Dessert

Christmas Monster Cookies Recipe

BySimon Carel December 11, 2025December 11, 2025

Introduction

Christmas Monster Cookies are festive, chewy, and packed with holiday treats like M&M’s, pretzels, and chocolate chips. These colorful cookies are perfect for sharing during the holidays or enjoying with a warm drink by the fire.

A close-up of a group of round cookies with a textured golden-brown surface sprinkled with red and green candy pieces and streaks of melted chocolate. The cookies are stacked and spread casually on a white rectangular tray lined with white parchment paper, with a deep red ribbon loosely arranged around them, all set on a white marbled texture background. The cookies have a soft, slightly crinkled texture, showing details of the melted chocolate and embedded candies clearly. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

2 sticks (1 cup) salted butter at room temperature
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs, plus 1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups old fashioned oats
1 1/4 cups holiday M&M’s
1 cup mini pretzel sticks, crushed
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, beat together the butter, dark brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until combined and smooth.
Step 3: Beat in the eggs and the additional egg yolk one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
Step 4: Add the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and kosher salt. Mix until just combined, then beat in the oats.
Step 5: Fold in 1 cup of the holiday M&M’s, crushed pretzels, semi-sweet chocolate chips, and white chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
Step 6: Roll the dough into 1/4 cup-sized balls and place them about 3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
Step 7: Bake for 8 minutes, then rotate the pan and bake for another 2 minutes.
Step 8: Remove the pan from the oven and gently press the remaining M&M’s onto the tops of the cookies.
Step 9: Return the cookies to the oven and bake for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cookies cool on the baking sheet, allowing them to firm up as they cool.
Step 10: Enjoy warm, or let cool completely before storing.

Tips & Variations

For extra crunch, toast the oats lightly before adding them to the dough.
Swap pretzels for chopped nuts if preferred.
Use festive colored M&M’s or mini candy canes for added holiday flair.
To make the cookies chewier, substitute half the all-purpose flour with bread flour.

Storage

Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. To keep them soft, place a slice of bread in the container. Reheat gently in the microwave for 10–15 seconds to enjoy warm cookies again.

How to Serve

A close-up view of thick homemade cookies with a rough, slightly bumpy texture. The cookies have a golden brown outer edge with a softer, lighter brown center scattered unevenly with small, round, red and green candy pieces embedded on top and within. Some dark brown melted chocolate swirls are visible throughout the cookie dough, adding a rich contrast. The cookies are piled on a white tray with a crumpled deep red velvet ribbon beside them, all set against a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I freeze these cookies?

Yes, you can freeze baked cookies in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.

Can I substitute the butter with margarine or oil?

Butter provides flavor and texture, so margarine can be used as a substitute, but oil is not recommended as it may make the cookies too soft and greasy.