Patriotic Monster Cookies (Printable Version)
Chewy patriotic monster cookies with oats, peanut butter, chocolate chips and colorful candies.
# Ingredient List:
→ 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
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, beat together softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
03 - Blend in creamy peanut butter, then add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together oats, all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined.
06 - Gently fold in red, white, and blue chocolate candies, semisweet chocolate chips, and pretzels if using.
07 - Scoop heaping tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing each portion two inches apart.
08 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until cookie edges are golden but centers remain soft. Allow to cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- No one expects those salty mini pretzel bits, so every bite has a tiny, happy surprise.
- Double the chocolate never fails, and the festive candies always spark a smile.
02 -
- Letting the cookies sit on the hot tray for a few minutes after baking keeps them from falling apart later—tasted lots of broken cookies learning this.
- Nobody misses the pretzels when skipped, but now I never go without because the salty bite wins even over skeptics.
03 -
- Parchment-lined sheets guarantee the bottoms won’t burn or stick—even when you get distracted.
- Sneaking a few candies on top before baking leads to the best-looking (and most fought over) cookies in the bunch.