Patriotic Monster Cookies (Print Version)
Chewy oat and peanut butter cookies studded with chocolate chips and red, white, and blue candies.
# 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
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, blend unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy using an electric mixer.
03 - Add creamy peanut butter to the bowl, mix thoroughly, then beat in eggs one at a time, ensuring each is well incorporated. Stir in vanilla extract.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together oats, all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until evenly combined.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredient blend into wet mixture, mixing just until uniform consistency is achieved.
06 - Gently fold in chocolate candies, semisweet chocolate chips, and crushed mini pretzels if using.
07 - Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough and arrange on prepared baking sheets, spacing each about two inches apart.
08 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until cookie edges turn golden while centers remain soft.
09 - Allow cookies to cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling completely.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- There’s no fuss—just mix, scoop, and revel in chewy, colorful cookies that deliver joy in every bite.
- The playful combo of salty pretzels and sweet candies is so addictive the cookie jar never stays full for long.
02 -
- Rushing the cooling step left me with crumbled edges one too many times, so patience really does pay off.
- Dotting a few extra candies on each dough ball right before baking makes the cookies look extra festive and bakery-worthy.
03 -
- Measure flour and oats accurately—a heavy hand makes for tough cookies.
- The pretzel addition is what makes people ask for your “secret ingredient.”