These Monster Cookies are seriously the best recipe for Monster Cookies on the internet. Watch short video showing you how to make them, then scroll to the end of this post to print out the recipe so you can bake them at home.
Monster Cookies are basically a peanut butter- oatmeal cookie with chocolate chips and M&M candies mixed in. There is no flour at all in the recipe!
Monster cookies aren’t anything new. They’ve been around a very long time, and this recipe was tucked into my collection sometime way back in my pre-teen years.
Someone… somewhere made them up- Betty Crocker, I’m guessing. They are indeed a cookie recipe worth keeping around for decades.
I bake cookies and put them in little ziploc baggies and place them in the freezer for instant munching for the boys in my house. I tell myself that since they’re in the freezer, they’re totally safe. I try to tell myself that frozen cookies aren’t any good. But guess what? They’re good. They’re actually better than un-frozen cookies.
Is there a difference between using old-fashioned oats versus baking with quick oats?
With this recipe, quick oats are preferred for a softer taste. With old fashioned oats, the cookies can turn up chewier and not as tasty.
Why mix dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately?
With baking, it is a good idea to mix the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients separately in order to assure a proper mixing for the food. If you don’t take the time to do this, then chances of you grabbing a cookie with no sugar in one and another with way too much sugar is much higher.
I dot extra M&M’s and chocolate chips on top of each blob of cookie dough on the baking sheet. This ensures that they will be extra pretty when they are all baked up and ready to eat.
Alternative ingredients to spice things up and make new recipes:
Not only is this an easy recipe that can be more exciting than your traditional chocolate chip cookies or peanut butter cookies, but the options for new and fun ways to make them are endless!
- white chocolate chips
- pieces of oreo cookie
- different types of m&m candies (peanut, crispy… anything!)
- butterscotch chips
- Instead of peanut butter, try adding in natural peanut butter or almond butter
- any other chocolate candies that you can find at the store!
Sometimes I bake GIANT Monster Cookies (using an ice cream scoop to dole out the dough). If you go the giant route, you’ll end up with 22 fabulously large cookies. If you’d like to make a normal-sized cookie, you’ll get 36 cookies.
Tips and Tricks for making the best monster cookies
This recipe is fast, easy and always a crowd pleaser. I have been making them for years and here are a few tricks that I have picked up along the way to turn this treat from amazing to legendary:
- Mix the cookie dough with a stand mixer and the paddle attachment at a low speed for best results (a hand mixer works, too)
- Take around 2 tablespoons of dough and roll it into cookie dough balls with your palms before placing it on the parchment paper on the baking sheet for normal-sized cookies
- For giant cookies, use a medium cookie scoop and place on the cookie sheet with enough room to spread and 1-2 extra minutes of baking time
- Let the eggs sit on the counter at room temperature before adding them to your large bowl (this will make nice and thick cookies)
- Quality vanilla extract can make a world of difference
- To make blue monster cookies, add in blue food coloring for the best cookie that kids will love (keep this in mind for a bake sale- blue cookie monster cookies always sell out)
- If there are sensory issues with oats, blend them in a food processor before
Bake some Monster Cookies today, and keep them in the freezer… where they’ll be safe!
How do you store Monster Cookies?
If you have any cookies leftover, there are a few ways for you to store them.
The first is to let these chewy monster cookies cool on a wire rack and keep them on the counter in an airtight container. They will stay good for up to a week.
The second is to put the cookies in an airtight container and place them in the freezer. This is great for school snacks or emergency cookie needs like a last minute sleepover or you need to bring a treat to the next PTA meeting. If you freeze these cookies, they should last for up to two months.
If you’re looking for more recipes using M&M’s, you might like to try my M&M Pretzel Blondies or these Super Soft Peanut Butter- M&M Cookies. No Bake Monster Cookie Bars, M&M Shortbread Cookies and Kit Kat Cake are good recipes to try too!
Monster Cookies
Recipe Details
Ingredients
- 1½ cups creamy or chunky peanut butter
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 4½ cups quick cooking oats
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup M&M's plain chocolate candies
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray cookie sheets with nonstick spray, or line with parchment paper or a silpat mats.
- In a large bowl, combine the peanut butter with the sugars and butter. Use an electric mixer to mix until well combined. Mix in the eggs and vanilla. Mix in the oats and baking soda. Then stir in the chips and M&M's.
- Drop the cookies by heaping spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets. If you'd like your cookies to look pretty (like the photos), dot a few extra M&M's and chocolate chips on each mound of dough before baking.
- Bake 10 to 12 minutes. Do not overbake. Cool for 5 minutes on cookie sheets until cookies are set. Transfer to wire racks; cool completely before storing in an airtight container.
Video
Notes
- If you are preparing this cookie as gluten-free, just be sure to make sure you are using brands of the following items that are known to be GF: peanut butter, vanilla, oats, chocolate chips and M&M's.
- If you'd prefer to make giant cookies, use an ice cream scoop instead to scoop the dough onto the cookie sheet. They'll need to bake for 18 to 20 minutes, and you'll end up with about 22 cookies.
This is my go-to cookie recipe! Everyone loves these and I make them for all sorts of occasions.
Just finished making these monster cookies. Turned out fabulous! Got 24 just like the recipe said.
