Ultimate Gluten-Free Monster Cookies: Soft, Chewy, and Absolutely Delicious!

These Gluten-Free Monster Cookies are a revelation! Crafted with clever swaps like solid coconut oil instead of butter and quick oats combined with creamy peanut butter replacing traditional flour, they deliver an irresistibly soft, perfectly chewy texture and a burst of classic monster cookie flavor. You won’t believe they’re gluten-free, and they can easily be made dairy-free too!

A Personal Note from the Author

Soft, Chewy, Chocolatey… and Totally Gluten-Free Perfection!

As someone from a large family where many members have embraced gluten-free or dairy-free lifestyles, I’ve always made it a point to ensure everyone can enjoy delicious food when I host. The joy of sharing a meal, or in this case, a sweet treat, is incredibly important to me, and dietary restrictions shouldn’t diminish that experience. It’s a culinary challenge I genuinely love to take on, ensuring no one feels left out from the deliciousness.

After preparing a batch of my beloved classic M&M cookies, I was inspired to create a gluten-free equivalent that was just as satisfying – a true monster cookie experience without the gluten. The goal was simple yet ambitious: craft a cookie so utterly delightful that no one would guess it was missing gluten, or even traditional butter!

Starting with my tried-and-true traditional recipe as a foundation, I embarked on a delightful baking journey. It took five batches and numerous careful tweaks – adjusting ratios, experimenting with textures, and refining flavors – to achieve what I proudly call the most delicious gluten-free monster cookies ever. The result? Cookies that vanish from the platter just as quickly as their conventional counterparts, proving that gluten-free can be utterly irresistible and incredibly indulgent!

Why You’ll Adore These Gluten-Free Monster Cookies

Forget dry, crumbly, or bland gluten-free alternatives! These monster cookies defy all expectations, offering a truly indulgent experience that will satisfy even the most discerning palates. Here’s why this recipe will quickly become your new favorite:

• Unbeatably Soft & Chewy Texture: Achieving the perfect texture in gluten-free baking can be a challenge, but these cookies nail it every time. They remain wonderfully tender and perfectly chewy for days, a hallmark of a truly great cookie.
• Bursting with Classic Monster Cookie Flavor: Loaded with rich, creamy peanut butter, sweet brown sugar, hearty oats, and an abundance of colorful M&M’s and decadent chocolate chips, every single bite is a symphony of flavors and textures.
• Naturally Flourless & Gluten-Free: By ingeniously utilizing quick oats and peanut butter as the primary base ingredients, we naturally eliminate the need for wheat flour. This makes them inherently accessible and safe for those with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease (just remember to use certified gluten-free oats).
• Easily Dairy-Free Adaptable: With solid coconut oil expertly replacing butter, this recipe is incredibly simple to adapt for a completely dairy-free diet. Simply choose your favorite dairy-free chocolate chips and ensure your M&M’s are dairy-free (or swap them for other dairy-free candy-coated chocolates).
• Surprisingly Simple & Straightforward: Despite their gourmet taste and impressive texture, these cookies are surprisingly easy to whip up. They require minimal chilling time and rely on common pantry ingredients you likely already have on hand, making them perfect for a quick baking session.
• A Crowd-Pleaser for All: These cookies are so delicious, they appeal to everyone, not just those with dietary restrictions. They’re perfect for parties, lunchboxes, or simply enjoying with a glass of milk (or plant-based milk!).

Essential Ingredients for Your Gluten-Free Monster Cookies

Crafting the perfect gluten-free monster cookie starts with understanding each ingredient and its specific role in achieving that incredible taste and texture. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need and expert tips for each component:

Simple Steps to Bake Perfect Gluten-Free Monster Cookies

Follow these easy, step-by-step instructions to create the most delectable gluten-free monster cookies right in your kitchen, ensuring a perfect batch every time:

