The Best Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies with M&M Candies

Written byMichelle Dickson Updated

Indulge in perfection with our Best Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies! Loaded with vibrant M&M candies, it’s a sweet sensation in every bite.

Hey there, fellow cookie connoisseurs!

Get ready for a flavor explosion that’s practically a celebration in every bite!

We’ve brought together the flavor of two fabulous cookies – peanut butter and oatmeal – to create a treat that’s not just delicious but downright legendary.

Peanut butter oatmeal cookies with M&M candies on a serving tray with red and green M&M candies.

These cookies are soft and chewy, and loaded with peanut butter flavor.

Peanut butter fans, you are going to LOVE these cookies!

They’re a full-blown party in your mouth.

Brace yourself for a cookie experience that’s not just fabulous but downright festive.

These heavenly cookies not only make your taste buds do a happy dance, but also serve as the perfect quick and easy gift for coworkers, friends and neighbors this Christmas.

Our Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies, with festive red and green M&M candies, are perfect to serve this Christmas.

They’re not just scrumptious – they’re the perfect quick and easy gift for your neighbors.

Peanut butter oatmeal cookies with M&M candies on a green plate.

And to make your generosity even more effortless, we’ve thrown in a cute printable gift tag.

Ready to be the star of the block?

Let’s get baking and spreading the joy!

How this Recipe Came About

In our family, love was often expressed with yummy food.

Every Sunday we would visit my grandma and she would spend the evening serving us delicious treats and at Christmas it was always her heavenly nuggot cookies or her cherry cheesecake.

Just thinking about it makes me want one of her tempting treats now!

And would you believe my grandma loved serving her family so much that she never taught my mom to cook or clean for that matter.

You may be wondering then how did your mom learn to be such an amazing cook as well.

It was a lot of trial and error on my mom’s part and a little help from my dad.

So this recipe for a soft peanut butter cookie originated from my mom, but I’ve tweaked it a bit, and I think it’s even better!

Here’s a little history on this cookie recipe, my mom and sister would bake these cookies weekly and sell them to our neighbors.

They were a big hit!

You see my sister was saving money to travel to Hong Kong and after a year of selling these cookies, my sister and mom were able to visit Hong Kong.

But back then, the recipe had no hint of chocolate, but I don’t think there’s a better combination that peanut butter and chocolate.

So I started experimenting with the recipe and I feel that this cookie recipe it better than ever!

I don’t know about you, but in our home peanut butter is a staple.

In fact, our favorite homemade ice cream recipe is my dad’s peanut butter banana.

So let’s get started baking these mouthwatering peanut butter oatmeal cookies.

Jump to Recipe
Ingredients for peanut butter oatmeal cookies with M&M candies, peanut butter, brown sugar, white sugar, flour, oats, salt, baking soda and M&M candies.

This soft peanut butter oatmeal cookie recipe uses pantry staples like all purpose flour, sugar and brown sugar.

Of course you’ll also need eggs, butter and peanut butter.

My personal preference is Kroger’s natural peanut butter, I feel it has a better peanuty taste.

However, any kind of peanut butter will do, from creamy to chunky, it’s all delish!

If you do choose a natural peanut butter, make sure that it is well incorporated first.

TIP: I actually take my natural peanut butter and mix the entire jar in my mixer and then store it in the fridge so it doesn’t separate.

One final crucial ingredient is oats.

For this recipe you’ll want to use old fashioned rolled oats.

The texture of quick oats doesn’t work well in this recipe and acts more like a flour instead of adding the chewy texture of a peanut butter oatmeal cookie.

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Cream Mixture

Start the magic by creaming together softened butter and sugars until the mixture turns light and fluffy.

This crucial step not only creates a smooth texture but also enhances the overall richness of the cookies.

Creamed butter, sugars, eggs and peanut butter in bowl of stand mixer.

Once your butter and sugar are completely blended, add the eggs to the mix one at a time, allowing each one to fully incorporate before adding the next.

This method ensures a uniform and well-balanced cookie dough, setting the stage for the perfect thick and chewy cookie.

Creamy peanut butter is added to the creamed butter and sugars.

And the finial ingredient to add to our creamy mixture is the peanut butter.

Beat until it’s light and fluffy.

Combine Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, gently whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt.

This is an important step to ensure that the baking soda and salt are distributed evenly throughout the peanut butter oatmeal cookie.

Flour, salt and baking soda in a stainless steel bowl are combined prior to adding to the creamed mixture.

Combine Two Mixtures

Now, it’s time to combine the flour mixture with the creamy peanut butter mixture.

Peanut butter oatmeal cookie dough in bowl of stand mixer.

Mix until it’s well combined.

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Rolled oats added the peanut butter cookie mixture.

And lastly add the rolled oats.

Fold in until they are incorporated.

Now at this point you can bake the cookies and have an amazing peanut butter oatmeal cookie, but to make this cookie really special we are adding red and green M&M candies.

This makes for a fun and festive cookie treat that’s perfect to gift your neighbors this Christmas.

And if you don’t want to use M&M candies, chocolate chips are a great alternative.

Red and green M&M candies are added to the peanut butter oatmeal cookies dough.

Gently fold in the M&M candies with a large wooden spoon or spatula so you won’t break the candies.

Bake Cookies

With the cookie dough now perfected, it’s time to shape these delights.

Peanut butter oatmeal cookie dough rolled into balls and placed on a cookie sheet prior to baking.

Scoop out portions of the dough and roll them into balls, I like to use a cookie scoop so they’re each uniform in size.

This will ensure that they will all bake evenly.

My scoop holds about 1 1/2 – 2 tablespoons of dough.

Place them on a baking sheet with just enough space to allow them to expand.

Preheat your oven to 350°F, and let these treasures bake for 12-15 minutes.

