Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Tex's Monster Cookies

November 1, 2016.

That means there are only 60 days left in this year! How did this happen? I mean, it seems like only yesterday I was putting Christmas decorations away.

Okay, so it wasn't yesterday, because yesterday was Halloween. So, since it wasn't just any ordinary Monday, I decided to do something special for those little monsters that frequent our doorstep more than just one day a year. And nothing fit the bill better than Monster Cookies. I mean, how can you go wrong with ingredients like this?
Actually, you can find several different versions of Monster Cookies out there, though a few things are constants--M&Ms, chocolate chips and oatmeal. This is my version, though you are certainly welcome to research other options to see which one you like best.

Here's what you'll need:

  • 1/2 cup (that's 1 stick) unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups oats (I used old-fashioned, but you could also use quick oats)
  • 1 cup M&Ms (I used the fall variety since it's what I had on hand)
  • 3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup roughly chopped pecans
  • 2 cups Rice Krispies (or equivalent) cereal
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

Cream the butter and shortening, then add the sugars and beat until fluffy.
Add your eggs and mix well. Now add the vanilla and stir that in.
Add the flour, salt, baking powder, soda and cinnamon and mix until well blended.
From this point on, it's best to do the mixing by hand.
First, I folded in the oatmeal, pecans and chocolate chips.
Then came the M&Ms.
Stir that good before adding the Rice Krispies.
Fold again and again and again until everything is mixed together, then drop by large spoonful's onto a baking sheet. A large cookie scoop is what I used, but you could also use an ice cream scoop or even a 1/4 cup measuring cup.
Bake for 12-15 minutes, depending on the size of your scoops. If you're making a larger cookie, obviously you'll want to extend the baking time. Just be sure to do it in short increments and watch to make sure they don't burn.
Just look at all the good stuff inside these babies.
I love the pecans.

You can serve them warm,
Or package them in cellophane bags for trick-or-treaters.
Whatever the case, I can guarantee that monsters of all sizes are going love these cookies.

So how was Halloween at your place?




Mindy Obenhaus lives in Texas with her husband and kids. She's passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. Learn more at www.MindyObenhaus.com.



14 comments:

  1. Hi Mindy, I am in a 55+ senior resort so we didn't have trick-or-treaters. We did have a big party and dance and they passed out yummy cookies. However they didn't look as yummy as yours. smile I stayed away as they love to just go right to my hips and waist. I bet your grandchildren love those.

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    1. Sandra, this was a weird Halloween. I remember when I used to prepare for anywhere from 100-120 kids. This year we might have had 30. Glad I backed off on the candy. And that I have a teenager in the house to eat the leftovers, otherwise I'd be in big trouble.

      A party sounds fun. Especially the dancing part. You could have had a cookie or two then danced those calories right off, Sandra.

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    2. We had our first Halloween in the new neighborhood. We had about 20 kids come. But that's 20 more than in our old neighborhood! :)

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    3. Wow! So no kids in your old neighborhood?

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    4. No, they all grew up as my kids grew up. And the young family that lived behind us must've started going to another neighborhood.

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  2. My poor husband has been craving cookies...and complaining that I never make them anymore.

    Yes, well, there's a reason for that!

    But I just turned in my book with the Nov. 1 deadline (Yay!!!), so maybe I'll celebrate by making cookies. :)

    And these look so-o-o good!

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    1. Our men and their treats. I guess that's what we get for spoiling them, Jan. They get used to us baking for them and nothing else will do. ;D

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  3. Oh my goodness, you've made my stomach growl!! I would love to have one of these right now. YUM!

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  4. Someone asked me about monster cookies and I had no clue what they meant... and then this! And I know I'd heard of them, but this version, with the rice krispies, sounds amazingly wonderful!

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    1. Ruthy, they're soft when they come out of the oven, but grow crunchy as they cool. Makes them the perfect companion to a nice hot cup of tea or coffee.

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  5. I would love these, Mindy! I've got everything to make them, maybe this afternoon when "Littles" drop by for a visit... I'll put nuts in half... and everyone will be happy!

    And don't you just love the harvest-toned M&M's? I buy a bunch of bags every year because the colors are perfect for October and November get togethers... and then I go back to the multi-colored for Christmas because if you knew how early the stores get those Christmas colored ones in.... well, enough said!

    The Easter ones aren't nearly as early to arrive... or the harvest. But I love the brightness of the originals, anyway. So it all works out.

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    1. Ruthy, I almost made a comment about the seasonal M&Ms in the post because I remembered what you'd said. I buy the seasonal ones purely for decorative purposes. I have three vintage mason jars I fill with colorful candies. Which is why I happened to have these on hand. The family doesn't know/care what's old and what's not, they just eat it anyway. :)

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