I had forgotten all about Monster Cookies (grandkids are all adults now) when I decided I wanted to combine my three fav cookies: chocolate chip, peanut butter, and oatmeal. Yeah, my daughter and I had a good laugh over that! So what my question for you is: what kind and how much blue food coloring do you use to make your recipe blue???
I haven’t done that before, but I’d use blue color paste (you can find it in the baking aisle at a craft store like Michaels).
Mine came out a bit crumbly. What could I have done wrong? Tasted good tho!
Not sure– they shouldn’t turn out crumbly!
I’ve been making these for a few years now as my go to cookie recipe! They always turn out perfect and they are always a hit when I bring them to parties! Thanks you for this simple, non-labor intensive cookie recipe!
The best monster cookies! Always a huge hit!
Try this
Turned out delicious
Hello can you use dark brown sugar
yes
These cookies tasted great! It was a nice gluten free alternative that didn’t feel like it was missing something.
They’re good. Just didn’t turn out at all. Just turned into a blob.
Hmm, not sure why!
This is the best monster cookie recipe I have tried, I use it every time! My kids don’t even like cookies (weirdos), but they LOVE these so much. I always use whatever seasonal m&ms are out and that makes them even more fun 🙂 I bake half and freeze half for an easy after school snack later on. Thanks so much!
Have you ever baked in a sheet pan? If so, How long did you leave in the oven?
Here’s how we turned them into bars! https://www.recipeboy.com/easy-monster-cookie-bars/
The best cookies ever!!
I love this recipe. I have shared it with coworkers after they tasted them. they are AMAZING!
I forgot to add. I have done it with Gluten free oats. I have also found that chilling them in the fridge helps them keep their shape better and I have ready to go cookie dough when my kids want a sweet treat.
Is there no flour in this recipe?? I’m confused
No– no flour in these cookies!
I’ve always loved monster cookies and once I found this recipe several years ago, I never even considered another. These have become my signature dessert. Always a crowd pleaser!
The only caution: the times I’ve had to use natural peanut butter, this recipe hasn’t turned out for me. I’ve found the Jif (or generic equivalent, creamy or crunchy) makes for a soft and incredible cookie.
Thanks for this great recipe!
I’ve made this recipe quite a few times now since my boyfriend absolutely loves them! However, I like slightly flatter cookies and for some reason they seam to come out a little more on the biscuit side. I’ve very diligent about following the recipe to a T and don’t use convection mode. I’m curious if you have any recommendations?
They’re a thicker, sturdier cookie than most.
Can’t go wrong with this recipe. It’s my go to for quick and easy. Usually first dessert gone anytime I bring to firehouse, heli, or family get togethers. Thanks for sharing.
What PB did you use?
Any kind, but I usually try to avoid the PB’s that you have to stir (like the Natural varieties).
Made these today and was super excited as I love any cookies with M&Ms as well as chocolate chips. Also love oat based cookies and make a lot of gluten-free goodies. However, these were really lacking. Sure – the M&Ms were still tasty. My 13yo felt there was too much vanilla in it. We tried adding some salt per another review and it made it a touch better, but still not great. Consistency was good. Nice crunch on the outside edges while soft & chewy toward the middle. Could see how they would travel well and work for both normal and GF eaters. Teens who show up at our house will still eat them (this recipe makes a lot!). However, would not make again as they just didn’t taste like much and if I’m going to eat cookies, I want them to really be worth it. Sorry.
All of matter of taste! I’m not offended by your review. You can see from the reviews that a lot of people like them. It’s still one of my favorite cookie recipes 🙂
Not the greatest fan of monster cookies but my Son in Law loves them. Made a batch because he’s coming to do some work on my house. They came out GREAT! I will certainly make them again
I first made this recipe in April when I wasn’t able to find flour in the grocery stores. I made the recipe as written and they turned out fantastic! Have made several times since then. Currently making a batch to take on vacation if I can keep my family out of them. Thank you for this recipe, it’s great!
Soft, chewy and amazing! I make these often and by far the best recipe. So incredibly good!
My 11 yr old son and I made these tonight. Absolutely delicious!! Even better with a glass of cold milk. I’m sure vanilla ice cream would be good as well!
I’ve tried finding a good monster cookie recipe because I’ve always loved them, well, I finally found it! These are absolutely delicious! My search is over. Thank you! ?
Can you make these without the peanut butter? Is there a different substitute you could use?
You could try another nut butter?
I really selected this recipe for my grandchildren because it’s flour-free and uses more oats. Nice!
Can you use old fashion oats instead of quick oats?
The recipe is meant for quick oats, but you can try using old fashioned.
Easy and just delicious! Everyone that tries them loves them.
I was originally introduced to these cookies b my ex-mother-in-law. She mixed up enough cookies at one time she used the large Jif jar. They were always terrific. I did not have any M&Ms so I threw in raisins and coconut. I also use crunchy peanut butter. My other half says they are really good. I agree. Thanks for having them to remind me to bake them.
Used almond butter in case there were peanut allergies where I was taking them and they turned out awesome!!
I first made this recipe (or one very similar) when I was visiting my grandmother as a preteen; that was some 40 years ago! Definitely used an ice cream scoop and I’m sure the recipe that was in the newspaper made a ridiculous amount of cookies – lots for the freezer (and for us to sneak). These things hold up well for travel too. I brought a batch to an orphanage in India and there wasn’t a single one broken in the travels.
