Name: Christmas Monster Cookies with M&Ms Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter (softened); 1/2 cup Brown Sugar; 1/2 cup Sugar; 1/2 cup Creamy Peanut Butter (like Skippy's or Jif); 1 large Egg; 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract; 3/4 cup Rolled Oats; 1 cup Flour; 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda; 1/4 teaspoon Salt; 1 cup Red and Green Holiday M&M's (divided); 3/4 cup Chocolate Chips

There’s something about the chewiness, the bursts of colorful M&Ms, and that warm peanut buttery aroma that makes the Christmas Monster Cookies with M&Ms Recipe an absolute holiday favorite. These cookies aren’t just festive — they pack a perfect balance of flavors and textures you’ll find yourself reaching for again and again.

Six round cookies are placed on a gold wire rack over a white marbled surface. Each cookie has a light brown base with a soft, slightly cracked texture and is dotted with red and green candy-coated chocolates scattered evenly on top. One cookie near the bottom center also shows dark brown chocolate chips partly covered by the candies. A bright red ribbon is partly visible in the lower right corner, adding a festive touch. The photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Monster Cookies with M&Ms Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Christmas Monster Cookies with M&Ms Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Christmas Monster Cookies with M&Ms Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Honestly, I think what makes these Christmas Monster Cookies with M&Ms Recipe so special is how they bring nostalgia and fun all in one bite. It’s like cookie magic — a little bit of everything you love wrapped into a festive package. Plus, they’re ridiculously easy, which means you can whip up a batch even on your busiest holiday day.

Perfect Texture: Chewy oats and melty chocolate chips blend with the crunch from M&Ms for an irresistible bite.
Festive Colors: Red and green M&Ms give these cookies a cheerful look that’s sure to brighten any cookie platter.
Simple Ingredients: You probably have most of what you need in your pantry, making it a go-to holiday recipe.
Kid-Friendly Fun: These are a hit with kids who love mixing, scooping, and decorating their own cookie creations.

Nine round cookies sit on a gold wire cooling rack that is placed on a white marbled surface. Each cookie is light brown and studded with red and green candy-coated chocolate pieces throughout the dough, giving a festive look. To the top left, a copper bowl is filled with more red and green candies. Decorative elements include a red and white striped ornament on the left, some green pine branches on the top right, and red and green soft ribbon loops partially visible at the bottom right. The scene feels bright and cheerful, perfect for a holiday treat photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

This Christmas Monster Cookies with M&Ms Recipe uses classic pantry staples that come together perfectly. The oats add chewiness and a hint of wholesome texture, while the peanut butter brings richness and that cozy, salty-sweet flavor balance. And of course, the star of the show — the M&Ms — add that pop of color and sweetness with every bite.

Flat lay of a small pat of unsalted butter with a silky texture, a neatly packed mound of light brown sugar, a small heap of fine white granulated sugar, a dollop of creamy peanut butter with smooth swirls, one large whole brown egg with a clean shell, a small white ceramic bowl filled with golden vanilla extract, a small pile of rolled oats with flaky texture, a neat mound of fine white flour, a tiny spoonful of baking soda powder, a pinch of fine white salt, a small white ceramic bowl holding red and green candy-coated M&M's, and a small white ceramic bowl filled with semi-sweet chocolate chips, all arranged symmetrically and balanced on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Unsalted Butter: Softened butter helps create that creamy, tender base, so don’t substitute melted butter here unless you want a totally different texture.
Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and a deep molasses note that pairs beautifully with peanut butter.
Sugar: Lifts the flavor and helps create those nicely browned edges.
Creamy Peanut Butter: Skippy’s or Jif work great — the smooth texture helps everything bind and adds signature flavor.
Egg: Acts as the glue to hold these monster cookies together.
Vanilla Extract: A must-have to round out the flavors with warmth and depth.
Rolled Oats: Provides chew and a subtle nuttiness; can swap in quick oats for a softer texture.
Flour: The backbone that structures the cookie.
Baking Soda: Gives a gentle lift for just the right fluffiness.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances flavor.
Holiday M&Ms: Red and green make these cookies seasonally festive and bring a delightful crunch.
Chocolate Chips: Semi-sweet or milk — plenty of gooey chocolate in every bite.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love to play around with the mix-ins here — sometimes swapping the chocolate chips for white chocolate chunks or adding a handful of chopped nuts for a bit more crunch. You can easily make these your own festive masterpieces, and I encourage you to experiment depending on what you have on hand.

