Patriotic Monster Cookies (Printable)

Chewy oat and peanut-butter cookies studded with chocolate chips and red-white-blue candies for festive 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 (such as M&M’s)
12 - 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
13 - 1 cup mini pretzels, lightly crushed (optional)

# How-to Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together softened butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar until pale and fluffy.
03 - Blend in peanut butter. Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together old-fashioned oats, all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.
05 - Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing only until combined and no dry streaks remain.
06 - Gently fold in red, white, and blue chocolate candies, semisweet chocolate chips, and mini pretzels if using.
07 - Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto lined baking sheets, leaving two inches of space between portions.
08 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until edges are golden and centers remain soft.
09 - Allow cookies to cool on baking sheets for five minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • No two cookies ever turn out exactly the same—it's the chewy bit in one, and the unexpected burst of pretzel in another that keeps things exciting.
  • It's the perfect excuse to sneak extra candies, and honestly, nobody has ever refused a cookie stuffed with red, white, and blue surprises.
02 -
  • It's painfully easy to overbake these—trust the soft centers, as they firm up outside the oven.
  • Once I tried tossing in the pretzels too early and they turned soggy; always add them last for crunch.
03 -
  • Don’t use natural peanut butter—the oils separate and the cookies won’t hold their shape.
  • Let the cookies finish baking on the hot sheet out of the oven for perfect edges and soft centers.

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