• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About
  • Contact
Check out my cookbook

The Toasted Pine Nut

fun. flavorful. feel-good recipes.

  • Check out my cookbook!
  • Recipes
    • Dessert
      • Cookies
      • Bars & Brownies
      • Breads & Muffins
      • Cakes & Cupcakes
      • Pies & Crumbles
      • Candy
      • No Bake
    • Meal
      • Breakfast
      • Main Dishes
      • Appetizers
      • Sides
      • Snacks
      • Drinks
      • Salads
      • Sauces & Dips
      • Dessert
    • Diet
      • Gluten Free
      • Dairy Free
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
      • Egg Free
      • Kid Friendly
      • Low Carb
      • Nut Free
    • Meat
      • Fish & Seafood
      • Chicken & Poultry
      • Beef & Pork
      • Meatless
    • Method
      • Air Fryer
      • Slow Cooker
      • Instant Pot
      • Oven
      • Grill
      • Stovetop
    • Season
      • Spring
      • Summer
      • Fall
      • Winter
    • Recipe Filter
  • Shop
    • My Baking Mixes
    • Kitchen Essentials
    • Pantry Items
    • Kid Favorites
    • Photography
  • Cookbook
  • Videos
Home Recipes Desserts Cookies
★★★★★ 5 from 3 Reviews

Gluten Free Monster Cookies

52 min
GF Gluten-Free VG Vegetarian
Avatar by: Lindsay Grimes
December 13, 2020 (Updated: November 1, 2022)
Jump to Recipe
Leave a Comment

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

This is an overhead image of monster cookies laying on a white piece of parchment paper. The cookies have oats and M&Ms visible and are sprinkled with some salt. Text overlay reads "healthy monster cookies."
This is an overhead image of a monster cookie with M&Ms and oats with a bite taken out. The cookie lays on a piece of parchment paper. Text overlay reads "gluten free healthy monster cookies."
This is an overhead image of monster cookies laying on a white piece of parchment paper. The cookies have oats and M&Ms visible and are sprinkled with some salt.
The best and most outrageous monster cookie recipe! Your favorite oatmeal chocolate chip monster cookies are made healthy and gluten free!

I have a new love. And that love is for monster cookies. I took m first bite of these cookies and I just kept saying how outrageous and delicious and outrageously delicious they were.

These are such a fun treat to make for weekend snacking, or even for an after school treat. My boys love the colorful M&Ms and I’m not going to lie, I do too.

They are so hearty, have streams of melty chocolate throughout, are loaded with texture, and are so easy to customize to your own tastes or favorite mix-ins!

What are Monster Cookies?

Monster cookies are are chewy cookies loaded with goodies like oats, chocolate, M&Ms, nuts, and basically whatever you have on hand! Most Monster cookies are peanut butter based, but these homemade monster cookies are made without peanut butter.

What makes these monster cookies healthy?

They are refined sugar free! While most monster cookies use white and brown sugar, these cookies use coconut sugar which is less refined than traditional sugars. While you can

They are flourless! These cookies use almond flour which is just ground up almonds. The almond flour gives these cookies some extra protein and healthy fats.

This is an overhead image of a bunch of monster cookies with oats and M&Ms. The cookies lay on a white piece of parchment paper and are sprinkled with salt.

Ingredients and Substitutions for Gluten Free Monster Cookies:

This monster cookie recipes uses really simple ingredients that are easy to pick up at the store if you don’t already have them in. Below I’ll give you some ingredient substitutions and ways you can customize these cookies to make them your own!

  • unsalted butter: I love using butter as the base for my cookies, but feel free to use ghee, refined coconut oil, or your favorite vegan butter. Check out my favorite trick for How to Soften Butter!
  • coconut sugar: This is my personal fave for cookies but you can sub in another granular sugar or sweetener if you prefer.
  • egg: I’ve also made this recipe with a flax egg and it was AMAZING! If you’re out of eggs or don’t eat them, give a flax egg a try!
  • vanilla extract: for some warm and cozy cookie vibes.
  • blanched almond flour: gives these cookies some structure and is the base of this recipe. I haven’t tested it with another flour, so if you do any experimenting, let me know how it goes!
  • old fashioned rolled oats: gives these cookies such a delicious oaty texture!
  • baking soda
  • salt
  • chocolate chips: streams of melty chocolate chip puddles throughout this cookie. Drooling just thinking about it.
  • M&M candies: You can leave these out if you must but in my opinion the M&Ms make the monster cookie. You can have fun using different color M&Ms depending on the season! Think Fourth of July monster cookies, Christmas monster cookies and Easter monster cookies!
  • chopped pecans: I can’t believe how much amazingness these chopped pecans added to the cookies. You can sub in another nut or seed depending what you like and have on hand but the pecans… you guys, the pecans were amazing.

How to Make Gluten Free Monster Cookies:

The best part is how simple these are! You make these healthy monster cookies in one bowl. The hardest part is the 30 minute chill time before you bake them!

Mix together the softened butter, coconut sugar, egg, and vanilla until creamed together. Add the almond flour, oats, baking soda, and salt. Mix again until combined.

Then, add in the chocolate chips, chopped pecans and M&Ms. You’ll want to save a few M&Ms to press into the tops of the cookies. Fold everything together and then place into the fridge to chill for 30 minutes.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and use a cookie scooper to scoop out 8 cookie dough balls onto your piece of parchment paper.