Variation: One year, I swapped the peanut butter for almond butter, and it added such a lovely, slightly different nutty twist that everyone loved.
Dietary Modification: Use gluten-free oats and flour blend to make this recipe gluten-free without compromising texture.
Seasonal Swap: Try colored chocolate candies that match other holidays for a fun twist year-round.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Monster Cookies with M&Ms Recipe

Step 1: Cream Together the Butter and Sugars Until Fluffy

Start by beating the softened butter, brown sugar, and sugar together in a large mixing bowl. I usually use my stand mixer here, but a hand mixer works fine too. Beat for about 4 minutes until the mixture looks light, fluffy, and a tad lighter in color. This step is key — it’s what gives your cookies that tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Step 2: Add Peanut Butter, Egg, and Vanilla

Next, stir in the creamy peanut butter, crack in your egg, and pour in the vanilla extract. Beat everything together for another minute until it’s well combined. If your peanut butter is a little stiff, warming it a bit in the microwave helps it blend easier.

Step 3: Fold in the Dry Ingredients and Mix-Ins

Now it’s time to add your oats, flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir gently—just enough to combine. Avoid overmixing here, or your cookies can turn tough. Lastly, fold in the chocolate chips and most of your holiday M&Ms, saving a little for pressing on top once the cookies are baked.

Step 4: Chill the Dough

Tightly wrap your dough and pop it into the fridge for about 30 minutes. This chilling step is one I never skip — it makes it easier to scoop and helps the cookies keep their shape in the oven.

Step 5: Bake and Add the Finishing Touch

Preheat your oven to 365°F, then scoop your dough onto a light-colored baking sheet, spacing each cookie at least 2 inches apart. Bake for 9 to 10 minutes — watch for the edges to be set but the centers still soft. Right after pulling them out, gently press the remaining M&Ms into the tops. Let them cool for at least 5–10 minutes on the sheet before moving to a wire rack or plate.

Top Tip

Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks that make this Christmas Monster Cookies with M&Ms Recipe foolproof and extra delicious. Trust me, these will save you some trial and error in your kitchen!

Softened Butter, Not Melted: Using properly softened butter keeps your cookies fluffy — melted butter makes them spread too thin.
Don’t Overmix: Once you add the flour, mix just until combined to keep your cookies tender, not tough.
Chill the Dough: This little step helps maintain cookie shape and develop flavor — I even sometimes chill it overnight for extra depth.
Use a Light-Colored Baking Sheet: Dark pans can cause over-browning; light pans bake more evenly for perfect color.

How to Serve Christmas Monster Cookies with M&Ms Recipe

Christmas Monster Cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I keep it classic and simple with these cookies — just pressing extra M&Ms on top as they cool adds the perfect pop of color and crunch. Sometimes, I sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt on top right after baking to balance out the sweetness and add a little gourmet touch.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair wonderfully with a glass of cold milk or your favorite holiday hot cocoa. For parties, I like setting them out alongside other festive treats like gingerbread men, peppermint bark, and spiced nuts to create a cozy cookie buffet.

Creative Ways to Present

One holiday season, I stacked these Christmas Monster Cookies with M&Ms Recipe into a playful “cookie tree,” using a little frosting as glue between layers. It was a hit! You can also wrap them in colorful cellophane tied with a ribbon for sweet neighbor gifts — quick, pretty, and delicious.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They usually last about 3 days before they start losing that fresh-baked soft chewiness. For best texture, I sometimes separate layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.

Freezing

These cookies freeze beautifully! I like to freeze the baked cookies arranged neatly in a zipper bag or airtight container for up to two months. When I’m ready to enjoy them, they thaw quickly at room temperature and taste nearly as good as fresh.

Reheating

For that just-baked warmth, I pop individual cookies in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds or heat them briefly in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes. It revives the melty chocolate and soft texture without drying them out.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy?

You can, but creamy peanut butter is what I recommend because it blends smoothly into the dough, ensuring consistent texture. Crunchy peanut butter will add extra bits of peanut, which some people enjoy, but it may slightly change the chewiness of the cookies.

Can I make this recipe without oats?

While oats add a nice chewy texture and a nutty flavor, you can omit them if needed. To compensate, try adding an extra ¼ cup of flour to keep the dough balanced. The cookies will be less chewy but still delicious.

How many cookies does this recipe make?

This recipe makes about 16 monster-sized cookies, perfect for sharing during holiday parties or gift-giving. If you want smaller cookies, you can scoop smaller portions and increase the baking time slightly.

Can I substitute the holiday M&Ms with other candies?

Absolutely! You can swap the red and green holiday M&Ms for regular M&Ms, peanut M&Ms, or even mini chocolate chips. Just pick whatever candy you like or have on hand for a fun twist on the classic Christmas Monster Cookies recipe.

Final Thoughts

These Christmas Monster Cookies with M&Ms Recipe hold a special place on my holiday baking list because every bite sparks such joy—from the kids who help me bake to friends who can’t stop asking for the recipe. I think you’ll love making them as much as eating them, and they’re truly a crowd-pleaser you can whip up easily. So go on, give them a try and enjoy that perfect festive cookie moment!