Cookie Recipe for Neighbors

During our Pray For Your Neighbors Experience, we're sharing simple ways we serve and care for our neighbors.

For me, cookies are my love language! One way I love my neighbors is by praying for them by while I bake cookies to share with them.

Below you'll find a recipe for one of my favorite treats to bake: Monster Cookies! (thanks to Maria at twopeasandtheirpod.com for the recipe!)

Monster Cookies

Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Servings: 18

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter (at room temp)
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup M&M candies
• Flake sea salt (for sprinkling on cookies)

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two large baking sheets with Silpat baking mats or parchment paper. Set aside.
   
   
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the oats, flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
   
   
3. Using a stand mixer or hand-held mixer, beat the butter, peanut butter, and sugars together until creamy and smooth, on medium speed. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula, if necessary. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined.
   
   
4. Add in the dry ingredients and mix on low until just until they combine (don't over mix). Gently stir in the chocolate chips and M&M's.
   
   
5. Scoop the cookies into round balls, about 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie, and place on the prepared baking sheets, leaving 2 inches in between cookies. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly browned around the edges, but still soft in the middle.
   
   
6. Remove cookies from oven and sprinkle the cookies with sea salt. You can also gently press additional chocolate chips and M&M's on top of the cookies to make them look extra pretty! Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes or until set. When set, transfer cookies to a wire rack and cool completely.