1. Prepare Your Oven and Baking Sheet: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures the oven is at the correct temperature when your cookies are ready to bake. Next, line a large baking sheet with either parchment paper or a high-quality silicone baking mat. This crucial step is vital for promoting even baking, preventing the cookies from sticking, and making cleanup a breeze. Set the prepared sheet aside.
2. Cream the Wet Ingredients: In a spacious mixing bowl, combine the creamy peanut butter, the lightly packed light brown sugar, and the solid (unmelted) coconut oil. It’s important that your coconut oil is firm, similar to softened butter, for proper emulsification. Use a hand mixer to beat these ingredients together until the mixture is beautifully smooth, light, and creamy. This can take a few minutes.
3. Incorporate Remaining Wet and Dry Bases: Next, add the large egg, the extra egg yolk (for that exceptional chewiness!), baking soda, salt (remembering to adjust if you plan on adding flaky sea salt later), and vanilla extract into the peanut butter mixture. Continue to mix thoroughly with the hand mixer until all these ingredients are well combined and evenly distributed throughout the dough. Ensure there are no streaks of unmixed ingredients.
4. Fold in the Delicious Dry Mix-Ins: Gently, yet thoroughly, stir in the quick oats, your chosen chocolate chips, and the colorful M&M’s. Continue to beat with the hand mixer on a low speed, or use a sturdy spoon, until all the mix-ins are fully and evenly incorporated into the dough. Be careful not to overmix at this stage; mix just enough to combine everything without developing the oats too much.
5. Crucial Dough Chilling Step: This step is often overlooked but is incredibly important for “flourless” cookies! Chill the prepared cookie dough for at least 10 minutes in the refrigerator. This brief chilling period allows the coconut oil to solidify slightly and gives the oats a chance to absorb some moisture. This process helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking, ensuring they hold their perfect shape and retain that desirable chewiness. Do not skip this for the best results!
6. Shape the Cookies Evenly: Using a standard cookie scoop (approximately 3 tablespoons or about 2 ounces of dough per cookie), portion out even-sized balls of dough. Using a scoop ensures all your cookies bake uniformly. Place the dough balls onto your prepared baking sheet, making sure to leave ample space (about 2-3 inches) between each, as these cookies will spread a bit during baking. You should typically fit 6-8 cookies per standard sheet pan.
7. Bake to Perfection: Transfer the baking sheet to your preheated oven and bake for 9-12 minutes. The cookies are ready when their edges are just beginning to turn a light golden brown, and the centers still look slightly soft and perhaps a little underbaked. Remember, it’s always better to underbake these monster cookies slightly. This is the secret to maintaining their signature incredibly soft and wonderfully chewy texture. Overbaking will result in a drier, harder, and less enjoyable cookie.
8. Cool and Finish Properly: Once baked, carefully remove the cookies from the oven. Allow them to set and firm up on the hot baking sheet for 2-3 minutes. This crucial resting period on the warm pan allows them to become stable enough to handle without breaking apart. After this initial cooling, gently transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. This ensures air circulation, preventing soggy bottoms.
9. Optional Flaky Sea Salt Touch: If desired, immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, while they are still warm, sprinkle a tiny pinch of flaky sea salt evenly over the tops of each cookie. This small addition provides a fantastic contrast to the sweetness and truly elevates the overall flavor profile, adding a gourmet finish.

Expert Tips for Flourless Monster Cookie Success

Mastering these gluten-free monster cookies is easy with a few key baking insights. Keep these expert tips in mind for consistently perfect results:

• Accurate Measuring is Key: In baking, precision matters, especially with “flourless” recipes. For ingredients like quick oats and brown sugar, accurate measurements make a huge difference in the final texture. To measure dry ingredients correctly, spoon the ingredient loosely into your measuring cup and then level it off with a straight edge (like the back of a knife). This prevents overpacking and ensures you’re using the right amount. Learn more about proper baking measurements here.
• Do Not Skimp on Chilling Time: While only 10 minutes, this brief chilling period in the refrigerator is absolutely essential for the dough to firm up and for the coconut oil to re-solidify slightly. This directly impacts how much your cookies spread during baking, ensuring they bake into thick, wonderfully chewy delights instead of thin, flat puddles. It’s a small step with a big impact!
• Utilize a Quality Baking Liner: Silicone baking mats (such as Silpat) or parchment paper are your best friends when baking these delicate cookies. They promote incredibly even baking, prevent the bottoms from burning, and most importantly, make transferring the warm, delicate cookies from the hot sheet pan much easier without breakage. As an added bonus, cleanup becomes an absolute breeze!
• Press Extra Toppings for Bakery-Style Appeal: For that irresistible, “bakery-style” look and to ensure an abundance of chocolatey goodness in every single bite, gently press a few extra chocolate chips and M&M’s onto the tops of the warm cookies immediately after they come out of the oven. This little trick makes them visually stunning and even more tempting.
• Patience During Cooling is a Virtue: These cookies are delightfully soft and delicate when they are hot, straight out of the oven. It is critical to allow them to cool on the baking sheet for at least 2-3 minutes before attempting to move them to a wire rack. This crucial resting period allows them to set and firm up just enough to prevent them from falling apart when handled.
• Room Temperature Eggs Make a Difference: As mentioned in the instructions, ensuring your large egg and egg yolk are at room temperature is important. Room temperature eggs emulsify much better with fats and sugars, leading to a smoother, more uniform dough and ultimately contributing to a superior final texture for your baked cookies. Plan ahead and take them out of the fridge about 30 minutes before you start baking.