How do the cookies turn out with natural peanut butter (just peanuts and salt)?
I don’t recommend it. But you can certainly try!
My go to Gluten-Free Cookie Recipe. You will forget that it is GF. Just have Old Fashion Oats, pulse them in a food processor and you are good to go.
These are so yummy! All my my friends and family love them!
This is my favorite monster cookie recipe. I make up excuses to eat them for breakfast. I bake at high altitude and the only accommodation I do, is add an extra egg and they turn out perfect!
These are excellent; remind me of my childhood. I have gotten so many compliments, and have made them twice within about 2 weeks. I like to add about a 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the batter, and sprinkle sea salt on top.
These couldn’t have turned out better! Excellent recipe! Planning to use this time and time again!
Great cookies. Just felt like they needed a little salt after I tasted my first batch. I added salt to the rest of the cookie dough, and they were perfect after that!
Great recipe but I would cut down on the amount of m&m’s and chocolate chips. Go down to 1/2 cup each. Just made a batch and have alot of candies and chocolate chips sitting in the bottom of the bowl. Otherwise great,easy recipe!!
These are great and freeze well. I make them with butter flavor Crisco and dairy free chocolate chips.
I printed this recipe for the first time 12/21/2012. The paper has become worn and difficult to read, so I’ve come back to print it a second time. This is the #1 requested cookie in my home because it’s got something for everyone. I love that it’s fast and simple to make but what I don’t like, is that they don’t last a day in the cookie jar. One cookie leads to another, and another. They are totally addicting.
Been using this recipe for 30 years and got it from my Mother…. they are the best!
So so so great i make these all the time and its a neighbourhood favourite!
absolutely the best monster cookie recipe i’ve found!!! even took these to the restaurant where i work for my co-workers and they requested more, more, MORE!!! they freeze well and are just as good! family loves them!!! thanks so much!!!
This recipe was amazing!!!! I baked for 12 mins total and rotated it half way through. Thank you for a great recipe!
Yum
Mine spread out and turned out thin and crispy rather than fluffy and thick…..any advice?
I’m not sure!
These are the best cookies! I use peanut butter m&ms to make em extra tasty!!!
This just might be the perfect cookie!
Oh wow! My boys would LOVE these cookies! I love how jam packed with fun they are!
The perfect monster cookie recipe is here!
OMG, THESE ARE SCRUMPTIOUS! I MADE THEM FOR MY KIDS AND THEY WERE GOBBLED UP WITHIN HOURS!
This recipe … so good and freezes well, too.
Is it really 4 and 1/2 cups of oats? I ended up with more like 4 dozen cookies (almost 5) instead of 36 lol. And the mixture was super thick and hard to mix the chips into, even in my stand mixer. They are delicious though! 🙂
Yes, the recipe is correct as written!
I tried this recipe and found out if I bake them at 325 for 15 minutes they turned out better. At 350 for 12 minutes they came out dark and undone and I think I could have gotten away with using about 1/2 cup less granulated sugar
Can the raw mixture be kept in refrigerator to use as needed?
Yes, but I think I’d want to use it within about a week’s time.
Love the idea of keeping these in the freezer!
A perfect treat for the kids!
I want one of these right now! My stomach is growling just reading the recipe!
As a self proclaimed “M&M monster”, I can never get enough of these cookies. SOOOO good.
I love how big and hearty these are!
My boys LOVE these!
I love that these just happened to be gluten free! Bonus! 🙂 I didn’t have m&m’s so I just subbed more chocolate chips. Well… too many chocolate chips! Lol the dough couldn’t hold them all! So next time I’ll sub with something else like coconut or raisins etc… (or buy m&m’s!!)
These are very sweet, but not “too sweet” as some have commented. They are a special treat, not a health-snack. I used kraft smooth peanut butter and they spread just fine. If you are trying to make a health-cookie, you need to expect that changing the recipe will change the final product… end of story!
Lovely recipe! Thanks for sharing!
I have made this recipe COUNTLESS times! They are always a favorite and a go-to recipe for any and every occasion. The one and only time these didn’t turn out perfectly was when I used “natural” peanut butter. They weren’t as soft or chewy and got hard after a few days. I’ve since learned to always keep standard peanut butter on hand, if for nothing else besides this recipe. Also love adding in butterscotch or white chips. Thanks for this great recipe!
How can I modify the recipe not using peanut butter? My daughter is allergic?
I’m not sure what you would substitute. I think you’d be better off just making oatmeal cookies and adding MM’s.
I love these cookies…especially because they have no flour. I have used Splenda in place of sugar and it works well but I think it’s just as bad or worse than using sugar. I also have used M&M peanuts and mix choc. and peanut butter chips. Great recipe!!
This is a GREAT recipe! You get lots of nice size cookies, and the flavor is great.
These cookies are awesome, but how do you get the batter to stick to the candies and the chocolate?
These were excellent!
These cookies never spread! I ended up overbaking them because they never took on a cookie shape. Does anyone press them before baking, or do you leave them in scoop form?
I haven’t had a problem with that- are you using regular peanut butter — like Skippy or Jif?
thank you so much for this recipe…. way too good and definitely my to go cookies. and i love your page. 🙂
Thank you!
