Oh, let me tell you about my absolute favorite holiday treat—*Christmas Monster Cookies*! These cookies are like a festive explosion of flavors and colors in every bite. Imagine soft, chewy cookies packed with chocolate chips, colorful M&Ms, and oats that give them that perfect chewy texture. I love making these with my family every year, filling the house with the warm, sweet aroma that instantly puts us in the holiday spirit. Trust me, there’s just something magical about gathering in the kitchen, rolling out the dough, and sneaking bites when no one’s watching! They’re perfect for holiday parties, cookie exchanges, or just a cozy night in with a cup of hot cocoa. You’ll definitely want to add these to your holiday baking list!
Ingredients for Christmas Monster Cookies
Getting your ingredients ready is half the fun! Here’s what you’ll need to whip up these delightful *Christmas Monster Cookies*:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened: This gives the cookies that rich, buttery flavor. Make sure it’s at room temperature for easy mixing!
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed: This adds a lovely caramel taste and moisture to the cookies.
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar: For just the right amount of sweetness!
- 2 large eggs: These help bind everything together.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract: A splash of vanilla enhances all those sweet flavors!
- 2 cups all-purpose flour: The base of the cookie dough.
- 1 teaspoon baking soda: This is your secret ingredient for a perfect rise.
- 1/2 teaspoon salt: It balances the sweetness beautifully.
- 1 cup oats: For that chewy texture that makes these cookies so special.
- 1 cup chocolate chips: Because who doesn’t want more chocolate?
- 1 cup M&M candies: Go for festive colors to make them extra cheerful!
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional): I love adding walnuts or pecans for a crunchy surprise.
How to Prepare Christmas Monster Cookies
Alright, let’s get those *Christmas Monster Cookies* baking! Follow these simple steps, and you’ll have delicious cookies in no time:
- Preheat your oven: Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This gets it nice and hot for optimal baking!
- Cream the butter and sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until it’s light and fluffy. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then stir in that delightful vanilla extract.
- Mix the dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt until combined. This helps ensure even distribution in the dough.
- Combine wet and dry: Gradually add the dry mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing just until everything is combined. Don’t overdo it; we want those cookies to be soft!
- Fold in the goodies: Now, stir in the oats, chocolate chips, M&Ms, and nuts if you’re using them. You’ll love the festive colors!
- Shape the cookies: Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a lined baking sheet, giving them a bit of space to spread.
- Bake: Pop them in the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are golden. Ooh, the smell is divine!
- Cool: Let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This way, they’ll set perfectly!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Absolutely delicious blend of flavors with chocolate, oats, and M&Ms.
- Festive appearance that brings holiday cheer to any gathering.
- Easy and straightforward preparation—perfect for bakers of all levels!
- Soft, chewy texture that melts in your mouth with every bite.
- Customizable with your favorite mix-ins for a personal touch.
- Perfect for sharing or gifting during the holiday season.
Tips for Success
Alright, let’s make sure your *Christmas Monster Cookies* turn out absolutely perfect!
- Use room temperature ingredients: Make sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature. This helps them blend together smoothly for that dreamy cookie dough.
- Don’t overmix: Once you add the dry ingredients, mix just until combined. Overmixing can lead to tough cookies, and we want them soft and chewy!
- Chill the dough: If you have time, chilling the dough for 30 minutes helps the cookies keep their shape and enhances the flavors. It’s a game changer!
- Watch the bake time: Keep an eye on them while they bake! They’re done when the edges are golden but the centers look slightly underbaked. They’ll continue to firm up as they cool.
- Experiment with mix-ins: Feel free to swap out the M&Ms or nuts for your favorites. Dried fruit or different types of chocolate can give these cookies a fun twist!
Variations on Christmas Monster Cookies
If you’re feeling adventurous, here are some fun ideas to mix things up with your *Christmas Monster Cookies*:
- Peanut Butter Swirl: Add a swirl of creamy peanut butter to the dough for a delicious twist!
- White Chocolate Cranberry: Swap out the chocolate chips for white chocolate and toss in some dried cranberries for a festive touch.
- Maple Pecan: Use maple extract instead of vanilla and mix in chopped pecans for a lovely fall flavor.
- Mint Chocolate: Add some mint chocolate chips or crushed peppermint candies for a refreshing holiday flavor.
- Spiced Pumpkin: Mix in some pumpkin puree and spices like cinnamon and nutmeg for a cozy autumn version!
Storage & Reheating Instructions
To keep your *Christmas Monster Cookies* fresh and delicious, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay tasty for about a week—if they last that long! If you want to keep them longer, you can freeze them. Just make sure to wrap each cookie tightly in plastic wrap or place them in a freezer-safe bag. When you’re ready to enjoy them again, simply thaw them at room temperature. If you prefer them warm, pop them in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds. Yum!
Nutritional Information
Just a heads up, the nutritional information can vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use, so it’s not set in stone. But here’s a rough estimate for one *Christmas Monster Cookie*: about 150 calories, 7g of fat, 2g of protein, and 20g of carbohydrates. These cookies are a delightful treat, but as always, enjoy them in moderation as part of your festive festivities!
FAQ Section
Got questions about making the best *Christmas Monster Cookies*? I’ve got you covered! Here are some common queries that pop up:
Can I use different types of chocolate?
Absolutely! Feel free to swap in white chocolate chips, dark chocolate chunks, or even mint chocolate for a fun twist. The flavor combinations are endless!
What if I don’t have oats?
No worries! You can simply replace the oats with more flour, but I highly recommend sticking with oats for that lovely chewy texture.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Yes, you can! Just chill the dough in the fridge for up to 3 days before baking. You might want to let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes before you scoop it onto the baking sheet.
How do I know when they’re done baking?
Look for those golden edges! The centers should still look slightly underbaked when you pull them out. They’ll firm up while cooling, giving you that perfect soft center.
Can I freeze the cookies?
Absolutely! Just let them cool completely, then freeze them in an airtight container. They’ll be a delicious treat ready for you whenever you need a cookie fix!
Imprimer
Christmas Monster Cookies: 5 Magical Bites of Holiday Cheer
- Temps Total: 27 minutes
- Rendement: 24 cookies 1x
- Alimentation: Végétarien
Description
Delicious cookies loaded with festive ingredients.
Ingrédients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup oats
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup M&M candies
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar.
- Add the eggs and vanilla extract, mixing well.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until combined.
- Stir in the oats, chocolate chips, M&M candies, and nuts.
- Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are golden.
- Let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
Notes
- Store cookies in an airtight container.
- Use festive M&M colors for a holiday touch.
- Adjust the mix-ins to your preference.
- Temps De Préparation: 15 minutes
- Temps De Cuisson: 12 minutes
- Catégorie: Dessert
- Méthode: Baking
- Cuisine: American
La Nutrition
- Taille D'Une Portion: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sucre: 10g
- De Sodium: 90mg
- La graisse: 7g
- Graisses Saturées: 4g
- Les Graisses Insaturées: 2g
- Les Gras Trans: 0g
- Les hydrates de carbone: 20g
- La fibre: 1g
- La protéine: 2g
- Le taux de cholestérol: 25mg
Mots-clés: christmas monster cookies, holiday cookies, festive cookies
