My neighbor across the street invited me to her annual cookie exchange again this year. Since I cheated with making cookies last year, I thought I would make real cookies this year. I had forgotten how long it had been since I made cookies, rather than cupcakes, cake, or some other type of dessert. It was kind of a nice change. Normally they’re relatively easy to make, and who doesn’t like cookies??!
I ended up making a slightly modified version of these Monster cookies. Because I can’t hardly make anything without a small change here or there. The original recipe calls for chocolate chips, but because there are already M&M’s, I substituted the chocolate chips for butterscotch chips. Butterscotch personally isn’t my favorite, but I thought “what the heck!” and tried it out anyway. The flavor came as a welcomed surprise to just about everyone who tried the cookies.
I was asked to bake 9 dozen cookies for the exchange this year, but with some last minute cancelations on the day of, only 6 dozen were needed. One batch makes 3-3.5 dozen cookies, so getting to that original 9 dozen took no time at all.
Monster Cookies
Original recipe from Recipe Girl
Makes 36-40
Ingredients
1 ½ cups creamy peanut butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated white sugar
8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
3 large eggs
1 tbsp vanilla extract
4 ½ cups quick cooking oats
2 tsp baking soda
1 cup plain M&M’s
1 cup butterscotch chips (could substitute for chocolate chips, raisins, or anything else you might like)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray cookie sheets with nonstick spray or line with parchment paper
2. In a large bowl, combine the peanut butter with the sugars and butter. Use an electric mixer to mix until well combined. Mix in the eggs and vanilla. Mix in the oats and baking soda. Stir in the chips and M&M’s.
3. Drop the cookies by heaping spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.
4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes. Do not over bake. Cool for 5 minutes on cookie sheets until cookies are set. Transfer to wire racks; cool completely before storing in an airtight container.
—m.