What are monster cookies made of?

Monster cookies are made with brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, vanilla extract, eggs, flour, salt, baking powder, oats, M&Ms, and toffee bits. Optional mix-ins include pretzel pieces, marshmallow bits, and dried raisins or cranberries.

What are my monster cookies falling apart?

Monster cookies will fall apart if they don't cool properly. It's important you let the cookies cool for about 5 minutes on the baking sheet before you move them to a wire rack to cool completely. Also, if you have too many mix-ins in the cookie dough, there won't be enough binder to hold the cookies together, so don't add too many.

Why are my monster cookies flat?

If you follow this recipe, you won't have flat cookies. But another culprit could be responsible: heat. If cookie dough gets too hot while it waits to go into the oven, the sugar and butter may spread quickly, leaving you with a wafer thin cookie that is extra crunchy and not at all fluffy and chewy.

Monster Cookies Recipe

Why Are They Called Monster Cookies?

It's unclear where the name monster cookies comes from. Internet theory suggest it's because these cookies, in all their bumpy, mismatched glory, are a little bit like a Frankenstein in the cookie world. They're unique, special, and made with the best parts of other favorite cookies. So we'll go with that theory, but we welcome any formal explanations.

At Halloween, some people like to add candy eyeballs to monster cookies for a more playful take on the "monster" part of the cookie name. To keep the eyeballs looking their best, don't add them to the cookies until they come out of the oven. Then, gently press the sugar pieces into the still-soft cookie top.

Ingredients for Monster Cookies

Head to the pantry. Most everything you'll need to make monster cookies is there—as long as you have a full-stocked candy drawer.

Light brown sugar and granulated sugar: We like both types of sugar for this cookie recipe. Granulated sugar adds sweetness and helps make the cookies tender. Brown sugar adds a bit of caramel flavor.
Unsalted butter: If you use salted butter, cut out the additional salt so the cookies aren't too salty.
Eggs: These help bind the ingredients together.
Vanilla extract: Vanilla elevates the flavors of the cookie.
All-purpose flour: This provides the bulk of the cookie dough and makes the texture chewy but not dense.
Kosher salt: This evens out the flavors of the cookie, but omit the salt if you use salted butter.
Baking soda: This leavening agent helps the cookies spread and rise during baking.
Quick-cooking oats: Provides chewy texture and a hint of nuttiness.
Milk chocolate chips: We like the sweetness of the milk chocolate variety, but you could use dark or white.
Toffee bits: They provide delicious crunch and caramelized sugar flavor.
Milk chocolate candy pieces: We of course mean M&Ms.

Southern Living Monster Cookies ingredients — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

How To Make Monster Cookies

These cookies are easy to make—and would be a great baking project with kids. Full instructions are below, but here's a brief outline:

Step 1. Make cookie dough: Cream the butter and two sugars, then add the vanilla and eggs.
Step 2. Add dry ingredients: Combine the flour and dry ingredients, and add the mixture to the butter and sugar mixture. Scrape the sides of the bowl down to make sure cookie batter is well mixed.
Step 3. Add all the mix-ins: Beat until just combined.
Step 4. Scoop dough: Use a cookie dough scoop if you have one to make even-sized balls of cookie dough. Place on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
Step 5. Bake cookies: Bake a tray of cookies one at a time, rotating halfway through for even baking. Scoop up new balls of cookie dough and arrange on a baking sheet after each one is finished.
Step 6. Cool cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Variations and Optional Add-Ins

A lot of monster cookie recipes call for peanut butter, We left it out of our recipe, but you could add it back in. Combine it with the butter-sugar mixture, just before adding the eggs and vanilla. About 1/2 cup will do.

Here, other ideas for things you can mix in to make these monster cookies even more fun. Just be sure to substitute equal parts of ingredients so you don't get too many stir-ins. Cookies will likely crumble if there are too many pieces.

pretzel pieces
peanut butter or butterscotch chips
marshmallow bits
coconut flakes
raisins or dried cranberries
peanuts, almonds, or walnuts—chopped and toasted for the best flavor

How To Store and Freeze Monster Cookies

You can make the cookie dough ahead of time, and store covered in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

Or scoop the dough into individual cookie dough balls, and freeze on the cookie sheet until hard. Then, put the dough in a freezer-safe bag, and store it or up to 2 months in the freezer until ready to use. Bake from frozen. You may need to add an extra minute or two to the baking time when cooking from frozen.

How To Serve Monster Cookies

These cookies are obviously fine all on their own. They're sweet, chewy, crispy, and filled with outstanding flavors. But you can get a little creative if you want! Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or grab two cookies and make an ice cream sandwich. Don't want to bake all 28 cookies? Get a cake pan, and make a cookie cake.

More Classic Cookie Recipes

While you're baking, make these popular cookie recipes next:

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups light brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup (8 oz.) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 large eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups (about 10 5/8 oz.) all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 cups uncooked quick-cooking oats
1 1/2 cups (9 oz.) milk chocolate chips (from 1 [12-oz.] pkg.)
2/3 cup (4 oz.) toffee bits (such as Bits of Brickle) (from 1 [8-oz.] pkg.)
2/3 cup (5 1/2 oz.) mini candy-coated milk chocolate pieces (such as M&M’S)

Directions

Prepare oven and baking sheets:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Cream butter and sugar:

Beat together brown sugar, granulated sugar, and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Add eggs:

Add eggs and vanilla; continue beating on medium speed until just combined, about 30 seconds.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Combine and add dry ingredients:

Whisk together flour, salt, and baking soda in a medium bowl.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating on low speed until fully incorporated, 1 to 2 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
Add oats and candies:

Add oats, chocolate chips, toffee bits, and mini candy-coated chocolate pieces; beat on low speed until just combined, 30 to 45 seconds.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Scoop cookie dough:

Scoop half of dough using a 2 1/2-tablespoon (1 1/2-oz.) scoop, and place on prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart (about 8 cookies per baking sheet). Cover remaining dough with plastic wrap, and set aside at room temperature until ready to use.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Bake cookies:

Bake cookies in preheated oven until edges are slightly golden brown and set, 16 to 18 minutes, rotating baking sheets halfway through bake time.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Cool cookies:

Cool cookies on baking sheets 5 minutes; transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely, about 20 minutes. Repeat procedure with remaining cookie dough.

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Frequently Asked Questions

What are monster cookies made of?

Monster cookies are made with brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, vanilla extract, eggs, flour, salt, baking powder, oats, M&Ms, and toffee bits. Optional mix-ins include pretzel pieces, marshmallow bits, and dried raisins or cranberries.
What are my monster cookies falling apart?

Monster cookies will fall apart if they don't cool properly. It's important you let the cookies cool for about 5 minutes on the baking sheet before you move them to a wire rack to cool completely. Also, if you have too many mix-ins in the cookie dough, there won't be enough binder to hold the cookies together, so don't add too many.
Why are my monster cookies flat?

If you follow this recipe, you won't have flat cookies. But another culprit could be responsible: heat. If cookie dough gets too hot while it waits to go into the oven, the sugar and butter may spread quickly, leaving you with a wafer thin cookie that is extra crunchy and not at all fluffy and chewy.