Big, chewy monster cookies with peanut butter, oats, chocolate chips, and colorful candies, featuring a delightful surprise stuffed inside. These Peanut Butter Cup Stuffed Monster Cookies are an absolute treat for your taste buds! Get ready to bake a batch of pure joy that will have everyone reaching for more.
Indulge in the Ultimate Cookie Experience: Peanut Butter Cup Stuffed Monster Cookies
While many might consider making these delightful cookies for festive occasions like Halloween, taking advantage of collected candies, let’s be honest: the magic of these Peanut Butter Cup Stuffed Monster Cookies transcends seasonal festivities. The irresistible combination of peanut butter cups and vibrant chocolate candies, key to these treats, is something we can (and do!) acquire from the store all year round. There’s truly no need to wait for trick-or-treating to enjoy the profound deliciousness that this recipe brings to your home. These cookies are a year-round celebration, perfect for satisfying any sweet craving, brightening a casual afternoon, or becoming the star of your next gathering.
In our household, a secret stash of peanut butter cups and colorful chocolate candies is always on hand. It’s a non-negotiable for those moments when a deep, chocolatey, and peanut buttery craving strikes. Beyond simply eating them out of the bag, I’ve discovered immense joy and satisfaction in incorporating these beloved treats into my baking. They add an extra layer of texture, flavor, and excitement to any dessert, transforming a simple baked good into something truly extraordinary. This commitment to keeping a well-stocked pantry is precisely what inspired the creation of these epic monster cookies.
The Irresistible Allure of Stuffed Monster Cookies
Monster cookies have long been a cherished family favorite, known for their substantial size and abundant mix-ins. So, when the idea sparked to elevate them further by stuffing them with creamy peanut butter cups, I knew there was no turning back. This was a baking mission I was determined to accomplish, and the results, I’m thrilled to report, were nothing short of “AMAZING!” The rich peanut butter oatmeal cookie dough, already packed with flavor and texture, combined with the gooey, melty center of a peanut butter cup, creates a symphony of taste that’s simply divine. It was an idea destined for deliciousness, and these cookies certainly deliver on that promise.
The name “monster cookies” often sparks curiosity, especially among younger bakers. My boys frequently ask why the cookies don’t actually look like monsters, a question that always brings a smile to my face. I enjoy explaining that they earn their monstrous moniker because they are, quite simply, monsters of cookies! They are wonderfully large, generously loaded with an abundance of delectable ingredients, and provide a satisfying, substantial bite that truly lives up to their name. It’s not about their appearance, but their sheer size and bountiful goodness that makes them “monstrous.”
Crafting Your Own Stuffed Cookie Masterpiece
The beauty of these Peanut Butter Cup Stuffed Monster Cookies lies not only in their incredible taste but also in the straightforward baking process. The dough comes together quickly, offering a delightful blend of peanut butter, oats, chocolate chips, and colorful candies. The real fun begins with the stuffing process, which is simpler than you might imagine. To encase the peanut butter cup, you’ll divide the dough into two equal portions for each cookie. Gently flatten two pieces of dough into round discs, placing one peanut butter cup in the center of one disc. Then, carefully cover it with the second disc of dough. With a little finesse, mold the dough around the peanut butter cup, ensuring the edges are securely sealed and the peanut butter cup is completely hidden within the cookie dough. This creates that wonderful surprise center that makes these cookies so special.
The assembly process, while tactile and enjoyable, is key to achieving that perfect stuffed cookie. The goal is to fully enclose the peanut butter cup so that when baked, it melts into a gooey, irresistible core without oozing out too much. This simple technique ensures every bite is filled with that decadent surprise. After a relatively quick bake, the anticipation builds as these magnificent cookies emerge golden brown and fragrant from the oven. Patience is a virtue here; allowing them to cool on the baking sheet for about 15 minutes is crucial. This cooling period helps them set, preventing them from crumbling when transferred, and ensures that the melted peanut butter cup has a chance to slightly firm up, making for an even more satisfying first bite.
