Gluten-free Oatmeal Monster Cookies (flourless)
gluten-free | tree nut free
by Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | July 13, 2023
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If anyone asks me what my favorite cookie is, these gluten-free oatmeal monster cookies will always be my answer! Peanut butter and oats are two of my favorite dessert ingredients, and let’s not forget all the delicious goodies I can add to these cookies. They are super easy to make and I definitely have the recipe down by heart for as many times as I have made them! These cookies are a staple in my freezer, probably the only time I don’t have a stash of them in my freezer is around Christmas time when I’m busy enjoying Christmas cookies. Although, after Christmas, I always look forward to whipping up a batch of these cookies to enjoy my favorite cookie again!

gluten-free oatmeal peanut butter cookies on a parchment paper lined baking sheet

Modern Pioneer Recipe

These gluten-free oatmeal monster cookies are definitely a modern pioneer recipe. Yes, the early pioneers did make cookies, but I don’t think they were monster oatmeal cookies. As a modern pioneer though, I enjoy making and eating this delicious modern pioneer dessert.

Despite being a dessert, these cookies are still made using simple, wholesome (and do I dare say nutritious?) ingredients. They are allergy-friendly, made from scratch, and are one of the more healthier cookie recipes that you can make!

All of the ingredients are gluten-free and either low inflammation or contain anti-inflammatory properties. The sugar that I used in these cookies is natural and slow metabolizing, so it is less likely to cause a blood sugar spike. There is no flour in these cookies, instead they are packed with protein-rich peanut butter and gluten-free whole oats.

As for allergy friendly, these gluten-free oatmeal monster cookies are:

gluten-free
tree nut free
dairy-free option
corn free
refined sugar free

the modern pioneer checklist challenge free printable

monster cookies made with Unreal chocolate gems and chocolate chunks

Why These are the Best Cookies…

What’s better than a cookie? Well, a monster cookie of course! Full of protein-packed oats and peanut butter, and low in sugar, these cookies make a perfect dessert, snack, or breakfast (ignore that last one.) And on top of all that, they are super easy to make!! They whip up really quick and cook in minutes.

The recipe is super customizable, so you can make them monster size (hence the name), regular size (boring), or mini size (cute, but not necessary). You can also fill them with whatever goodies you like! Stick to traditional chocolate chips, or throw in other allergy-friendly treats!

These truly are the best cookies, in my opinion! However…. if you aren’t sold on these cookies or are just interested in what other cookies you can compare these wonderful cookies to, then check out these allergy-friendly cookie recipes:

two gluten-free oatmeal monster cookies on a plate

Favorite Monster Cookie Fillings

While chocolate chip oatmeal peanut butter cookies are delicious, and these monster cookies are definitely just as good no matter what they have in them, I sometimes like to go the extra mile and add some favorite additional fillings!

With these monster cookies, you can throw just about anything sweet, delicious, and candy-like into them and they will be delicious! Here are a few of my favorite fillings that I like to add to my monster cookies:

Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips– dairy free, but they do contain cane sugar
Lily’s chocolate chips– sugar free!!
Lily’s chocolate bars– sugar free or low in sugar
Unreal chocolate gems– contain dairy and cane sugar but are definitely a more natural alternative to M&M candies
Enjoy Life mega chunks– dairy free, but they do contain cane sugar
Dandies mini marshmallows– corn free, but contain cane sugar
Enjoy Life gluten-free white chocolate chips– gluten free, but made with cane sugar
Organic raisins or other dried fruit– make sure you buy the kinds that don’t have added sugar

These cookies could be made into an energy-filled snack (include raisins, chocolate gems, and mini chocolate chips), a delicious dessert (add marshmallows and mega chunks), or they could even become an easy breakfast option (use raisins, dried fruit, and Lily’s sugar free chocolate chips)! Customizable? You bet!

gluten-free oatmeal peanut butter flourless cookies made with Unreal gems and chocolate chunks

Storing Monster Cookies

This monster cookie recipe does make a fairly large batch, considering you are making monster cookies after all! If you make the cookies into regular size cookies, you will have even more cookies to deal with! While it may be very tempting, I can guarantee you won’t be able to eat this whole batch at one time. Thus, you should have some storing options on hand.

