspired by my Monster Cookies recipe, a classic Christmas cookie that I have made since I was a young child with my mother that has since become a tradition within my family.
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Ingredients in Halloween Monster Cookies
- unsalted butter
- chunky peanut butter
- brown sugar
- granulated sugar
- vanilla extract
- baking soda
- eggs
- quick oats
- semisweet chocolate chips
- Halloween M&M’s
How to Make Halloween Monster Cookies
To make Halloween monster cookies, first gather all the necessary ingredients to make these cookies easily and quickly.
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together the quick oats, and baking soda, and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment to combine the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Beat until the ingredients are creamy and well combined. Beat in the peanut butter followed by the vanilla extract and the eggs and mix until incorporated.
The next step is to gradually add the dry oat mixture to the peanut butter mixture and mix until the oats are moistened. Stir in the Halloween M&M's and the semisweet chocolate chips.
Using a #40 cookie scoop or your hands, form 1.5 tablespoons worth of dough into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Place the balls of cookie dough two inches apart on the cookie sheet and gently press the tops of the cookie dough balls slightly to flatten them.
Bake the cookies one sheet at a time in the preheated oven for about 9-11 minutes, or until the edges are slightly golden brown. Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Once cooled completely, transfer the monster cookies to a serving platter if serving right away or store them in an airtight container for maximum freshness.
Substitutions in Monster Cookies for Halloween
When making Halloween monster cookies, you can customize the recipe by substituting some ingredients to fit your preferences or dietary requirements.
Crunchy peanut butter can be replaced by creamy peanut butter or a peanut butter-free alternative. The nut or seed butter of choice may alter the overall texture of the cookies.
You can swap out the granulated sugar for more brown sugar for a more chewier and more molasses-flavored cookie.
With these substitutions, you can make the Halloween monster cookies recipe truly your own, while ensuring they still look and taste delicious. Enjoy experimenting with various substitutes, and create unique, tasty treats that everyone will enjoy this Halloween.
Variations in Monster Cookies
Creating the perfect Halloween monster cookies can be both fun and delicious and they're easily customizable to fit the flavors you would like to make the best monster cookies for your Halloween celebrations.
One popular variation is adding candy eyeballs and black sprinkles to your cookie dough. This gives your cookies an eerie, but cute look. You can also mix in Reese's Pieces or peanut butter chips for more peanut butter flavor.
The cookie base in these Halloween Cookies is naturally gluten free. Just add mix-ins that are Halloween colors that are gluten free as well for a truly gluten free Monster cookie.
To make peanut free Halloween cookies, opt for a nut free peanut butter such as wowbutter or other seed butter and use peanut and tree nut free candies as the mix-ins.
With these variations, you can easily adapt your Halloween monster cookies recipe to your preferences, making them the perfect addition to your Halloween recipe lineup. Now that your Halloween monster cookies are ready, share them with family and friends during your Halloween party, or enjoy them as a fun, festive dessert during the Halloween season.
What's Needed to Make Halloween Monster Cookies
These are a few essential tools that are needed to make cookies:
- Large baking tray
- Parchment paper
- A large bowl and medium bowl for the wet and dry ingredients.
- A #40 cookie scoop for portioning out even sizes of cookie dough.
- A rubber spatula for mixing and scraping down the bowl.
- A stand mixer with a paddle attachment or a hand mixer, to combine the ingredients easily.
- Cooling rack to let your cookies cool before storing.
Storing Halloween Cookies
When it comes to storing your Halloween monster cookies, there are a few crucial steps to ensure that your delicious dessert stays fresh and chewy. Proper storage helps your cookies stay in great condition, keep flavor, and keep them fresh when preparing them in advance for a Halloween party or a festive get-together.
Firstly, make sure that your cookies have completely cooled down after baking. Placing warm cookies in an airtight container can cause condensation, making them soggy.
Place the cookies on a wire rack to cool them completely before storing them. Before stacking the cookies, make sure the chocolate chips have had the chance to harden to prevent the chips from melting and making the cookies stick together.
Once the cookies are cooled, place them in an airtight container.
