If you’re looking for the perfect dessert to bring some red, white, and blue fun to your table, these 4th of July Monster Cookies are just what you need. Packed with chocolate chips, peanut butter, oats, and festive M&Ms, they’re chewy, colorful, and totally crowd-pleasing. Whether you’re heading to a BBQ, planning a picnic, or hosting fireworks in the backyard, this easy cookie recipe hits the spot every time. You’ll love how simple they are to whip up—and even more how fast they disappear. Let’s dive into what makes these patriotic treats a summer celebration essential!
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Why These 4th of July Monster Cookies Are a Family Favorite
As a mom of two energetic kids, I’m always looking for quick, colorful desserts that make our holiday tables pop—both in flavor and style. One summer, after a morning of sparklers and sidewalk chalk, we baked a batch of these chewy monster cookies using red, white, and blue M&Ms. They were a huge hit—and have been our 4th of July staple ever since. The mix of creamy peanut butter, melty chocolate, and festive candy crunch brings out the kid in everyone. These 4th of July Monster Cookies are more than a sweet treat—they’re part of our tradition now.
What Makes Monster Cookies So Special?
Unlike basic chocolate chip cookies, monster cookies combine everything you love: oats for chewy texture, peanut butter for depth, and two kinds of chocolate for melt-in-your-mouth goodness. The real joy? They’re super adaptable. Add your favorite candy or switch up chips, and they still come out perfect. For the Fourth, red and blue M&Ms make them stand out. They’re basically cookie fireworks.
Perfect for Parties, BBQs, and Holiday Cravings
Because these cookies are easy to prep ahead and transport, they’ve earned a spot at every summer event we attend. Whether it’s a backyard grill session or poolside potluck, they disappear faster than you can say “USA!” Pair them with this Red White and Blue Cheesecake Salad or a refreshing Kiwi Mango Fruit Salad to complete your Independence Day spread.
Print
4th of July Monster Cookies Recipe for Your Patriotic Sweet Tooth
These 4th of July Monster Cookies are chewy, colorful, and packed with chocolate chips, peanut butter, and festive red, white, and blue M&Ms. They’re the ultimate party cookie—easy to make, easy to share, and absolutely unforgettable.
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Ingredients
3/4 cup (170 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup (200 g) light brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup (50 g) granulated sugar
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter, room temperature
1 large egg, plus one egg yolk, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/4 cups (280 g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
3/4 cup (60 g) quick oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 cup to 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup M&M candies
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Cream butter, sugars, and peanut butter for 3 minutes.
3. Add egg and yolk one at a time. Mix in vanilla.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk flour, oats, baking soda, and salt.
5. Slowly mix dry ingredients into the wet until just combined.
6. Fold in chocolate chips and M&Ms with a spatula.
7. Scoop dough into 2-ounce balls and place on baking sheets.
8. Bake 9–11 minutes, pan-banging halfway if desired.
9. Cool on tray for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack.
Notes
To freeze, scoop dough into balls and freeze in a sealed bag.
For thinner cookies, bang the tray midway and after baking.
Use red, white, and blue M&M’s for a patriotic touch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
All About the Ingredients in 4th of July Monster Cookies
Classic Monster Cookie Components
Every batch of 4th of July Monster Cookies begins with a few pantry staples that make them chewy, flavorful, and totally addictive. You’ll need unsalted butter, brown and white sugar, creamy peanut butter, eggs, and vanilla to build a rich, soft base. All-purpose flour and quick oats give the dough its structure and iconic chewy texture. For leavening, a bit of baking soda balances out the density, while kosher salt sharpens the sweetness.
But the real fun starts with the mix-ins:
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips melt into gooey pockets
- White chocolate chips add a creamy contrast
- And patriotic M&M’s bring both crunch and color
Every bite of these cookies has crispy rims and melty centers, making them a texture dream.
Tips for Swapping and Customizing Your Batch
Want to make these 4th of July Monster Cookies a little more your own? Go for it! If allergies are an issue, use peanut butter instead of almond or sunflower seed butter. If you’d rather, use butterscotch chips or dark chocolate depth. Toss in sprinkles for extra celebration flair. You can even roll each dough ball in sugar or press extra M&Ms on top for a more festive look.
Planning a mixed dessert tray? These cookies pair perfectly with other party faves like Cake Pop Recipes or Red, White and Blue Fruit Pizza for a colorful dessert spread that screams summer celebration.
Want to chill the dough first? Chilling helps the cookies stay thick and puffy. But if you’re short on time, bake right away—no harm done!
Step-by-Step Instructions for Baking 4th of July Monster Cookies
Prep Like a Pro for Perfect Cookies
Line two baking pans with parchment paper and preheat your oven to 350°F. This ensures even browning and easy cleanup—because who wants to scrub trays on a holiday? Set out your butter, eggs, and peanut butter ahead of time so they’re all room temperature when it’s mixing time. This step helps your dough blend smoother and your 4th of July Monster Cookies bake evenly.