Delicious Variations to Try

Once you’ve mastered the classic gluten-free monster cookie, feel free to get creative and experiment with these delightful variations to customize your batch:

• Nut Butter Swaps: While peanut butter is traditional, try swapping it with almond butter, cashew butter, or even sunflower seed butter for a nut-free option (be aware that sunflower seed butter can sometimes cause a green discoloration when reacting with baking soda, though it’s harmless). Each will impart a unique flavor profile.
• Chocolate Galore: Mix in different types of chocolate chips – white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, or even finely chopped chocolate bars (milk, dark, or flavored). You can also use mini chocolate chips for a finer texture.
• Add Crunch with Nuts: For an added layer of texture and nutty flavor, fold in a handful of toasted chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds.
• Sweet & Tangy Dried Fruit: A small handful of dried cranberries, raisins, or chopped dried cherries can provide a wonderfully chewy, tart contrast to the sweetness of the cookies.
• Spice It Up: Introduce warm spices like a pinch of cinnamon, a tiny bit of pumpkin pie spice, or even a dash of nutmeg to add a cozy, aromatic note to your cookies, especially during cooler months.
• Candy Alternatives: If M&M’s aren’t your preference or you need a specific dietary alternative, consider other small, colorful candies or even chopped up candy bars that fit your needs.

Explore More Irresistible Gluten-Free Delights:

If you’ve fallen in love with these gluten-free monster cookies, you’re in for a treat! Discover more of our favorite gluten-free recipes that are equally delicious, satisfying, and easy to make:

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars based on 4 votes.

Gluten-Free Monster Cookies Recipe

By Chelsea Lords

These Gluten-Free Monster Cookies are a delightful and healthy twist! Made with wholesome ingredients like coconut oil, quick oats, and creamy peanut butter instead of traditional flour and butter, they are incredibly soft, chewy, and packed with flavor. You won’t believe they’re gluten-free or dairy-free (if using appropriate mix-ins)!

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Chilling Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: 14 cookies

Equipment

• Large sheet pan (15″ x 21″)
• Parchment paper or silicone baking mat
• Hand mixer
• Cookie scoop (optional, but highly recommended for even sizing)

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup light brown sugar lightly packed
• 3 tablespoons coconut oil firm, unmelted
• 1 large egg
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/4 cups quick oats certified gluten-free, not instant, steel-cut or old-fashioned
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips semi-sweet, milk, or dark (use dark chocolate for a healthier substitution; ensure dairy-free if needed)
• 1/2 cup M&M’s (ensure dairy-free if needed)
• Flaky sea salt optional, for sprinkling on top

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat and set it aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the creamy peanut butter, light brown sugar, and solid (unmelted) coconut oil. Use a hand mixer to beat these ingredients until they are smooth and well combined.
3. Add the large egg, egg yolk, baking soda, salt (if not using flaky sea salt later), and vanilla extract. Mix well until everything is thoroughly incorporated.
4. Stir in the quick oats, chocolate chips, and M&M’s. Continue to beat with the hand mixer until all the mix-ins are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
5. Chill the cookie dough for at least 10 minutes. This step is important to prevent excessive spreading during baking and helps the cookies maintain their shape and chewiness.
6. Using a cookie scoop (about 3 tablespoons or 2 ounces of dough per cookie), roll the dough into balls and place them on the prepared sheet pan. Leave about 2-3 inches of space between each cookie, as they will spread while baking. You should fit 6-8 cookies per sheet.
7. Bake for 9-12 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to turn golden brown and the centers still look slightly soft. Avoid overbaking to ensure the cookies remain soft and chewy.
8. Allow the baked cookies to set on the sheet pan for 2-3 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents them from breaking apart.
9. If desired, immediately sprinkle a tiny bit of flaky sea salt on top of the warm cookies for an enhanced flavor contrast.

Recipe Notes

• Oats Note: For genuinely gluten-free cookies, ensure your quick oats are certified gluten-free. Do not use instant, old-fashioned, or steel-cut oats in this recipe as their different textures and absorption rates will negatively impact the final cookie.
• Storage Instructions: Store completely cooled Gluten-Free Monster Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For optimal freshness and texture, they are best enjoyed within the first 1-2 days.
• Freezing Instructions: For longer storage, flash freeze the cooled cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet until solid (about 30 minutes). Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe airtight bag or container for up to 3 months. You can bake them straight from frozen by adding 2-3 minutes to the baking time, or thaw them at room temperature before enjoying.

Nutrition Information

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation. Exact values may vary based on ingredients and preparation.

• Serving: 1 cookie
• Calories: 260 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 30g
• Protein: 6g
• Fat: 14g
• Saturated Fat: 6g
• Cholesterol: 31mg
• Sodium: 192mg
• Potassium: 153mg
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugar: 23g
• Vitamin A: 59 IU
• Calcium: 38mg
• Iron: 1mg