Make the holiday calories worth it with this Christmas cookie recipe that tastes great!
I'm not a sweets person. And while I find Christmas cookies usually beautiful, I'm often left thinking this after I've indulged: "So that was really pretty but it didn't really taste that great and now my mouth is coated in butter and sugar and my hips have an extra 150 calories on them. Fan-friggin-tastic." My MIL sent me my husbands (who I should note does indeed have a sweet tooth!) favorite cookie recipe, so I decided, hey! What about if I turned it into a Christmas cookie so that we have some around the house that actually taste good?
Winner winner, Christmas cookie dinner! I turned these traditional "Monster Cookies" into Christmas cookies, and they're festively delicious.
Monster Christmas Cookies
- 4.5C quick oats
- 1C packed brown sugar
- 1C refined sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1/2C butter
- 1.5C smooth peanut butter
- 2T baking powder
- 1T vanilla extract
- 1/2t salt (cut this down to 1/4 teaspoon if your peanut butter is already salted - mine wasn't)
- 1/2C chocolate chips
- 1/2C M&M candy pieces
- decorative sugar crystals, if desired
In a large mixing bowl, blend together the peanut butter, eggs and butter. Add in the refined and brown sugar, baking powder and salt and beat well. If you have a Kitchen Aid, this will be easy for you! I didn't so I used good old fashioned elbow grease and worked up a sweat mixing it. Fold in the chocolate chips and candy pieces. Try not to eat all the dough.
Take about two tablespoons of dough and roll into balls in your hand. Place on a nonstick cookie sheet. These cookies don't spread, so you can load them up on the sheet! Then use the flat bottom of a glass to smush the cookies out to your desired thickness. A thicker cookie will be chewier; a thinner one crispier. Sprinkle with decorative sugar crystals and bake for about 12 minutes (give or take, depending on humidity and elevation. Check cookies at the 9 minute mark to see how they're progressing and how much more time they'll need!)
Once they're just firm to touch and golden on the bottom, remove from oven and immediately use a spatula to place them on baking racks to cool. Wait until fully cooled to remove and store in an airtight container. I'd tell you to wait until they're cool to eat them too, to prevent them from falling apart in your hands, but who am I kidding? You think I waited? Nope. Dive in friends.Mmmm, cookie dough! |
Yum, these look festive and super delicious! I LOVE a good chocolate chip OATMEAL cookie. No one makes em anymore!
ReplyDeleteThis is totally up my hubby's alley.
ReplyDeleteMm Mm MM! You know I am a fan of the cookie... any cookie, really. These look like a sweet little treat. I'll have to whip them up.
ReplyDeleteMm Mm MM! You know I am a fan of the cookie... any cookie, really. These look like a sweet little treat. I'll have to whip them up.
ReplyDeleteoooh I love M&M's in cookies!
ReplyDeleteGaaaaaaah I love monster cookies!!!! The Christmas colors in these are so fun!!
ReplyDeleteCMMMMMM cookies!!!! I got extremely excited when I saw that you baked cookies...lol Can't wait to try them out.
ReplyDeleteI love monster cookies! I'm sure that they would make excellent Christmas treats!
ReplyDeleteOats, chocolate, M&Ms, AND sprinkles? YUM! Can't wait to try these once the holidays start to roll around!
ReplyDeleteYummy, sounds good! And simple to make too!
ReplyDeleteI love monster cookies but never make them because I never have candy on hand. I like how you made them festive for the season. We just made my chocolate chip cookies on Tuesday and the hubs said they were gone by 8:00 in the morning at work. People love their sweets!
ReplyDeleteThose look so good!! Plus, when cookies have oats in them they are like way healthier right? I don't feel as bad when I eat like 10 in one sitting ;-)
ReplyDeleteMy husband LOVES monster cookies. I will be saving this recipe. Can't wait to try it!
ReplyDeleteAny ideas what to sub in for the peanut butter?
ReplyDelete