Love the no flour…however, adding M & Ms makes this too sweet for me. I cut up a combination of figs, dates and dried cranberries (one cups worth). Almost like a high energy cookie. Also, used the 2 tbsp of Karl syrup to make them softer. Thanks for this recipe
Sounds like a good variation!
Yay! I love these every time I make them… Booo, they didn’t turn out tonight! 🙁 Not really sure why, but my poor cookie dough was so dry. The only difference tonight was that I used a more natural peanut butter rather than my typical skippy. Hmmm, anyone else have this problem? Fortunately, not all is lost. NO ONE hates crumbled up cookies on top of ice cream! 🙂
I think the peanut butter was definitely the culprit. I always use the regular Skippy or Jif.
AMAZING RECIPE!. I chilled the dough balls on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes before baking and they kept a nice round shape. Thanks for publishing this recipe!
I like to use some peanut butter chips also.
Best Best Best cookie recipe ever!! Love these Monster Cookies! Thanks!
These cookies are phenominal! I’ve made them in various sizes (but adjusted the cooking time by visually checking for lightly browned edges) and have had great results every single time! This is hands-down my favorite cookie recipe!
This recipe is the best!!! I have tried many other recipes and this one is simply the best. Love them!!! Hubby approved!!!
This recipe is similar to monster cookies, but is not quite right. I’ve been making them since the 70s. REAL recipe uses both white and brown sugar, plus corn syrup.
Mine are definitely not as pretty as yours are. My dough was a tad wet. They’re cooling now so I have not yet tried them but I’m a little skeptical. Although, the dough is amazing ????
very delicious!!! turned out perfectly. I used chopped up reese’s cups instead of m&ms. Thank you!!
That Monster Cookie recipe gets four stars!
How long with they keep, after baking them, in the freezer? BTW I love this cookie recipe and get compliments on it every time I bring them to a social event!
I’d say a month is a good amount of time to use them up from the freezer!
I Love these cookies!!
The last batch I prepared was a go for the healthier side. I substituted the white sugar for baking Stevia, and replaced the M&M’s with a crushed 1/2 C walnuts, and an extra 1/2 C mini choc chips. This way, I allow myself to have a few more 😉
These are THE BEST cookies ever!!! Love that they can be made gluten free and after following the recipe exactly these were bakery worthy cookies…so good! My six year old and two year old declared these their favorite cookies…my family will be making these for years to come…thank you so much for the recipe!
Would I be able to substiute the peanut butter with sunflower butter?
I don’t know much about sunflower butter, but I think that would probably work.
This is the best monster cookie recipe ever!!!!!
My step mom has made these every year for the last 25 years. I always felt hers were dry, hard and unappealing. I have made this recipe several times for my children. We absolutely LOVE it! I am not into sweets like others. But this cookie recipe, is the first recipe that I have made ‘just because’, and just for myself. I actually took a batch to work a couple of weeks ago and was told they are amazing. My cookies turn out beautifully every time. Thanks for the recipe. This will definitely be the one to be around for the next 25 years!
Happy this one works out so well for you!
would like to try these they looks so good but cannot use eggs any subs…
Google “subs for eggs in baking”- I’m sure you’ll get some good tips 🙂
I have made these a few times now and every time that I do, I get numerous people asking for the recipe! These are amazing cookies!
Thank you for the delicious recipe! My two-year-old loves Monster Cookies from the coffee shop and no recipe we attempted has even come close to those… until yours. 🙂 So, thank you for saving me $4.00 for a cookie at the coffee shop and creating a recipe we will be making for years to come.
A young man that I often bake for sent me a link to the recipe for Monster Cookies on Pinterest. He just had one request: Use Nutella instead of Peanut Butter. OMG!! They were so absolutely amazing. I think I need to whip up another batch. LOL HAPPY BAKING EVERYONE!!
I’ve been trying this recipe in Mexico City and it turns out into a gooey, flat, super crispy on the ends and kinda raw in the middle cookie. Would it help if I roll the dough and put it in the freezer for a few hours before cutting and bake them?
Thanks a lot!
The best monster cookie recipe on the web! My husband (who is the pickiest eater on the planet!) loves this recipe! Simply delicious!
Love these! I used 3/4 cup peanut butter, and 3/4 cup nutella, and I was able to eliminate the cup of white sugar.
Do you think I could make one big cookie pizza with this recipe? I’m thinking I would just use a pizza pan. I promised my coworkers one big cookie, but this recipe looks great.
probably!
These cookies are amazing I’ve been making them for the past 2 years ..Thank you for sharing AMAZING!!!!!
Just made these but I made them with leftover halloween smarties, seed butter mix (I think flax & sunflower) and a couple scoops of vanilla protein powder.
They turned out pretty good except that they only needed to be baked for about 12ish minutes, some got a little crunchy!
I just found this recipe- thank you!! This is a wonderful cookie recipe! I love the idea of a flour-less cookie, something I don’t have in my regular baking rotation. The tip to add additional candies to the top of the dough before baking makes for a picture- perfect cookie. Even my kids were impressed with the presentation before they gobbled up a cookie. Thank you!
Hello,
Can I use egg substitute like “Flaxseed meal” for eggs in this recipe…..?!?!?!?!
Thanking in anticipation.
