Patriotic Monster Cookies (Printable)

Chewy patriotic cookies with oats, peanut butter, chocolate chips and red-white-blue candies—great for celebrations.

# 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)

# Step-by-step:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - Cream together softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar in a large bowl using an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
03 - Mix in peanut butter until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each. Blend in vanilla extract.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together oats, all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.
05 - Gradually add dry mixture to wet ingredients, mixing gently until just combined to avoid overworking the dough.
06 - Stir in chocolate candies, semisweet chocolate chips, and crushed pretzels if using.
07 - Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing each piece approximately two inches apart.
08 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until edges are golden and centers remain slightly soft.
09 - Allow cookies to cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • These cookies pack peanut butter, oats, and chocolate into each bite for the chewy-crisp combo you crave.
  • They look festive but are shockingly simple to whip up, truly a crowd-pleaser for busy schedules and big gatherings alike.
02 -
  • If you overmix after adding flour, the cookies lose their lovely chew—gentle folds really do matter.
  • The secret to vibrant pops of color is saving a handful of candies for pressing on top of the dough scoops right before baking.
03 -
  • Underbake by a minute for the softest centers that firm up perfectly as they cool.
  • Add a little sprinkle of flaky salt before baking—this lifts all the sweet flavors, especially with peanut butter and chocolate.

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