Patriotic Monster Cookies (Printable)
Chewy patriotic cookies with oats, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and colorful candies—great for celebrations.
# 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 mixing bowl, beat together softened butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar until the mixture is pale and fluffy.
03 - Blend in creamy peanut butter. Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract to combine.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together old-fashioned oats, all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.
05 - Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring until just integrated.
06 - Gently fold in chocolate candies, semisweet chocolate chips, and crushed mini pretzels if using.
07 - Using a cookie scoop, drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing each portion two inches apart.
08 - Transfer to the oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges turn golden and centers remain soft.
09 - Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheets for five minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling completely.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Stuffed full of goodies, these cookies earn all the oohs and aahs, but secretly require zero fancy skills.
- The dough stands up well to swaps for dietary needs, so it&apo;s easy to make them yours every time.
02 -
- Letting the cookies cool properly is the secret to holding their shape; rushed hands mean crumbled cookies.
- I once used hot melted butter in a hurry—my cookies spread thin as pancakes, so patience is non-negotiable.
03 -
- If your dough feels loose, chill it for 30 minutes to stop spreading and help flavors deepen.
- Saving a handful of candies to press on top right before baking makes every cookie picture-perfect.