—Devasena.
I don’t really know anything about flaxseed as a sub for eggs, so I’m afraid I cannot answer that!
This recipe is great. I would recommend taking the stick of butter it calls for and melting it prior to adding it to the ingredients, it mixes better that way. I would also recommend using “mini” m&m’s and chocolate chips, it looks prettier and is easier to form.
These are a huge hit with my family at get togethers my favorite!
Need help, I have been changing my food habit. I love these cookies and cant seem to not let myself eat them. Can anyone help me figure out the calories per cookies or know how much is in just the batter. Thanks
Made these tonight. Got just over 6 dozen cookies using my favorite size cookie scoop (approximately 1″). They were lovely. I did dot the tops of them with an extra M&M or two after I dropped the balls on the pan so they would look extra purty. 😉 I baked them for 9:30, 2 pans at a time (a dozen on each pan) at 350. 🙂
I get the best compliments when I make these cookies! Thanks for the great recipes!
Flour? I kept looking to see if there was flour in these cookies. Did I miss it? Nope. And yet they are still very cookie tasting and just to die for! Love these. Thank you for sharing!
yep, no flour needed!
I just tried your monster cookie recipe today and it is wonderful. I have never had very good luck with these and thought I would try your recipe. I am so glad that I did. Thank you for sharing it.
Hi Lori
I made these last night and they are AWESOME. I needed a great cookie recipe to make for the welcome bags for my son’s wedding in May. I think this may be the cookie I am going to make for them. One quick question… would you think it would be better to make the cookies and freeze them or make the dough and freeze the individually? The wedding is may and I have to do at least some of the work in advance.
Thankyou so Much.!!!
Hmm, I’ve never frozen the dough and baked from there. Since it’s not until May, why don’t you make a batch and experiment? Freeze some dough and bake a week later. And freeze some cookies and take them out of the freezer in a week. See which one you like better!
I am wanting to use cookie cutters, do you think I could roll these out between wax paper & use cutters?
No, it is not a cut-out sort of cookie. It would likely just spread out.
Is the batter suppose to be sticky?
It should be a lot like regular cookie dough.
I am planning on making these but I only have steel cut oats versus the quick baking oats. I was wondering if anyone knew whether or not the cookies would come out different or if I would need to adjust the cook time. Thanks!
I’m not sure steel cut oats will work out in this recipe. They are awfully rough, and they are not meant for baking!
These are amazing!! I have made them twice, and for me, they make so many more than 36. And I make a batch of large ones, and then have several batches of smaller ones. This time I rolled them into balls and put them in the freezer to have ready to bake later. They are SO addictive!! Thanks for the recipe!
These cookies are delicious! I made them last night & can’t stop eating them. I baked each batch for 10 minutes & they turned out perfectly soft & slightly chewy.
These turned out amazing!! One of my favorite cookie recipes now 🙂
Too flat, greasy and thin awful!!! Batter was thick like stated what happened?
I’m not sure! Did you try to use margarine in place of butter?
I just finished making a triple batch, yes, a triple batch of these for gifts. I used a very large scoop for them. The size of the scoop was 3.25 oz. and I leveled it off with the dough. Here is the scoop I used: http://www.samsclub.com/sams/ice-cream-scooper-green-handle-3-25-oz/121005.ip To give you an idea of the size of these things, only 6 can fit on a standard size cookie sheet. 🙂 I cooked them 15-16 minutes. They weren’t overdone, but were still just a tad crisp on the outside, but soft, if that makes sense. Perfect for holding together, but they aren’t brittle. Thank you for the wonderful recipe!
I have never made monster cookies before but my boyfriend had them for the first time over thanksgiving and told me about them. I went searching for a recipe and found yours. Thank you for sharing!
They turned out great! I followed the recipe exactly. I think they needed to bake a tad longer than suggested (19 minutes vs. 12 minutes for the small to medium size cookies) but otherwise these were perfect. Thank you again!
Can I make them without the peanut butter? Just wondering if they would cook the same? We have a cookie exchange at work and cookies have to be nut free because of food allergy.
Peanut butter holds them all together!
Best Monster Cookie recipe I’ve ever used… they’re soooo good. I used the chocolate chunks instead of chips, though. I also got 48 cookies vice the 36 she said. Guess I made them smaller than I should have?
I have been making these cookies for YEARS – first time I have seen the same recipe, my family begs me to make them, as do my co-workers, excellent cookie. I use chuck chocolate and peanut m&m’s – chuncky peanut butter as well.
Just wondering, Paula’s recipe includes salt, is there a reason you left it out? Also you have a whole tablespoon of vanilla and hers calls only for a 1/2 a teaspoon. Just wondering if I’m missing something or if you figured out its better this way!
Paula who? This is just my recipe for Monster Cookies- didn’t follow anyone’s recipe in particular 🙂
This is a favorite with all my friends and family . I always get asked to make these. I use mini chocolate chips and mini m&m’s.
These are perfect for my bake sale next month now i just need 4 more!lol
LOVE these!!!!! I did alter them slightly & they were fabulous! I halfed both types of sugar & only put in 2/3 cup of each chocolate chips & m&m’s to lower the calories. I have a giant sweet tooth & did not miss the sweetness one bit. They still have TONS of chocolate in each & every cookie. Thanks for the recipe.