Peanut butter oatmeal cookies with M&M candies on a serving tray with red and green M&M candies.

As the aroma of peanut butter fills your kitchen, anticipate the moment when these golden-brown gems emerge, their edges perfectly crisp while maintaining a soft and chewy center.

Now you’re ready to enjoy and share this perfect peanut butter oatmeal cookie with M&M candies.

Another family favorite recipe we love during the holidays is my Mom’s English toffee, click here for the recipe, it’s irresistible!

For a quick and easy neighbor gift this year, we rolled the prepared cookie dough into logs and wrapped them with plastic wrap.

Peanut butter oatmeal cookie dough rolled into a log shape and wrapped with plastic wrap.

Then we wrapped them in cellophane and tied it with ribbon and attached a clever tag that reads: “There’s nuttin’ better than a little extra dough at Christmas!”

Peanut butter oatmeal cookies rolled into a dough log and wrapped in cellophane and tied with red bakers twine with a Christmas gift tag that reads: "There's nuttin' better than a little extra dough at Christmas!"

Each gift tag also includes the baking instructions.

Peanut butter oatmeal cookies rolled into a dough log and wrapped in cellophane and tied with red bakers twine with a Christmas gift tag that reads: "There's nuttin' better than a little extra dough at Christmas!"

And to make your gift giving a little easier this year, you can download this FREE PDF printable.

Just tap the button below and download it today!

FREE Printable Tag

Whether you want to save some dough for later or plan ahead for a sweet surprise, freezing your peanut butter oatmeal cookie dough is a breeze.

After rolling the dough into individual balls, place them on a parchment-lined tray, ensuring they’re not touching.

Pop the tray into the freezer until the dough balls are firm.

Once frozen, transfer them into an airtight container or a zip-top bag, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.

Now, you have a stash of cookie dough ready to go whenever a craving strikes.

When the time comes, simply preheat your oven, place the frozen dough balls on a baking sheet, and bake as directed, adding a couple of extra minutes to account for the chill.

Enjoy freshly baked cookies at your convenience – it’s like having a sweet surprise waiting in your freezer!

Frozen cookie dough will stay fresh in your freezer for about 90 days.

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More Sweet Treats You’ll Enjoy

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Peanut butter oatmeal cookies with M&M candies on a serving tray with red and green M&M candies.
Michelle

The Best Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies with M&M Candies

Indulge in perfection with our Best Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies! Delectable soft and chewy cookie filled with peanut butter goodness. Loaded with vibrant M&M candies, it's a sweet sensation in every bite. It's a quick and easy recipe that all peanut butter fans are sure to love!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 60 cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 c butter softened, room temperature
  • 1 c white sugar
  • 1 1/2 c brown sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 1/2 c peanut butter creamy or chunky
  • 3 c all purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 c old fashioned rolled oats
  • 2 c M&M Christmas candies optional, or use chocolate chips

Equipment

  • stand mixer This recipes makes a large batch and will require a stand mixer.

Method
 

  1. Cream together butter, white and brown sugar in a stand mixer.
    Then add in eggs one at a time and beat until well incorporated.
    Add peanut butter and beat until it is throughly mixed in.
  2. Combine flour, baking soda and salt.
  3. Add flour mixture to the creamed peanut butter mixture, stir until well combined.
  4. Add rolled oats, stir until well combined.
  5. By hand, fold in M&M candies.
  6. Take about 1 1/2 tablespoons of cookie dough and roll into a ball.
    Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Allow space for cookies to spread.
  7. Bake in a 350° oven for 12-15 minutes. Cookie will be slightly browned along the edge. Do not over-bake the cookie or it will loose it's yummy soft and chewing texture.
  8. This cookie dough can be frozen for up to 90 days. Form cookie dough into individual balls, freeze on a cookie sheet. When frozen take frozen cookie dough balls and place in a freezer bag. Or form dough into log shapes, wrap cookie dough in 3 layers of plastic wrap, making sure there is no air in the package. Thaw before forming cookies and baking. If baking frozen cookie dough balls, bake for an addition 2-3 minutes. Check often you do not want to over-bake the cookie.

Notes

To give this cookie dough at a gift, form into dough “logs” and roll in 3 layers plastic wrap. Attach tag with baking instructions.

As you savor the aroma of freshly baked peanut butter oatmeal cookies wafting through your kitchen, relish in the warmth of homemade goodness.

Whether enjoyed immediately or savored from the freezer at a later date, these cookies are a testament to the joy found in the art of baking.

So, share them with loved ones, savor them with a cup of hot cocoa, and revel in the delight of creating something truly special in your own kitchen.

Happy baking and even happier indulging!

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Are you ready to bake a batch of peanut butter oatmeal cookies?!

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PINTEREST IMAGE, PEANUT BUTTER OATMEAL COOKIES WITH M&M CANDIES, SPRINKLES WITH ADDITIONAL M&MS ON A WOOD TRAY

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I have always had a passion for transforming spaces and creating organized, functional homes. Even as a child, I loved rearranging furniture and decorating my childhood home. In fact my dad would comment he was afraid to come home from work and sit, for fear the furniture would be rearranged. I enjoy the challenge of turning ordinary items into extraordinary pieces, whether it’s a piece of furniture or an entire room. My creativity and attention to detail drive me to find unique ways to breathe new life into any space.

As a wife (to a supportive and patient husband, Steve), mother of three, and grandmother of five, I balance my love for home improvement with family life. I enjoy spending time outdoors, hiking, and exploring nature. I also frequent yard sales, thrift stores, and vintage markets, always on the lookout for my next project.

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2 Comments

    1. Michelle Dickson says:

      They are a favorite cookie around here. Thanks for the love, Merry Christmas!

      Reply

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