Monster Cookies (Gluten-Free Option)

The best monster cookies recipe is one that has been handed down to many generations within a family. This was a favorite in my childhood during the Holidays and now a favorite of my own children as well. These cookies are easy to make and full of chocolate chips and M&M's.

This cookie is easy to make and delicious to eat and makes a large batch so you will have plenty to share.

These cookies are easy to make and are perfect for the Halloween and Christmas seasons. They look great in cookie trays for gift-giving and the color of the M&M's can easily be swapped out to fit any special occasion.

These cookies are easy to make and are perfect for the Halloween and Christmas seasons.  They look great in cookie trays for gift-giving and the color of the M&M's can easily be swapped out to fit any special occasion. 

This monster cookies recipe is easy to make into monster cookie bars! Although, for the bar version it does use all-purpose flour. 

Ingredients in Gluten-Free Monster Cookies

The ingredient list for the best monster cookie recipe is pretty basic:

• dark brown sugar
• granulated sugar
• baking soda
• old fashioned oats
• unsalted butter, softened
• creamy peanut butter
• vanilla extract
• large eggs
• Semi-sweet chocolate chips
• M&M candies

How to Make Gluten Free Monster Cookies

This recipe has no flour making it really easy to make gluten-free!  It also contains oats that are naturally gluten-free.  If there are gluten-free restrictions, check the label on the oats to make sure they are made in a gluten-free facility.

There are also some great gluten-free options for chocolate chips out there.  Most chocolate candies are gluten-free as well, just check the packaging before purchasing.

Instructions for Making Chewy Monster Cookies

1. Preheat oven to 350° F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. Combine softened butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and eggs in a mixing bowl and beat until creamy. I use my stand mixer for this to cream the ingredients together easily.
3. Slowly add the old fashioned oats and baking soda to the wet ingredients and beat until combined.
4. Beat in the chocolate chips and M&M's on low speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl, and evenly distributing the candies in the cookie dough. 
5. Scoop cookies by 1 and a half tablespoons or use a #40 cookie scoop to portion into cookie dough balls and place them onto the prepared cookie sheets two inches apart.  
6. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes, let them cool for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.

For chewy cookies, bake until the edges are browned but the centers are still soft. The cookies will continue to bake as they cool. 

Variations in Monster Cookies

This recipe for monster cookies uses old-fashioned oats but quick oats can be used instead.  It will alter the chewiness of the cookies but will still taste delicious. 

Creamy peanut butter is used in this recipe but chunky peanut butter can be used in its place if you prefer a crunchier cookie.

To make this cookie peanut butter free, a different nut butter such as almond butter or seed butter can be used with great results. 

Tools Needed to Make Monster Cookies

Having the right kitchen tools on hand helps make the baking process go faster. Here are some suggested cookie baking tools.

• A stand mixer with a paddle attachment or an electric mixer, to combine the ingredients easily.
• Baking sheet
• Parchment paper
• A measuring cup and spoon set to measure the ingredients correctly. 
• A very large mixing bowl and medium bowl for the wet and dry ingredients.
• A #40 cookie scoop for portioning the balls of dough.
• A rubber spatula for mixing and scraping down the bowl.
• Cooling rack to let your cookies cool before storing.

Storing Monster Cookies

When it comes to storing your 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 gift giving for Christmas or just to eat at a later date. 

The first step is to make sure that your fresh-baked 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. 

Also, 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. This is a great way to keep your cookies fresh short term. They will stay fresh for up to five days. 

When baking cookies for Halloween or Christmas 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. This locks in freshness for the cookies and they will taste great! 

Top Tips

​Use room temperature ingredients to easily cream the butter and sugars together easily. 

Avoid overbaking these monster cookies to get the best monster cookies with the chewiest texture. Allow the cookies to brown on the edges but they should still have a chewy center when taking them out of the oven.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ingredients are needed for the best monster cookies?

To make the best chewy monster cookies, you will need ingredients such as butter, dark brown and granulated sugar, creamy peanut butter, eggs, vanilla extract, baking soda, oats, and m&m candies. 

What variations can be made to make Christmas monster cookies recipe?

There are many ways to customize this classic monster cookies recipe. The easiest way to make these Christmas monster cookies is to mix in Christmas colored m&m candies as well as some white chocolate chips to the cookie dough. 

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