Grandma’s Monster Cookies – Barefoot in the kitchen

The Best Monster Cookie Recipe is chewy and crunchy, and features all of our favorite cookie flavors.

Does anyone not have this cookie recipe from their grandmother? And doesn’t everyone think their recipe is the best? Oatmeal, peanut butter, chocolate chips, M&Ms, and a drop of maple syrup combine to make my grandmother’s monster cookies.

My friend Augusta and I compared our recipes years ago and laughed when they were almost identical.

Side note: We then made and ate almost an entire batch ourselves, we probably ate half of it as raw cookie dough — yes, these cookies are that good.

I grew up thinking that monster cookies were exclusive to my own family and for the last 10-15 years I’ve seen these all over the internet.

If you’ve never tried them, you’re missing out on one of the best cookies ever.

I only make these cookies a few times a year because I absolutely can’t eat just one (or two or three). I’ve been known to screw up so many that I went to bed sick. (How’s that for a selling point? ha)

These cookies stay nice and chewy when frozen. If like me you like to store cookies in the freezer for late night cravings, this is the ultimate freezer cookie. As a result, this is the PERFECT cookie for making ice cream sandwiches.

My brother Karl shares my weakness for these cookies and this is the excuse I need to make them every time he comes to visit. And for serious treatment? You’re going to want to make these Monster Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches.

Original monster cookie recipe

• butter
• light brown sugar
• White sugar
• eggs
• baking powder
• vanilla extract
• maple syrup
• Crunchy Peanut Butter
• old-fashioned oatmeal
• semi-sweet chocolate chips
• M&M sweets

Gluten Free Monster Cookies

Gluten-free with no special ingredients, these cookies were wheat-free before that was cool. They’re the original flourless cookies that everyone was making before we even knew about gluten-free ingredients.

The oats and peanut butter hold them together perfectly. Please note that if you’re baking these with allergies, be sure to purchase certified gluten-free oats.

Best Monster Cookies

First and most importantly, don’t over bake these amazing cookies. The cookies should be lightly browned around the edges and just look wet on top when you remove them from the oven.

Let them cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

These cookies are wonderfully chewy and stay nice for several days when kept at room temperature in an airtight container. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months.

For what it’s worth, Grandma’s Monster Cookies are Oscar-approved — not that I let him try them. But he gave them a dignified nod of approval as he helped me take the photos.

Recipes for monster cookies

Do you love Monster Cookies as much as we do? You’ll want to try these Monster Cookie Bars, Monster Cookie Dough Bites, and these Monster Cookie Chocolate Cheesecake Bars! Better yet, turn them into cookie dough bites for Monster Cookie Dough Ice Cream.

Check out all gluten free dessert recipes on this website!

{originally posted 5/30/12 – recipe notes and photos updated 3/23/23}

For more great grandma recipes check out these Ice Cream Kolacky Cookies and this Old Fashioned Chocolate Meringue Cake!