Monster Cookies

 I generally make these once per year, which makes sense when you see the quantity.

The original recipe is from a church cookbook we got as a wedding gift, the Salem Sampler II, and believe it or not, I worked out this version as HALF of the original version. There is a more reasonable "anyday" version to follow.

Monster Cookies (big batch)

Note: This will make too much dough to fit in a large Kitchen Aid mixing bowl. I use a hand-held mixer and a very large ceramic bowl we got as a wedding present from my wonderful uncle Malcom and aunt Rochelle. Use 4 cookie sheets if you have them- that way you're dropping dough while a pair is baking, and allowing  a few minutes to cool on the sheet before transferring to a rack. You'll run out of rack space quickly, so then move them again to another surface or storage. These freeze wonderfully, and can last some time frozen.

Ingredients:

1/2 lb (2 sticks) butter

2 1/3 c. brown sugar

2 c. white sugar

6 eggs

2 2/3 c. creamy peanut butter (you'll need a large jar, like Jiff or Skippy, not natural style)

1/2 Tbsp vanilla

1 Tbsp corn syrup

4 tsp baking soda

9 c. oatmeal (I use quick rolled outs, the better part of a large 42 oz container)

1/2 c. flour

8-12 oz chocolate chips

1 lb M&M's

Preheat oven to 350 (convection bake works well for this recipe).

Cream butter and sugars. Add eggs and blend. Add PB and blend, add everything except the chips and M&M's and blend. Add the chips and M&M's and blend just until combined. Drop in large (or very large) spoonfuls on cookie sheets (mine are about scant 1/4 c. per drop). Bake about 8-12 min or 8 min on convection (timing varies based on the size of the cookies, etc.) You want them chewy and not overbaked. Cool for a bit, or until you run out of space on the rack. We store these in 1 gallon ice cream buckets. Freezes well.

Makes about 112 large cookies,but I can't be certain, as there were cookie monsters around while I was baking the monster cookies.

Sane-version batch of Monster Cookies

The proportions of this recipe are slightly different than the version above, but I've tested this and it's good.

1 stick butter

1 c. brown sugar

1 c. white sugar

3 eggs

1 1/2 c. peanut butter

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp corn syrup

2 tsp baking soda

4 1/2 c. rolled oats

1 c. chocolate chips

1 c M&M's

Make as above.

Monster Bar Cookies 9X9

From here

1/2 cup salted butter, softened

1/4 cup peanut butter

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup rolled oats

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

3/4 cup m&m's

Instructions

Line a 9×9 pan with parchment paper and set aside.

Preheat oven to 350° F (180°C).

Cream together the butter, peanut butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar until smooth and creamy.

Add the eggs and vanilla. Mix until well combined.

Add the flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix until a sticky dough forms.

Lastly, mix in the chocolate chips and m&m’s.

Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and loosely press and pack the dough into the pan.

Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 25-30 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.