My 7 yr old who won’t eat peanut butter or peanuts or oatmeal ate these. Yes, it’s a lot of sugar, but it’s also a fair amount of protein and fiber, so I’m happy. Wonder if she’ll eat one today…
My cookies spread out A TON, too. I’m in the middle of a test batch. I will add more oats for a thicker batter and cross my fingers.
AWESOME! I have NO idea why anyone would post that these were not good cookies. They turned out perfectly and taste amazing! THANKS FOR SHARING!
Yep, using real butter. Tried just letting it soften at room temperature instead of melting it….. the only thing I can think of trying next is increasing the oven temp……???
HELP!!! I have made these cookies 3 times….. changed out the baking soda for fresh. . .chilled the dough before baking….. they keep falling FLAT!!! HELP!
You’re using real butter, not margarine, right?
Crap..I should have read the comments first..used margarine..no butter in house..they are thin but still nummy!
Made today to use up some M&Ms from Easter. I was skeptical at first because there was no flour in them…. Boy was I wrong. These are fantastic and one of m new favorites. Will definitely use this recipe again and again!!!
This recipe is awful they didn’t turn out at all. Sticking to my own recipe!!!
this is the exact recipe my Grandpa used, except his was x4 it takes pounds not cups & makes 12 dozen, also dropped onto cookie sheets using a 1/4cup measure. & can be frozen since they contain no flour. AWESOME cookies though, one of my favorites
I love making these cookies when I need something for a group. Making a batch now, that I turned into bars, for a teen lock-in tomorrow night.
How many calories per cookie?
no idea.
These turned out perfectly. Made the gluten free version and they were truly one of the most delicious cookies I’ve had since going gluten free!
Mine came out flat too so I’m trying all the tips… but I do have one question… should I maybe try to freeze them fist before cooking?
I suppose you could try that.
Fantastic!!! Just made these and they are wonderful. Super easy to make. I also scooped some and put in freezer so I can just pop them out later to make. I did add in some butterscotch chips with the chocolate chips. Yummo!!!
Can you leave out the peanut butter. Have allergies to eat at my house?
Just made these and they turned out great! I made them about golf ball sized….ate some of the batter and still got 22 cookies.
Just an update: I tried it with vanilla almond butter (http://www.naturallynutty.com), 1/4c butter and 1/4c olive oil, white chocolate chips (instead of chocolate) and added 2TBSP flax seeds. And like another reader, put just a few m&ms on top. Really delicious, but a little gooey. I don’t think more time in the oven would have helped; they were just too moist. Still learning, I guess. But luckily, I have another batch of dough following your instructions to the letter, ready to go in the oven. This recipe is such a great one, full of possibilities.
I’ve been making these for the past 22 years. My son didn’t like chocolate so I used peanut butter chips and resees pieces instead of the m and m’s and chocolate chips.
Has anyone tried using almond butter with this recipe? Just wanted to know how it turned out if you did. Thanks!
I haven’t tried it. I would think it would be okay if you tried it with a really creamy almond butter- like the Barney Butter brand.
When I tell my kids I am going to make cookies, MONSTER COOKIES is what comes out of their mouths! I cut the chocolate chips in half, and once left them out completely, and only put 4-5 M&Ms on top (none in the cookie itself) to cut out some of the calories and sugar and I don’t find we are losing any flavor. I usually use a 1/4 dry measuring cup to scoop them so they are truely monster sized. Takes a few extra minutes to cook but they are amazing. And put in the freezer? We never have left overs!!
My boyfriends favorite cookie is a monster cookie so I decided to try this recipe for hips Christmas stocking.. They lasted maybe 12 hours at the most so I’d say they were a hit! My family got a taste of the first batch and I’ve been asked to make 3 other batches of these yummy cookies! Love them, thank you for the recipe!
Ummm…, my kiddo is allergic to peanuts. Do you think that if I left out the peanut butter they would be o.k.? If not, it’s o.k.
Thanks.
Made these today and really liked them. I did add 2 T. of light corn syrup like someone suggested in the comments as I like a soft cookie. I also did a mixture of chocolate chips & butterscotch chips. They are earning a spot on the holiday tray this year! Thanks for the recipe 🙂 Merry Christmas!
Worst cookies i’ve ever made. Sorry. Not the recipes fault, it was my fault. I substituted butter for margarine. M&Ms for Smarties. And 50% large oats instead of quick oats.
Turned into a flat sticky mess. Most recipes are forgiving enough to allow for substitutes like this more suitable to unique tastes. Not these ones.
Will probably not try again because it was that big of a disaster. Sorry.
Sounds like your substitutions were not a success. Try the recipe as is and you might like it!
Suprised there is not flour in these….
nope- no flour needed in these cookies!
My son has been pleading with me to make these again, but I couldn’t find my recipe. The one I had from years ago called for 18 cups of oatmeal, a dozen eggs and 3 lbs of peanut butter. That was all I could remember. Thanks for the smaller recipe I will definitely be making these sooooon!
I’m sorry to say but these cookies are NOT gluten free!!!