Before you store these cookies, make sure they are completely cooled. Gluten-free oatmeal monster cookies can then be stored at room temperature, kept in the fridge, or frozen. Always keep them stored in an airtight container. At room temperature, these cookies will be fine for 2-3 days. In the fridge, they will last for longer, up to a week.

However, my favorite option is keeping them in the freezer. As soon as my monster cookies are cool enough to be stored, in the freezer they go! There’s nothing better than a delicious, cold monster cookie!

In my house, we keep a cookie bin in the freezer that we can store any cookies that we bake in that bin. Whenever we need to satisfy our sweet tooth, we just check the cookie bin! Having a cookie bin in the freezer keeps us from having to eat all the fresh cookies before they go bad and allows us to have cookies on hand for when we are too busy to bake some!

oatmeal peanut butter cookies made with chocolate chips, chocolate chunks, and Unreal chocolate gems

Monster Cookie Recipe Tips

These gluten-free oatmeal monster cookies are super easy to make. They require minimal dishes, the ingredients are ones that you probably already have on hand, and due to their monster size, they don’t take long to form and bake! I’ve made this recipe so many times, I can do it by memory.

Here are a few tips and tricks I have learned along the way:

Dairy-free Option– You can use coconut oil or a dairy-free butter substitute instead of butter to make dairy-free monster cookies.
Butter Consistency– The butter (or coconut oil) does not have to be completely melted, however having the butter at least mostly melted will make the batter easier to work with.
Room Temperature– Using room temperature ingredients makes everything combine much easier!
Sweetener Subs– You can substitute honey instead of maple syrup, however, the cookies won’t be as sweet.
Nut Butter Options– The more the merrier with the peanut butter! Feel free to be liberal with the peanut butter amount! Or you can use your favorite nut or seed butter, like cashew butter or sunflower butter.
Coconut Free- You can leave out the shredded coconut and replace it with more oats if you want.
Cookie Shaping– I like to use a tablespoon or my hands to flatten out the cookies before I bake them.
Refined Sugar Free– To keep these cookies free from refined sugar, use Lily’s Sweets chocolate chips or chocolate bars!

gluten-free peanut butter oatmeal cookies

I hope you give these delicious gluten-free oatmeal monster cookies a try! Use gluten-free oats, organic peanut butter (no sugar added), pasture-raised eggs, grass-fed butter, and sugar free chocolate chips to turn these cookies into a delicious AND healthier dessert!

Gluten-free Oatmeal Monster Cookies

Recipe by The Pioneer Chicks

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 9

Total Time 24

Servings 2 dozen

Author Alexa Lehr

Ingredients

1/2 cup organic grass-fed butter, melted
1/2 cup organic coconut palm sugar
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
2 large organic, pasture-raised eggs
1 cup organic peanut butter no sugar added
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
3 cups Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free rolled oats
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
3/4 cup chocolate chips
3/4 cup favorite add-ins or more chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350° F. Line two cookie sheets with unbleached parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, eggs, coconut sugar, maple syrup, and peanut butter. Mix well, using hand held beaters or a spatula.
Next, add the vanilla, baking soda, baking powder, and oats. Beat or stir these in well. Once your batter is thoroughly mixed, add in the chocolate chips, shredded coconut, and any other extras you desire. Mix thoroughly.
Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to scoop out the cookies. Two heaping scoops are needed to get the cookies to monster status.
Gently spread the cookie dough to form a circle on the baking sheet. They don't need to be too flat, as they will spread and rise slightly while baking. I fit about 6 cookies on a large sheet pan.
Bake for 10-12 minutes or until brown around the edges. Let cool for 5 minutes before moving to a cooling rack. Enjoy!

Where to Find the Ingredients:

two gluten-free monster cookies on a plate

If I haven’t already mentioned it enough, these gluten-free oatmeal monster cookies are the best cookies ever! Protein-rich peanut butter, anti-inflammatory oats, healthy but delicious fillings… how could you go wrong? I almost always have a stash of these cookies in my freezer, and although they may not be monster size all the time, they are still my favorite go-to cookie for a sweet and healthier homestead dessert!

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