Patriotic Monster Cookies (Print Version)

Chewy patriotic cookies with oats, peanut butter, chocolate chips, and red-white-blue candies for festive treats.

# 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)

# Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, beat softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy.
03 - Mix in creamy peanut butter. Add eggs one at a time, beating 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.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, blending until just combined.
06 - Gently fold chocolate candies, semisweet chocolate chips, and crushed pretzels into the dough.
07 - Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing each cookie two inches apart.
08 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until the edges are golden and centers are still soft.
09 - Let cookies cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool fully.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Each bite packs a chewy, sweet, and salty surprise—like a bake sale favorite with your own celebratory twist.
  • The dough is sturdy enough for lots of hands to help, making it perfect for family gatherings or holiday barbecues.
02 -
  • If the cookies seem underbaked when you take them out, that's perfect—they firm up as they cool, and overbaking will steal their chewiness.
  • I once forgot the salt and instantly noticed the flavor fell flat; never skip it, even for a dessert.
03 -
  • Always spoon and level your flour when measuring—it’s easy to pack too much and end up with dense cookies.
  • Taste a bit of dough before folding in the add-ins to be sure it’s perfectly sweet, as peanut butter brands can vary.

Go Back