In your stand mixer bowl fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the butter, sugars, and peanut butter on medium-high for about 3 minutes. Scrape the sides to keep everything incorporated. Add the whole egg and extra yolk one at a time. Then pour in that splash of vanilla for warm, bakery-style flavor.
Bringing It All Together, Bake After Bake
In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, quick oats, baking soda, and kosher salt. Add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients gradually. Mix until the dough just comes together—don’t overwork it, or the cookies might turn out tough.
Now it’s time for the good stuff: fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, and your red, white, and blue M&Ms. Each bite of these 4th of July Monster Cookies should be studded with color and flavor.
Scoop dough balls about two tablespoons each (roughly 2 ounces) and place them a few inches apart on your prepared baking sheets. For chewy cookies with crinkled tops, try the “pan banging” method: halfway through baking, lift the sheet a few inches and drop it. Repeat once more after removing them from the oven.
Cool for 10 minutes on the pan before transferring to a wire rack. Pair these with a chilled glass of milk—or serve alongside Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches for an over-the-top dessert plate. Want more healthy balance? Add a refreshing Greek Yogurt Cookie Dough option on the side!
How to Store, Serve & Prep 4th of July Monster Cookies Ahead
Make-Ahead Tips for Busy Holiday Hosts
When you’re prepping for a holiday like the Fourth, any recipe that can be made in advance is a lifesaver. These 4th of July Monster Cookies are perfect for that. You can prepare the dough a day ahead, wrap it tightly in plastic, and keep it chilled in the fridge. Just let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before scooping to make portioning easier.
Want to freeze them? Absolutely. Scoop the cookie dough into balls, freeze on a tray, then transfer to a zip-top freezer bag. Bake straight from frozen—just add 1–2 extra minutes to the baking time. That means you can have red, white, and blue cookies ready whenever a party pops up!
Storage That Keeps the Chewy Texture Intact
After baking, your 4th of July Monster Cookies will stay soft and chewy for up to five days if stored correctly. Put them in an airtight jar with a piece of bread to help retain moisture when they have completely cooled. They also freeze beautifully—layer them between wax paper and seal tightly.
Serving for a party? These cookies look amazing stacked on a tiered dessert stand or bundled in festive treat bags. You can even wrap them with ribbon and hand them out as take-home goodies. If you’re planning a full dessert table, pair these cookies with something vibrant like a 4th of July Trifle or creamy Red White and Blue Cheesecake Salad.
For a twist, make a cookie sandwich by spreading marshmallow fluff or vanilla frosting between two cookies. It’s the ultimate patriotic indulgence—and your guests will talk about it long after the fireworks end.
FAQ About 4th of July Monster Cookies
What’s the deal with Cookie Monster’s cookies?
Cookie Monster, the beloved blue character from Sesame Street, is known for his enthusiastic love of cookies—especially chocolate chip. While he’s not picky about ingredients, monster cookies like these would definitely earn his approval thanks to their overloaded, candy-studded mix. Our 4th of July Monster Cookies might just be his dream dessert!
What do you put in monster cookies?
Classic monster cookies typically include peanut butter, oats, chocolate chips, and colorful candies like M&M’s. For this 4th of July twist, we use red, white, and blue M&Ms, semi-sweet and white chocolate chips to give the cookies festive flair. The chewy texture comes from a balance of oats and flour in the dough.
Why are they called monster cookies?
They’re called “monster” cookies because they mash together so many favorite cookie ingredients into one delicious treat. Think peanut butter meets oatmeal meets chocolate chip, plus whatever sweet mix-ins you can imagine. The size and combo of goodies make each cookie feel like a monstrous flavor explosion—perfect for a holiday celebration.
How to make Miss Jones Monster Cookies?
Miss Jones makes a popular baking mix version of monster cookies, but you can get similar results with this homemade recipe. Just combine the wet ingredients (butter, sugars, peanut butter, eggs, vanilla), then add your dry mix (flour, oats, baking soda, salt), and finally fold in the chocolate chips and M&Ms. Bake, cool, and enjoy your own batch of 4th of July Monster Cookies with a homemade touch.
Conclusion
Whether you’re celebrating with family fireworks or just indulging your cookie cravings, these 4th of July Monster Cookies bring color, flavor, and chewy goodness to your holiday spread. They’re easy to make ahead, travel-friendly, and guaranteed to win over every sweet tooth at your barbecue. From melty chocolate chips to patriotic pops of color, each bite is a reminder that baking memories can be just as fun as making them.
So grab your red, white, and blue M&Ms and get baking—because these cookies won’t last long!
For More recipes Follow me on Facebook!
