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Halloween Black Monster Cookies Recipe

Alright, friends—if you’re on the hunt for a show-stopping, spooky treat this season, you’ve got to try this Halloween Black Monster Cookies Recipe. These cookies are my absolute favorite for autumn gatherings because they’re as tasty as they are fun to make. Deep black dough dusted with wickedly fun sprinkles, packed with peanut butter chips, and topped off with those creepy candy eyeballs that everyone loves—how can you go wrong? Stick around and I’ll walk you through everything to help you nail these perfect monster cookies!

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Why This Recipe Works

  • Bold Black Cocoa Powder: Gives the cookies that dramatic black color and an intense chocolatey flavor that’s not bitter at all.
  • Creamy Peanut Butter Chips: Add a melty, nutty surprise inside every cookie bite—trust me, they’re addicting.
  • Simple Ingredient List: Uses common pantry staples with a Halloween twist, so no stress or specialty shopping required.
  • Fun, Festive Decorations: The candy eyeballs and sprinkles make these cookies irresistible and perfect for any Halloween party spread.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Halloween Black Monster Cookies Recipe plays an important role—you want that soft, chewy bite with rich chocolate flavor and just the right salty-sweet balance. I’ve included a few little tips to help you pick the best ingredients and get the most out of your baking.

  • Butter (salted or unsalted): I usually use unsalted so I can control the salt level, but salted works fine—just skip the added salt if using salted butter.
  • White sugar: Adds sweetness and helps the cookies spread just right; I always use regular granulated white sugar.
  • Brown sugar: This adds moisture and a deep caramel flavor to balance the cocoa’s bitterness.
  • Egg: Acts as the glue that holds everything together, plus adds richness and moisture.
  • Vanilla extract: Just a splash to enhance all the flavors—it’s my secret weapon in almost every cookie.
  • All-purpose flour: The backbone of the cookie, providing structure without weighing it down.
  • Black cocoa powder: This is what gives these monster cookies their eye-catching, inky black color and a bold chocolate punch.
  • Salt: Just a pinch rounds out the sweetness and balances the chocolate.
  • Baking soda: Gives a little lift and chewiness to the cookies—don’t skip this!
  • Halloween sprinkles: Adds festive pops of color and fun crunch; I always pick nonpareil style for their texture.
  • Halloween eye candies: The ultimate spooky touch, making these cookies stand out on any party table.
  • Peanut butter chips: Melty pockets of peanut butter goodness that complement the dark chocolate beautifully.
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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love tossing in a handful of extra peanut butter chips or swapping in mini chocolate chips for some variety. This Halloween Black Monster Cookies Recipe is super flexible, so don’t hesitate to play around with mix-ins or toppings that you and your crew prefer.

  • Variation: For a nut-free spin, I’ve swapped the peanut butter chips for white chocolate chips, creating a sweeter, less savory bite that kids rave over.
  • Seasonal Twist: Try swapping the Halloween sprinkles for autumn-themed ones if you want to keep these cookies out through Thanksgiving.
  • Dietary Modification: You can easily make these gluten-free by swapping the flour with your favorite gluten-free blend—just watch the dough texture and add a splash of milk if it feels too dense.
  • Difficulty: If you’re new to baking, don’t sweat it—these cookies are forgiving and come together quickly, making them ideal for last-minute Halloween baking sessions.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Halloween Black Monster Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Soften the butter and preheat your oven

First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). I usually set my timer so I don’t forget. While that’s warming up, take your butter out early so it’s nice and soft—this makes creaming it with your sugars so much easier, which is key for lovely fluffy cookies.

Step 2: Cream butter and sugars until fluffy

Grab a large bowl and beat the softened butter with both the white and brown sugar until it’s light and fluffy—about 2-3 minutes with a hand mixer or stand mixer. This step sets the stage for soft, tender cookies. Then add the egg and vanilla extract and mix until combined.

Step 3: Combine dry ingredients separately and mix into wet

In another bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, black cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Carefully fold this dry mix into your wet ingredients just until no flour streaks remain—overmixing can make cookies tough, and we don’t want that!

Step 4: Fold in festive sprinkles and peanut butter chips

Now for the fun part—fold in your Halloween sprinkles and the peanut butter chips. This adds that wonderful bit of crunch and surprise flavor everyone will ask about later.

Step 5: Scoop, bake, and add the spooky eyeballs

Using a small cookie scoop or two tablespoons, drop evenly sized balls of dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 8-9 minutes. Right as they come out of the oven (while still warm), press on a few candy eyeballs and extra peanut butter chips—this keeps them stuck perfectly in place without melting away.

Step 6: Cool and enjoy!

Let your cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 15 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. This helps them set up and keeps them chewy inside with a slight crisp on the edges. Grab a cold glass of milk or your favorite fall latte and enjoy your Halloween Black Monster Cookies!

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Tips from My Kitchen

  • Use Room Temperature Butter: This makes creaming the sugars easier and results in a lighter texture.
  • Don’t Overmix: Once you add the flour mixture, mix just until combined to keep your cookies soft and tender.
  • Add Eyes While Warm: Press on candy eyeballs right after baking so they stick without melting.
  • Let Cookies Cool On Sheet: This helps the cookies firm up and keeps them chewy on the inside.

