Patriotic Monster Cookies (Print version)
Chewy peanut butter and oats cookies studded with chocolate chips and patriotic candies.
# What you 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)
# 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 light brown sugar using an electric mixer until mixture is light and fluffy.
03 - Add creamy peanut butter and beat to combine. Add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together old-fashioned oats, all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until evenly blended.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, stirring just until incorporated without over-mixing.
06 - Gently fold in chocolate candies, semisweet chocolate chips, and crushed mini pretzels if using.
07 - Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing each about two inches apart.
08 - Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes until edges are golden and centers remain soft.
09 - Let cookies cool on the baking sheets for five minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool fully.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- They stay irresistibly chewy even days after baking, a little secret bonus for late-night snackers.
- The bursts of color and crunch mean these cookies always start a conversation at any gathering.
02 -
- Overbaking by even a minute leaves you with crunchy cookies instead of the soft, tender centers you really want.
- Swapping in colorful candies last keeps the colors bold and prevents streaky dough—a lifesaver for party trays.
03 -
- Using an ice cream scoop for portioning means every cookie bakes up the same and nobody fights over the biggest one.
- Press a few extra candies on right before baking for bakery-style looks that impress every time.