What better way to start the week than with a recipe for monster cookies, eh?
Ever had them? I hadn’t. Until Lucy J., a kind MKC reader, sent me a link to the recipe basically telling me I wasn’t any kind of baker until I made them. Ok, not really. She’s too nice to say that, but she did tell me they were ultra-delicious and I had to try them.
So I did! And wow, have they been a hit…every time I’ve made them since, and I’m counting that’s been at least four or five times in the last couple of weeks. They are a completely unique cookie in that they don’t have any flour in the dough – the substance of the cookie comes from a whole lot of peanut butter and oats. A little butter. And a whole lot of M&Ms and chocolate chips. The resulting soft, chewy texture gets me every time I eat one. Or five.
I actually prefer my chocolate chip cookies with oatmeal in them (although who am I to ever turn down a chocolate chip cookie regardless of oatmeal or not) and the added peanut butter flavor and other delicious add-ins make these cookies wonderfully spectacular. I’ve been making batch after batch and putting the baked cookies in the freezer. Quick to pull out for a fast after-dinner treat, they warm up beautifully in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or thaw quickly on the counter (if you can wait that long!).
P.S. In case you missed the memo, don’t forget you can now save your favorite recipes to your own personal recipe box. Check out the details here!
One Year Ago: Baked Brown Spanish Rice
Two Years Ago: Thanksgiving Dinner 101: The Rolls
Three Years Ago: Coconut Chicken Curry
Monster Cookies
Printable Version with Picture
Printable Version
*Makes 2-3 dozen cookies
INGREDIENTS:
3 large eggs
1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
1 stick butter (8 tablespoons), softened
1 cup M&Ms
1 cup milk chocolate or semisweet chocolate chips
2 teaspoons baking soda
4 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper, silpat liners or lightly grease with cooking spray.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs and sugars. Mix well. Add the salt, vanilla, peanut butter and butter. Mix until creamy and well combined. Stir in the M&Ms, chocolate chips, baking soda and oatmeal. Mix well. Roll the dough into tablespoon-sized balls and place about 2 inches apart on the cookie sheets. Flatten the cookies slightly with the palm of your hand.
Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes. Don’t overbake – the cookies should just be set and very lightly golden around the edges. Let the cookies sit for 1-2 minutes on the cookie sheet before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely. Store in a airtight container for 2 days (the baked cookies freeze well, also).
Recipe Source: adapted slightly from a Paula Deen recipe on Food Network sent to me by Lucy J., a reader
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
I never realized that Monster cookies didn’t have any flour in them – how very interesting! These sound like a great treat for the kids.
My friend makes Monster Cookies (for our large parties), but I am always too full after dinner to try one! She never mentioned that they don’t contain flour. Your cookies look delicious! I will definately give these a try…thanks, Mel!
Mel! I’ve used a nearly identical recipe (mine has a t. of corn syrup in it) for almost 20 years – I got it out of an old german church cookbook from my childhood Catholic parish in Minnesota! Maybe it’s a Midwestern thing because ever since I moved out to MA, people here freak out over my Monster Cookies
must make these today
I have a recipe for Monster Cookies I got from a friend probably 20 years ago and it has flour, oats and chocolate chips in them. I was told it was a family recipe. So I guess that everyone’s varies, but these sound wonderful and I love peanut butter.
I love these! I’ve known them as “power” cookies (maybe because of the peanut butter/oatmeal) and I’ve found that they freeze really well. In fact, they’re kind of yummy straight out of the freezer . . .
These are one of my fav. cookies! My mom would make these growing up and her recipe made a gigantic batch! We would be whipping them up in a giant stainless steel bowl, and she literally made them Monster, as in, 6 cookies were all that would fit on the sheet. Our recipe calls for about 1 cup of rice crispies…it adds a yummy crunch.
Oh! I call these Artery Cookies because they probably clog them!!
Yay! An old co-worker used to bring these in on occasion and I lost my recipe – I think this is the same one – can’t wait to make them again. Delicious! Thanks Mel!
We make these cookies with 1/4 cup of dough. The bigger cookie gives you a softer middle. The frozen dough balls are almost as good as a warm cookie!
I love these cookies, but I don’t make them that often because I can’t just stop with one!
I have been making these cookies for years!! at christmas I use the mini christmas M&M’s…the mini reece’s pieces are great in this recipe too! I actually just use whatever I might have on hand…My family loves these- and so do the ladies at work!! a HIT!!!
I don’t have quick oats. Will the old fashioned kind work in this? Thanks!
I decided to chance it and use the old fashioned oats. The cookies are delicious. They maybe a bit more chewy than if I’d used quick, but I LOVED them. I always know I can depend on your recipes, thanks, Mel!
Just made these too!! I also used the old fashioned ones cause thats what I had. They were great brought some to my neighbors and sister! They were a hit!
Oh, thank you! My five-year-old son has been begging me to make monster cookies for, like, two years, because he saw some in a cookbook once. I’m so happy to have a recipe (and I know it will be awesome, because every cookie I’ve ever made from one of your recipes has been incredible). My son will be thrilled:).
I’m so glad you like them!
I found out about this website from Mel’s Kitchen. I thought it sounded like a wonderful idea, since I come across so many wonderful recipes. I just seem to lose the recipes I have on paper so having them online sounds to good to be true! to me
My recipe calls for corn flakes in it as well as a bit of corn syrup. So in this recipe, cut the oatmeal to 2 1/4 cups and add 2 1/4 cups of crushed corn flakes.
The recipe I work from makes 12 dozen cookies. I don’t have a pot big enough to mix it, so I always have to cut the recipe in half!
Thank you for the recipe!!! So happy that it didn’t have flour in it. I was able to enjoy a cookie. Its been awhile!
I made these last night and they were so good! I ended up with almost 4 dozen though. Good thing they freeze well!
Hi, Mel! Another successful recipe from you. These were very, very, very good! Thanks again for always having tasty things to share. Here’s the post I wrote about them – and I gave you credit and linked back, of course.
http://cookingmisadventures.com/2011/12/11/holiday-monster-cookies/
My mom made these for me just after I had my third baby and she was staying with us. With the peanut butter they are very filling– the perfect snack after a middle of the night feeding with a newborn (I’m all about the quick carb when nursing). Considering the lack of flour and other ingredients, it’s basically like an extra-tasty granola bar.
I want to try these! My husband (the non-treat guy) had them at a friends and requested them, so they must be good. My question is this, can I substitute almond butter for the peanut butter? My son is allergic to peanuts, so I have no peanut products around the house, but he’s not allergic to almonds.
Emily – I’ve never subbed the peanut butter with another kind of nut butter but I’m guessing it should work out just fine.
Who needs flour with cookies this good? Delicious! I even loved the dough. And it’s fabulous that they are gluten free. I have a cub scout that has gluten allergies, so this is a perfect recipe for him.
Made these today! They are yummy. My husband and son loved them! A fun change from the norm. These would be great as energy food. Minus the sugar and chocolate, there are some power ingredients! Cheap powerbar for the hubby!
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