Momma Lori's Family Favorite Monster Christmas Cookie Recipe-Made with Jiff Peanut Butter and M & M

Merry Christmas My Beautiful Friends!

I don't know about you and your friends, but for me and mine it has gotten harder and harder as the years have gone by to think of gifts to give them. Most of my friends and family members are at a place in their lives were they are financial stable enough to get whatever they want, so it's hard to buy them something that they haven't already purchased for themselves.

After years of finding my gifts in the "hand-me-down" bag to their younger brothers or seeing my well thought out gift still in the box in the back of the closet when I went to go hang my coat up the next year at the Christmas party I decided I needed to make a change to my gift giving routine. But what? While I was thinking about it I went about my yearly routine of making my Christmas cookies and delivering them to my work family and bio-family.

A few days later I started getting all this feedback from my friends and even their family members (a few of the ladies had taken some cookies home and their husbands had gotten into them. One husband told my friend that she needed to tell me I should be selling my Christmas cookies,that's how good they were-WOW!). People started requesting cookies and asking when I was going to bring some more in and that's when it hit me-Hey that can be your gift to your friends and family! And a tradition was born ;)

I can't even begin to tell you how happy it makes me to see the excitement on their faces when they see the cookies and the smiles when they taste the yummy goodness. What greater gift could I possibly get then knowing that something so simple that I did, as making a cookie, brought so much joy. Each year I try to add a new flavor of cookie to my list and a few new people too.

My gift to you is to share with you over the next few weeks some of my most popular cookie recipes, so you can give them a try and bring some happiness to your friends and family. (Sorry my most popular of all are my Orange Cookies but that is my own personal recipe and it will remain a secret).

Let's kick things off with one of my kids favorite cookies and it's a recipe that makes a lot of cookies, so you'll have plenty to share.

                  MONSTER COOKIES

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1  12 ounce jar creamy peanut butter
• 1 stick butter, softened
• 1/2 cup multi-colored chocolate candies (M&M)
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 4 1/2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal (not instant)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
2. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or nonstick spray.
3. In a very large mixing bowl, combine the eggs and sugars. Mix well.
4. Add the salt, vanilla, peanut butter, and butter. Mix well.
5. Stir in the chocolate candies, chocolate chips, baking soda, and oatmeal.
6. Drop by Tbsp 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.
7. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Do not overbake.
8. Let stand for about 3 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool. 
9. ENJOY!