Tips for Baking Perfection and Variations
To ensure your Peanut Butter Cup Stuffed Monster Cookies turn out perfectly every time, here are a few extra tips. Firstly, make sure your butter is truly softened, but not melted, for the best cookie dough consistency. Secondly, don’t overmix the dry ingredients once added; mix just until combined to keep the cookies tender. When pressing extra candies and chocolate chips onto the top before baking, do so gently. This not only enhances their appearance but also gives a hint of the deliciousness within. If you prefer a slightly crispier edge, bake them for the full 10 minutes; for a softer, chewier cookie, lean towards 8-9 minutes. For variations, consider using different types of chocolate chips (milk, dark, or white) or even adding chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts for an extra layer of crunch. You could also experiment with different mini chocolate candies or even substitute the peanut butter cups with other small, sturdy candies for a unique twist. These cookies are incredibly versatile!
A Dream Come True for Chocolate and Peanut Butter Lovers
For anyone who adores the classic combination of chocolate and peanut butter, these cookies are nothing short of a dream come true. The enjoyment begins the moment you lay eyes on these generously sized “monster” cookies, sparking immediate excitement. Then comes the glorious first bite: a soft, chewy, peanut-butter-rich oatmeal cookie, studded with vibrant candies and abundant chocolate chips. Just when you think it couldn’t get any better, your teeth sink into the ultimate surprise – a warm, melted, and luxuriously gooey chocolate peanut butter cup. It’s an explosion of textures and flavors; the chewiness of the oats, the creaminess of the peanut butter, the slight crunch of the candies, and the smooth, decadent melt of the chocolate cup. This is a cookie experience truly like no other, elevating the humble cookie to an art form.
From the bustling energy of family gatherings to the quiet comfort of a solitary sweet moment, these Peanut Butter Cup Stuffed Monster Cookies fit every occasion. They are fantastic as a dessert, a snack, or even packed in a lunchbox for a special treat. They also make wonderful homemade gifts, sure to impress anyone lucky enough to receive them. The blend of familiar ingredients with an unexpected twist makes them universally appealing and deeply satisfying. So, go ahead and embark on this delicious baking adventure. You won’t regret it! Happy baking, and even happier cookie enjoying!
xoxo,
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Peanut Butter Cup Stuffed Monster Cookies
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Author: Maegan – The BakerMama
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 25 mins
Yield: 18 cookies
Category: Dessert
Description
Big, chewy monster cookies full of peanut butter, oats, chocolate chips and colorful candies with a surprise peanut butter cup stuffed inside. These are the ultimate indulgence for any cookie lover!
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1–1/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1–1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup mini colorful button-shaped chocolate candies
- 18 snack-size milk chocolate peanut butter cups, unwrapped
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper or spraying lightly with a non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- In a medium-sized bowl, thoroughly whisk together the all-purpose flour, old-fashioned rolled oats, baking soda, and kosher salt. Set this dry mixture aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened unsalted butter, creamy peanut butter, and light brown sugar on medium speed until the mixture is light, fluffy, and smooth. Beat in the large eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture in the mixer, beating on low speed until they are just combined and no streaks of flour remain. Finally, fold in the chocolate chips and mini colorful button-shaped chocolate candies until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Using a two-tablespoon cookie scoop, measure out even portions of cookie dough. Take two equal scoops of dough and gently flatten each into a round disc in your palm. Place one unwrapped snack-size peanut butter cup in the middle of one flattened dough disc. Carefully place the second dough disc on top of the peanut butter cup. Use your hands to mold the dough around the peanut butter cup, gently pressing and sealing the edges until the peanut butter cup is completely enclosed and hidden within the cookie dough. Repeat this process with the remaining dough and peanut butter cups until all are used.
- Arrange the stuffed cookie dough balls a few inches apart on your prepared baking sheets. For an extra decorative touch and a hint of what’s inside, gently press a few additional colorful candies and chocolate chips onto the top of each cookie, if desired. Lightly flatten each cookie with the palm of your hand before baking to encourage even spreading.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the centers appear set. The exact baking time may vary depending on your oven. Once baked, remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool on the sheets for at least 15 minutes. This crucial cooling period allows the cookies to firm up and the melted peanut butter cup to slightly set, preventing them from falling apart when transferred. After 15 minutes, carefully transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.