How To Make Easy Halloween Monster Cookies
Whip up these easy Halloween Monster Cookies! A fun, spooky peanut butter cookie recipe packed with M&M’s—perfect for busy parents who love festive treats!
Halloween is the perfect excuse to bake something colorful, fun, and just a little spooky! These Halloween Monster Cookies are soft, chewy, and loaded with peanut butter, oats, chocolate, and candy. Basically, everything you could ever want in a Halloween treat. And the best part? They’re easy enough to whip up between school drop-off and trick-or-treat prep!
What Are Halloween Monster Cookies?
Monster cookies are a mash-up of everything good—think peanut butter cookies, chocolate chip cookies, and oatmeal cookies all rolled into one. Then, we throw in colorful Halloween M&Ms and silly candy eyeballs for that festive “monster” look.
They’re chewy, buttery, and packed with flavor. Each bite has a mix of chocolate chips, candy crunch, and that perfect soft cookie texture. These cookies are great for bake sales, class parties, or cozy fall movie nights at home. You know, the kind where everyone’s in pajamas watching Hocus Pocus with a cookie in each hand.
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Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s everything you’ll need to make these easy Halloween cookies:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1¼ cups rolled oats
- 1 cup Halloween M&M candies
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon candy eyeball sprinkles 👀
Nothing fancy—just pantry staples and a few festive add-ins!
How to Make Halloween Monster Cookies
Let’s bake some monsters! 👻
- Preheat the oven: Set it to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream the butter and sugars: In a stand mixer or in a large bowl with a hand mixer, beat together the butter, peanut butter, sugar, and brown sugar until smooth and creamy. This takes about 2 minutes.
- Add wet ingredients: Mix in the egg and vanilla until combined. Scrape the bowl a few times so everything blends evenly.
- Mix dry ingredients: Add the flour, salt, and baking soda. Stir just until the dough comes together.
- Add oats: Mix in the rolled oats for that chewy texture.
- Fold in the fun stuff: Gently stir in the Halloween M&Ms and chocolate chips to the cookie dough batter.
- Scoop and shape: Use a cookie scoop or large ice cream scoop to portion out dough balls on your baking sheets. Leave space—they spread a little!
- Add eyeballs: Press candy eyes on top before baking for that monster look.
- Bake: Bake 10–12 minutes, until the edges are golden and the centers are set.
- Cool: Let them cool on the sheet pan before moving them.
And just like that—you’ve got a batch of adorable, chewy monster cookies ready for gobbling!
Where to Bring or Serve Them
These cookies are a total crowd-pleaser, so they fit in anywhere Halloween magic happens:
- 🎃 Halloween parties: Perfect for school events, potlucks, or your spooky get-together.
- 👻 Trick-or-treat night: Set them out with cider for friends and neighbors.
- 🕸️ Movie night: Pair them with popcorn for a cozy October evening.
- 🍪 Lunchbox surprise: Pop one in your kiddo’s lunch for a sweet mid-day treat.
Honestly, they’re so cute, you might even want to wrap them up in little cellophane bags for teacher gifts or party favors.
Fun Variations to Try
Want to change it up a bit? Here are a few fun twists:
- Swap the candy: Use Reese’s Pieces, mini peanut butter cups, or orange + purple M&Ms.
- Make it gluten-free: Use gluten-free oats and flour substitutes.
- Add color: Mix in Halloween sprinkles with the candies for extra festivity. Or add food coloring with wet ingredients for a tinted cookie.
- No peanut butter? Try almond butter or sunflower butter instead!
These cookies are super flexible, so you can get creative and still end up with a delicious batch.
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
You can absolutely make these ahead!
- Store: Keep cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temp.
- Freeze dough: Scoop the dough balls and freeze them for up to 2 months. When you’re ready to bake, just pop them on a baking sheet and add 1–2 extra minutes of bake time.
- Freeze baked cookies: Wrap cooled cookies in plastic wrap and store in a freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Perfect for when you want to “bake” without all the work later!
Common Questions About Halloween Monster Cookies
Can I use old-fashioned oats instead of quick oats?
Yes! Old-fashioned oats make them chewier, while quick oats make for a softer cookie. Either works great.
Do I need to chill the dough?
Nope, no need to chill in the refrigerator! This recipe is all about fast and easy. Just mix and bake.
Can I double the recipe?
Absolutely! These go fast, so doubling might be a good idea.
Do the eyeballs melt in the oven?
Nope! They hold their shape perfectly if pressed lightly on top before baking.
Can I use crunchy peanut butter?
Sure! It adds a little extra texture and crunch.
Halloween Monster Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ c unsalted butter softened
- ½ c creamy peanut butter
- ¼ c sugar
- 1 c brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 t vanilla
- 1 c flour
- ½ t salt
- 1 t baking soda
- 1 ¼ c rolled oats
- 1 c Halloween M&M candies
- ½ c chocolate chips
- 1 T eyeball sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a couple baking sheets with parchment, set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the softened butter, peanut butter, sugar and brown sugar. Cream until smooth and lighter in color.
- Add in the vanilla and egg and mix until combined, scraping down the sides often.
- Add in the flour, salt and baking soda. Mix well, scraping the sides often.
- Add in the rolled oats and mix to combine.
- Fold in the M&M’s and the chocolate chips until evenly mixed throughout the dough.
- Using a large ice cream scoop, divide the cookie dough between baking sheets, leaving plenty of space between the cookies.
- Press the eyeball sprinkles into the tops of each cookie.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or just until the edges begin to brown and the centers are set. Allow to cool before removing from the baking sheet.
Notes
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Wrap-Up
Halloween Monster Cookies are one recipe you’ll return to every October. They’re easy, fun, and totally kid-approved. Plus, they make your kitchen smell amazing!
So grab your mixing bowl, toss in some spooky candies, and get baking. Your little monsters will thank you. 💜 Happy Halloween!
If you love quick and cute Halloween ideas like this, make sure to sign up for my email list! You’ll get free printables, easy recipes, and seasonal fun straight to your inbox. Because making holidays magical shouldn’t be hard—it should just be sweet. 🍪✨
More Halloween Treats:
- Spider Donuts
- Mummy Strawberries
- Mickey Mummy Brownies
- Fanta Jack O’Lantern Floats
- Red Velvet Eyeball Cupcakes
- Eyeball Sugar Cookies
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Hi there!
I’m Emily, a mom and wife with a passion for crafting, celebrating holidays, and creating memorable moments. From Idaho to the world, The Benson Street is a treasure trove of easy, fun DIY projects, delightful printables, and delicious recipes. With over a decade of experience in blogging and a love for all things seasonal, I’m here to share my tips, ideas, and occasional mishaps. Join me in adding a dash of joy and creativity to every day! Read more…