Oats are NOT suitable for a person with celiac disease and m&m’s are no longer
Safe to eat for a person with celiac disease ever since they
Started making pretzel m&m’s
Just thought I would let you know
Did you read my tips? You can absolutely buy GF oats. I hadn’t heard about M&M’s not being safe anymore. Perhaps you can locate another sort of candy-coated chocolate that is known to be GF? In any case, the recipe is gluten-free adaptable… you just need to be certain that the ingredients you’re using are all free of gluten.
These are the first cookies I have made from scratch and i made these cookies for my family on thanksgiving And they loveddddd them! They are so pretty. I love your website and these cookies!!!
I have just moved to mtns in Mexico…little nervous to bake here because of high altitude…any suggestions for the monster cookies
Sorry- I’m not familiar at all with high altitude baking.
Made these with Gluten free Oats….Amazing! Thank you for the Super Recipe! These are going in my treat cauldron for Halloween! Cheers!
Made these yesterday and they are amazing! I used regular oats instead of quick cook and they came out fine (I was worried). My kids loved them, my neighbors loved them and I think I’m going to have to hide them from myself! Thanks for the keeper recipe!
These look absolutely amazing! I have two children Ryla and Ryder and I think they will love them! Thank you so much for this recipe!
These are amazing. I have made them twice already and I’m whipping up another batch of them tonight. Everyone at work absolutely loves them!! This recipe is perfect, thank you so much!!
I first ate these as a middle schooler. I had never had a cookie that was four different cookies all rolled into one! It was the first recipe I ever asked a friend to share with me and I made them frequently. I lost the recipe over the years but had a craving recently. Yours was the first link to pop up on Google. Thanks a million for sharing. Off to do a little baking.
I would like to try this recipe! Do you have any suggestions for making this at high altitude? Thanks so much!
I’m afraid I’m not a high-altitude baker, so I have no idea! Sorry…
These cookies were a HUGE hit at my house this weekend. Delicious!! And so fun for my toddler twins to “help” me make. I blogged about it, and included your recipe with original link back to here. I hope my friends and family make the cookies, too. Mmmmmm!
These cookies are absolutely amazing!!! I love monster cookies and this is the best recipe I have found so far! Thanks for sharing.
I just made these and they are amazing! I substituted white sugar with Splenda, chocolate chips with raisins and used dark chocolate M&M’s. So yummy! Thanks for the recipe!
This is an awesome recipe! I don’t make my cookies super big and I have made 60 good sized cookies from this recipe!!! My kids love them!
I love these cookies! I was looking for a good recipe for monster cookies and I found this recipe and absolutely love it!! Will be making them again and again!!! But the sad thing is I’m going too eat them all! Haha
For those that had flimsy flat cookies it may be your oven temp is a bit off. I had this problem with the recipe for the first batch and uped my temp to 390 in which I should have known to do in the first place because no matter what the cookie recipe I have to do this. As soon as I let it pre-heat to my new temp the cookies turned out perfect!!! Another tip is to make sure and pull them from the oven before they turn into a crispy brown color….it does make a difference I have noticed:) Hope this helps.
Thanks for the tips!
My Dad brought this recipe home YRS ago and it very quickly became a family favorite. His recipe made like 4 dozen cookies and was labeled as “1/4 of a batch”, thus the name MONSTER cookies. He was fascinated with the fact there was no flour. These cookies always make me think of my Dad.
OMG!!! THESE COOKIES ARE THE BOMB!!!! MY HUSBAND CAN’T KEEP HIS HANDS OFF OF THESE THINGS OR ME!!!LOL!!! WILL BE MAKING THESE OVER AND OVER!!! 😉
Hey! I tried these ! Turned out to smell and taste GREAT Just a little difficult for me to make because I am 11. Can you upload something like cookies ( or cup cakes ) really easy to make!?! simple but yummy like smething i can make out of melting my favourite chocolate like bounty? 😀 pleeaaaseeee reply! sincerely Romessa
Take a peek at my cookie recipes or my chocolate section too… and see what looks good to you!
I LOVE MONSTER COOKIES, I was currently looking for a recipe close to the one I misplaced, and found this one! Looks about right, thank you! Little side note for anyone – I add Heath bar toffee bits to mine, cut down on the M&M’s and Choc. Chips. Makes for a fabulous cookie, but it’s all about preference! 🙂
These look delicious. I prefer cookies over other desserts sometimes. I just made a blog post about some good ones! feel free to check it out.
These are great! We live at high altitude and it takes a lot of tricks to get cookies to come out right (they usually flatten all over the pan). These are thick and chewy, exactly the way I want all my cookies to turn out. I wonder if it’s because there is no flour that keeps these from flattening out here. Thanks for sharing!
While I’m at it, what happened to your apple cake with cream cheese frosting? I have the old link to it (https://www.recipegirl.com/2008/08/12/apple-cake-with-cream-cheese-frosting/) but I just get an error message. I can’t seem to find it in your recipe index either. It was sooooo good. Easy too!
Thanks again. I’m a huge fan!
I made that cake again recently and didn’t care for how it turned out at all, so unfortunately I deleted it from my database. Sorry about that!!
oh my favorites… these are the little devils i can’t resist, freezer or no.
You’re killing me with these right now girl! They look unbelievable, & I know all too well the temptation of cookies in the freezer!
If someone hides these cookies in my house I’d find and eat them in a heart beat! I’d have no control! None! Zero!