How to Serve Halloween Black Monster Cookies Recipe

The image shows three round black cookies on a wooden board placed on a white marbled surface. Each cookie has small light brown peanut butter drops scattered on top and colorful small sprinkles in orange, yellow, and black. Two white candy eyes with black pupils are placed near the center of each cookie, creating a playful face. There are also plastic black spider decorations near the cookies adding a spooky theme. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Garnishes

I love using extra candy eyeballs and Halloween-themed sprinkles as garnishes—they make these cookies totally party-ready. You can also drizzle melted white chocolate for an extra spooky effect, like spider webs. It’s all about making the cookies fun to look at and eat!

Side Dishes

Pair these cookies with a warm cup of spiced cider or a frothy pumpkin spice latte for a perfect fall treat. If it’s a party, bowls of candy corn or popcorn sprinkled with cinnamon sugar are great sides to keep the Halloween vibe going.

Creative Ways to Present

For Halloween parties, I like arranging these black monster cookies on a tiered tray with fake spider webs and little plastic spiders for a fun “haunted” effect. You could also wrap individual cookies with clear cellophane and tie them with orange or black ribbons for cute party favors.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover Halloween Black Monster Cookies keep beautifully in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. I usually layer parchment paper in between them to prevent sticking and keep that perfect chewy texture intact.

Freezing

If you want to make these in advance, you can freeze the cookie dough balls on a baking sheet, then transfer them to a freezer bag after they’re solid. When you’re ready, bake straight from frozen—just add an extra minute or two to the bake time. The baked cookies also freeze well; just thaw them overnight in the fridge.

Reheating

To reheat, pop the cookies in the microwave for about 10 seconds or in a low-temperature oven (around 300°F) for 5 minutes. This revives their soft, gooey texture and brings back that just-baked warmth, making them taste fresh all over again.

FAQs

  1. Can I use regular cocoa powder instead of black cocoa powder?

    Yes, but keep in mind that regular cocoa powder won’t give you the deep, jet-black color of black cocoa, so your cookies will look more brown than black. The flavor will still be deliciously chocolatey.

  2. What if I don’t have peanut butter chips?

    No worries! You can substitute peanut butter chips with regular chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, or even butterscotch chips depending on your taste. Each brings a unique twist to the cookies.

  3. How do I prevent candy eyeballs from melting?

    Press candy eyeballs onto the cookies immediately after you remove them from the oven, while they’re still warm but not piping hot. If the cookies are too hot, the candies might melt; timing is everything here!

  4. Can I make these cookies dairy-free?

    Absolutely! Use dairy-free butter alternatives and check your peanut butter chips or replace them with dairy-free chips. Adjust baking times slightly and keep an eye on texture, as dairy substitutions can change moisture levels.

Final Thoughts

Honestly, this Halloween Black Monster Cookies Recipe is one of my most beloved festive treats because it’s ridiculously easy and always impresses. Whether you’re baking with kids, serving at a party, or just craving a spooky sweet fix, these cookies hit the spot every time. I can’t wait for you to try them out—and maybe even customize the mix-ins to your liking! Happy baking, and let those monster cookies bring some delicious Halloween magic to your kitchen.

Print
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Halloween Black Monster Cookies Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.5 from 50 reviews
  • Author: Lucy
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 9 minutes
  • Total Time: 24 minutes
  • Yield: 17 cookies
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

These Halloween Black Monster Cookies are rich, chocolatey treats packed with peanut butter chips, festive sprinkles, and spooky eyeball candies, perfect for a fun and delicious Halloween celebration.


Ingredients

Dry Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup black cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter, salted or unsalted, softened
  • 1/3 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Add-ins and Toppings

  • 1/4 cup Halloween sprinkles (nonpareil)
  • 3/4 cup peanut butter chips
  • Halloween eyeball candies


Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper, setting it aside for later.
  2. Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract and whisk well to combine.
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, mix the all-purpose flour, black cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
  4. Mix Dry Ingredients into Wet: Gradually add the dry flour mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing just until the flour mixture disappears and is fully combined.
  5. Add Sprinkles and Chips: Fold in the Halloween nonpareil sprinkles and the peanut butter chips evenly throughout the dough.
  6. Shape Dough and Bake: Using a small cookie scooper (approximately 2 tablespoons), scoop out equally sized dough balls and place them spaced apart on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 9 minutes.
  7. Add Toppings and Cool: Immediately after baking, press spooky eyeball sprinkles and extra peanut butter chips on top of the hot cookies. Let them cool on the baking sheet for 15 minutes to set before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
  8. Serve: Allow cookies to cool fully before serving, ideally enjoyed with a tall glass of cold milk or as a festive treat at your next Halloween party.

Notes

  • Use salted or unsalted butter based on preference; if using unsalted butter, adjust salt accordingly.
  • Black cocoa powder provides intense dark color and flavor; if unavailable, substitute with Dutch-processed cocoa powder for similar effect.
  • Chilling the dough before baking can help prevent spreading for thicker cookies, but is optional.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
  • For a nut-free option, substitute peanut butter chips with chocolate chips or other candy chips.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cookie
  • Calories: 160 kcal
  • Sugar: 12 g
  • Sodium: 100 mg
  • Fat: 8 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 20 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 2 g
  • Cholesterol: 25 mg

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