Patriotic Monster Cookies (Printer-Friendly)
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 Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar using an electric mixer until pale and fluffy.
03 - Add the peanut butter to the butter mixture, then mix in eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Stir in the vanilla extract.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the oats, all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until well incorporated.
05 - Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, beating at low speed until just combined.
06 - Gently fold in the chocolate candies, semisweet chocolate chips, and crushed mini pretzels if using.
07 - Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, placing each portion two inches apart to allow for spreading.
08 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges are golden and the centers appear soft.
09 - Allow cookies to cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
# Expert Advice:
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.”