No flour? I made the batter and tried a couple and they came out like burnt puddles. I added a couple cups of flour and they turned into beautiful cookies….
no flour! This recipe has been around for ages. Here’s a Monster Cookie that Paula Deen did too- again, no flour. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/monster-cookies-recipe/index.html Burnt puddles? Was the dough super thick?
i just made these tonight and they came out pretty tasty, though not as pretty as yours. thank you for sharing the recipe.
I just made this last night…DELISH!
Whenever I make cookies, it will say “makes 24” I get somewhere in the area of 10.. I think I am doing it wrong. ahah
I LOVE monster cookies. Got to make some soon!
My daughter will love these!
I have a recipe very similar to this. I add 2TBS of light corn syrup. It makes the cookies come out like a soft batch cookie and not as crunchy. 🙂
great tip!
I died laughing at your post because you’re the first person to agree with me on the frozen cookies. I TOTALLY have this problem! I make cookies, put them in the freezer so I don’t eat them and then eat MORE because they’re so delicious frozen. Love that you posted what I’ve been saying for years!! I’m totally making these babies soon… and keeping them in the freezer 😉
For quite some time now, I’ve made up cookie dough, popped it in the frig or freezer till i “need” fresh cookies. But your idea I LOVE! Fresh & delicious cookies anytime..*safe* in the freezer. 🙂
Lori – A very long time ago, one Halloween, when my children were young; I did and thought the very same thing. I put all the leftover candy in the freezer so I wouldn’t be tempted. I soon couldn’t resist and discovered they were just as good right from the freezer. 🙂
You’re right, the extra m&m’s and chocolate chips on top did make them extra pretty! I wish banishing cookies to the freezer would make me forget about them too:)
I’m drooling here!
My kids love monster cookies… the bigger the better. The freezer trick doesn’t work for me either…lol.
I can’t even look away. Lori these are mesmerizing.
3:00 in the afternoon is my cookie time! That is the sugar hour and these would definitely do the trick!!!
What a fabolous cookie! My Husband would love these for work!!
How many calories per cookie?
See when I hide cookies in the freezer, I never quite “forget” about them as much as I need to for this to be an effective technique. 😛 But that’s okay…I’d be totally fine eating these cookies fresh from the oven. Or stuffing them with ice cream! Mmm…
Ha! I have a freezer full of sweets, for the exact same reason, I will eat them! Glad I’m not alone! I forget to make monster cookies, I don’t know why they are fun to eat and yummy! Thanks for the reminder!
Wow..such wonderful crust..the cookies, and PB..brown sugar..oats..what more I want from a healthy & yum cookie!
The title “monster cookies” don’t do these babies any justice! I don’t tend to freeze cookies but I will most definitely have to start. I mean homemade cookies any time I want? It doesn’t get better than that!
Thanks so much for pointing out that these cookies are GF! I have a little friend that I am always trying to figure out treats for – she’s only 3 and has severe Celiac. These will be perfect for out little party next Monday (prepared on freshly washed everything, of course – can’t risk any flour dust!) Thank you.
I tried making these tonight.
They tasted great but mine spread out ALOT when I baked them… Not sure what I did wrong.. Made for a delish but flimsy cookie…
I’m thinking that you must have gone wrong somewhere. Was your batter very thick? It should be very, very thick- almost difficult to stir. I actually had the opposite problem- the cookies stayed quite thick and didn’t want to spread out much. Did you use regular butter and regular peanut butter (not low fat or margarine?)
Those look amazing!!! I love the up close and personal shot of the cookies. I have been “hiding” cookies in the freezer so I have extras on hand for school lunches…doesn’t work too well since I keep eating all of them anyway:-)
these remind me of when I was little. all the neighborhood kids would get together to make a recipe like this. good memories. thanks.
Big and Delicious!!!
I love the ideas of title you gave in ur post but seriously these should be known as BIG N DELICIOUS!!!
My boys will go crazy if they get their hand on these goodness!!!
i believe the name monster cookies describes them perfectly! ;D
Oh these area really monster cookies, so dense, tall and so many delicious ingredients, I won’t have any self control around them!!
Monster cookies are the best!
haha hiding desserts never works for me either!
those are definitely some beautiful monsters 🙂
Can’t wait to try these! They look delicious and I’m in a Peanut Butter mood lately ;).
Oh my goodness — M&M’s AND peanut butter? Monster-sized? I want one for breakfast right now! 🙂
I’ve had peanut butter oatmeal cookies, and M&M chocolate chip cookies…but I’ve never had a combination of all of them! These cookies look and sound absolutely delicious! I will be giving them a try 🙂
These cookies wouldn’t be safe from my munching no matter WHERE I hid them. Everything I love, baked up into sweet oatmeal-y peanut butter-y goodness!!
These are so packed full of goodness. Absolutely perfect monster cookies, Lori!
Peanut butter + oatmeal + M&Ms= my husband’s dream cookie. So yummy!!
Monster cookies are some of my favorite! Love those M&M’s! xoxo
Want.
These are good energy-for-running-cookies, right?!? 😉
I love Monster cookies. Like, unreasonably love. These look amazing!
A cookie the size of my face? I’ll take two.
These would not be safe from me, even hidden in the freezer.
These cookies are big and beautiful! Yum!
I am on a huge put-oats-in-everything kick at the moment, and am immediately craving these. They look wonderful.