Patriotic Monster Cookies (Printable)

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 Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
03 - Incorporate the creamy peanut butter, then add eggs one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition. Mix in vanilla extract.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the oats, all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until well distributed.
05 - Gradually blend the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture, mixing just until combined. Avoid overbeating.
06 - Gently fold in the chocolate candies, semisweet chocolate chips, and crushed pretzels if using.
07 - Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing each portion two inches apart.
08 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges are golden and centers remain slightly soft.
09 - Allow cookies to cool on baking sheets for five minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • These cookies are loaded—each bite is a delightful mashup of chewy oats, gooey chocolate, and crunchy, salty surprises.
  • They're easy to adapt for any holiday or occasion with a simple swap of candy colors, making them an instant crowd-pleaser.
02 -
  • One time I rushed the dough and over-mixed—my cookies ended up tough instead of chewy, so always mix only until combined.
  • Letting cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes keeps the centers pillow-soft and stops breakage when moving.
03 -
  • Using parchment not only helps with cleanup but prevents the bottoms from browning too much.
  • Saving a handful of candies and chips to sprinkle on top before baking makes every batch bakery-worthy.

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