For short-term storage, keep your airtight container with Halloween cookies at room temperature for up to 5 days. For maximum freshness, enjoy your cookies within a few days of making them.
When baking cookies for Halloween ahead of time, allow them to cool completely before transferring them to a freezer safe bag in a single layer and freeze for up to 3 months. Label the freezer bag to take the guesswork out of when the cookies were made. For extra protection, place the freezer bag in a freezer safe container.
When you're ready to serve the cookies, thaw them at room temperature before serving.
Top Tips
When it comes to making Halloween monster cookies that are easy, fun, and delicious, a few key tips can ensure your baking experience is a success.
Avoid overbaking these cookies to get the chewiest texture out of the cookies. Allow the cookies to brown on the edges but they should still have a chewy center.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ingredients are needed for Halloween monster cookies?
To make Halloween monster cookies, you will need ingredients such as butter, sugars (brown and granulated), peanut butter, eggs, vanilla extract, baking soda, oats, and all-purpose flour. You will also need Halloween colored candies.
What variations can be made to a basic monster cookie recipe?
There are many ways to customize a monster cookie recipe. You can alter the base by using different types of oats, such as old-fashioned in place of quick oats. Add-ins like chocolate chips, M&M's, nuts, or dried fruits are great for making your monster cookies unique depending on your flavor preference.
How can pretzels be incorporated into Halloween cookies?
Pretzels are a fantastic addition to Halloween cookies, providing a salty contrast to the sweet flavors. Break the pretzels into small pieces and mix them into the cookie dough before baking.
Are there any monster cookie recipes suitable for Christmas?
Yes, monster cookies can be adapted for Christmas celebrations. You can change the color scheme to match the season by using red and green candy M&M's. Also, It's very easy to make these monster cookies into cookies perfect for spooky season or for getting into the Christmas spirit.
📖 Recipe
Halloween Monster Cookies
Halloween Monster Cookies are an easy Halloween dessert to make and share with your friends and family. These cookies are made with chunky peanut butter, Halloween M&M's, quick oats, and chocolate chips.
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 ½ cups chunky peanut butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 eggs
- 1 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup Halloween M&M’s
- 3 cups quick oats
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the quick oats, baking soda, and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Beat until the ingredients are creamy and well combined.
- Beat in the peanut butter followed by the vanilla extract and the eggs and mix until incorporated.
- The next step is to gradually add the dry oat mixture to the peanut butter mixture and mix until the oats are moistened.
- Stir in the Halloween M&M's and the semisweet chocolate chips.
- Using a #40 cookie scoop or your hands, form 1.5 tablespoons worth of dough into balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Place the balls of cookie dough two inches apart on the cookie sheet and gently press the tops of the cookie dough balls slightly to flatten them.
- Bake the cookies one sheet at a time in the preheated oven for about 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are slightly golden brown.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled completely, transfer the monster cookies to a serving platter if serving right away or store them in an airtight container for maximum freshness.
Notes
Avoid overbaking these cookies to get the chewiest texture out of the cookies. Allow the cookies to brown on the edges but they should still have a chewy center.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
44Serving Size:
1 cookieAmount Per Serving: Calories: 167Total Fat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 92mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 1gSugar: 15gProtein: 3g
Nutrition calculation is a rough estimate and can vary depending on the cooking technique and the exact ingredients used. For informational purposes only.
Dana is an experienced recipe creator who crafts easy and delicious recipes for all levels of home cooks.
Her recipes range from classic comfort foods to healthy and nutritious meals, and she is always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to bring flavor and variety to the table.
amy liu dong
Tuesday 17th of October 2023
Oh my gosh, this is a cute, easy, and delicious treat to make for my kids. So yummy!
Ann
Sunday 15th of October 2023
These monster cookies were so delicious! My kids asked me to make for school treats for Halloween! Thanks for the share!
Jamie
Sunday 15th of October 2023
A perfect cookie dish for this coming Halloween festivity! It looks absolutely delicious plus the texture makes it so enticing! The addition of toppings such as M&M will boost its taste and kids will definitely love this!