I’ve always loved being around kids.  First of all, they’re hilarious. The questions they ask, the stories they come up with — they make me laugh and I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of their sweet personalities and those chubby cheeks.
During college I had a job as a nanny. In between my classes on sometimes on the weekends, I spent my time reading stories, playing hide and seek, going to the park, and of course… baking with kids.
It’s still one of my favorite things to do.
Meet the two adorable twins: Milly and Remy.
I can’t believe how old they are getting… they just turned 5!
Since I’m not a nanny anymore I don’t get to see them as much as I like, BUT when I do get to spend time with my two favorites I try to make it as special as possible.
Every time we’re together we do two things: bake treats and have a ‘popcorn party’. The popcorn party is usually just a trick I use to get them to clean up their toys fast, get in PJs, and settle down for a movie and a bowl of popcorn. I tell them that we can never be late for the popcorn party and it works every time!
Last week I attended a book signing for fellow food blogger Shaina Olmanson’s new cookbook Desserts in Jars and was sent home with a jar full of monster cookie mix. Of course since it was Milly and Remy’s birthday, I knew we’d be baking them right away!
I wanted to share with you how much fun we had making these cookies. Remy even decided to rename them ‘dinosaur cookies’.
The cookies turned out perfect!
I’d say they’re definitely kid-approved.
Want your own Desserts in Jars cookbook? I’m giving a book away to one lucky reader!
From cakes and cookies to puddings and pies, this cookbook is full of inventive dessert ideas, all presented in gorgeous jars. Even if you aren’t entertaining, you can certainly use the recipes to impress your family or friends, as there are recipes for gift giving (I’m SO doing this for Christmas this year).
So how do you enter to win? Head on over and like my Facebook page, then leave a comment below and tell me what your favorite cookie is! I’ll randomly pick a winner next Friday and announce their name on my Facebook page.
BUT seriously even if you don’t have kids to bake with, these cookies are MAJORLY good. Feel free to switch up the candies and nuts; next time I’m using Reese’s Pieces!
Want to know the best part about these delicious cookies? They are flour free (you use oatmeal) and only called for two tablespoons of butter! I’m pretty certain you could get away without using the butter though. Let me know if you give it a try.
Have a great weekend!
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Best Monster Cookies from Desserts in Jars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 1/4 cups rolled oats
- 3/4 cup candy-coated chocolate candies or chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 3/4 cup smooth or chunky peanut butter (not natural)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
Instructions
- To make the jars: mix together the granulated sugar, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Pour into a 1-quart Mason Jar.
- Top with a layer of half of the oats. Add the candies in a layer, and top with a layer of brown sugar. Top with a layer of the remaining oats and then a layer of walnuts.
- Seal with the lid, decorate the jar if you like, and attach a label with the below instructions.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Mix together the peanut butter, butter, vanilla. and eggs in a bowl. Add the contents of the jar.
- Form the dough into 2-inch balls and set on a cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Bake for 12-14 minutes, until the tops of the cookies begin to brown. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack. Makes 24 cookies.
More cookie recipes you’ll love:
Flourless Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
The Best Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies You’ll Ever Eat
Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Cookies
Old Fashioned Iced Brown Butter Oatmeal Cookies
The Best Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies You’ll Ever Eat
The look delicious. I have been looking for a healthier version of the monster cookie and this fits the bill perfectly. My favorite type of cookie is chocolate chip. My mom’s recipe would be my favorite of all time.
I made these cookies this afternoon for the kids, and they loved the sweet treat! I used natural peanut butter, cranberries since I ran out of chocolate chips, and I didn’t have to chill the dough. It was very messy rolling them into balls though, probably because of the peanut butter. I like following your blog, thanks for doing an awesome job, Monique!
Excited to try these cookies since every cookie I’ve made by you Monique has been amazing!! Wondering if I can substitute almond butter for the peanut butter since my son has a peanut allergy. Don’t want him to be left out when partaking of the goodness!!
Dark chocolate chip cookies!
Hmmm, so hard to choose.. I think I’m going to go with coconut/candied ginger cookies.
I made these Monster cookies with my kids 16 yrs ago , they liked them big and chewy with milk or lemonade.
My favorite cookie is Ricotta and lemon cookies, moist, fresh and the aroma from the lemos is amazing.
I liked you on facebook, thanks for the giveaway.
I like you on FB and I love a monster cookie with oatmeal, coconut, pecans and chocolate chips!
liked you on fb and peanut butter is my fave
Monique, love the latest post! My favorite cookie is macadamia nut with white chocolate. Although, I love all cookies! 🙂
i liked you on facebook!! and I love chocolate chip the most!
i liked you on facebook!! and my favorite cookies are for sure chocolate chip, but on occasion i loveeee lemon cookies 🙂
my favorite cookies are chocolate chip cookies!
I <3 chewy-fat oatmeal, chocolate chip cookies…. where the chips are warm and soft.
I love most kinds of cookies, but I think if I could only choose one it would be my chewy chocolate chip cookies. 🙂
That book looks totally awesome. 🙂
The twins are so adorable! I will remember this cookie recipes for the kids that I babysit :), we always have baking parties. My favorite cookie would have to be a snickerdoodle probably because I am obsessed with cinnamon (my blog is called Cannella Vita, which means “cinnamon life” in Italian).
I love your recipes their great for kids and us adults.
P.S. Crispy chocolate chip cookies are my all-time fave. My mom’s chewy ginger molasses cookies run a close second.
Why can’t you use natural p.b.? That’s all I have and I want to make these tonight. They look delicious!
Hi Shannon, thanks for your question. I am going to assume it’s because of the higher oil content, which would cause the cookies to spread out more. Try using natural if it’s all you have, but maybe use less of it and chill your dough an hour before you bake.
I love chocolate chip the most!
These look delicious! I was going to make chocolate chip cookies for a party tomorrow, but I’m going to give these a shot 🙂
My favorite cookie is white chocolate macadamia nut. Mmm.
I’d like to enter the contest my favorite cookie is chocolate chip no nuts. 🙂 I enjoy your blog a lot. Thanks.
Favorite kind of cookie ever is a “Cowboy” cookie from a special Lousianna sweets cookbook my mother bought me–full of good things, cereal, coconut, butter, sugar, nuts. It is crispity, chewy, crunchy all in one!