I’ve made this recipe using a cookie scooper for smaller cookies and an ice cream scooper for larger cookies. In my opinion I think the smaller cookies were the better batch because they hold together best once the cookies have had time to cool.

Press the remaining M&Ms into the tops of each cookie. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are golden brown.

VERY IMPORTANT! Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10 – 15 minutes before you try to transfer them to a cooling rack. Right out of the oven the cookies will break apart if you try to remove them from the baking sheet. Allowing them to cool for 10 – 15 minutes makes for crispier edges and allows you to pick up the cookie without it falling apart.

This recipe makes 16 cookies total.

This is an overhead image of a monster cookie with M&Ms and oats with a bite taken out. The cookie lays on a piece of parchment paper.

How to store your cookies:

Pantry. Place them in an airtight container in your pantry for a few days. If you still have leftover cookies after a few days, you can transfer the cookies to the fridge.

Fridge. Keep your cookies in an airtight container or plastic bag in the fridge for about 7 days.

Freezer. The cookies can be frozen for up to two months. When you’re ready to eat them, allow them to defrost in the fridge overnight. Then, set them out on the counter and allow them to come to room temperature.

More healthier cookie recipes:

  • Gingerbread Oatmeal Cookies
  • Hot Cocoa Cookies
  • Pumpkin Roll Cookies
  • Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
  • Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
  • Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
  • Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Did you make this? Leave a review below and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!

This is an overhead image of gluten free monster cookies laying on a white piece of parchment paper. The cookies have oats and M&Ms visible and are sprinkled with some salt. Recipe
GF Gluten-Free VG Vegetarian

Healthy Gluten Free Monster Cookies

The best and most outrageous monster cookie recipe! Your favorite oatmeal chocolate chip monster cookies are made healthy and gluten free!

AvatarRecipe by:Lindsay Grimes
★★★★★ 5 from 3 reviews
Prep: 40 minCook: 12 minTotal: 52 min
Print recipe Rate recipe Pin Save recipe
Servings: 16 cookies 1x

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature or slightly softened and melted in the microwave
  • 1/2 cup coconut sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup blanched almond flour (How to Make Almond Flour)
  • 1 cup gluten free old fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup M&M candies
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • flakey finishing salt (optional)

Instructions

  1. Use an electric mixer or handheld whisk to cream together the softened butter, coconut sugar, egg, and vanilla in a large bowl.

  2. Add the almond flour, oats, baking soda, and salt.

  3. Mix again until combined.

  4. Add the chocolate chips, chopped pecans and M&Ms to the bowl. Save a few M&Ms to press into the tops of the cookies.

  5. Fold everything together and then place the cookie dough into the fridge to chill for 30 minutes.

  6. Preheat oven to 350F.

  7. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and use a cookie scooper to scoop out 8 cookie dough balls onto your piece of parchment paper.

  8. Press the reserved M&Ms into the tops of each cookie.

  9. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are golden brown.

  10. VERY IMPORTANT! Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 10 – 15 minutes before you try to transfer them to a cooling rack. 

  11. Sprinkle with flakey salt and enjoy!

Nutrition Info:

  • Serving Size: 1 cookie
  • Calories: 155
  • Sugar: 12.1g
  • Sodium: 164mg
  • Fat: 10.1g
  • Saturated Fat: 5.5g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 15g
  • Fiber: 0.8g
  • Protein: 1.7g
  • Cholesterol: 27mg
© The Toasted Pine Nut

Did you make this?

I love seeing what you made! Tag me on social @thetoastedpinenut

Rate recipe Tag me on Instagram
134 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Save
  • Email
overhead image of a gluten free sprinkle cookie with a bite taken out on a white counter

Never miss a recipe!

Join our pine nut family and get recipes delivered right to your inbox.

Join now!
15 no bake desserts

You May Also Like...

  • overhead image of ginger molasses cookies with a bite taken out
    Gluten Free Ginger Molasses Cookies
  • This is a side view of a stack of homemade chocolate sandwich cookies. The cookie sandwiches have a vanilla icing inside. The top cookie has a bite taken out. More cookies are blurred in the background.
    25+ Gluten Free Cookies
  • overhead image of a chocolate cookie with marshmallows on top and a bite taken out. cookie is on a white parchment paper and chopped chocolate scattered around the cookie.
    20-Min Fudgey Hot Cocoa Christmas Cookies

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment & Rate this Recipe Cancel reply

If you love this recipe it would mean SO MUCH to me if you give it a star rating and leave a comment about it. Not only do I love basking in the glory of your recipe love, but (perhaps more importantly 😋) it helps other readers find my recipes online. Thanks so much for your feedback!!

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

  1. AvatarLaura says

    Posted on 1/9/21 at 11:29 pm

    Oven temperature please?

    Reply
    • AvatarLindsay Grimes Freedman says

      Posted on 1/10/21 at 7:33 pm

      Sorry about that! It should be 350F 🙂

      Reply
  2. AvatarLauren Hobson says

    Posted on 2/23/21 at 4:46 pm

    Made these with my kids and WOW are they great. The pecans were a great crunch that is needed. My girls loved them and they are packed with yummy stuff. Perfect after school snack or with a glass of wine for momma!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  3. AvatarSarah says

    Posted on 6/18/21 at 12:53 pm

    I wanted a to make a dessert for a brunch I was having at my house but I knew one person was gluten free and I didnt want to leave her out. So I looked for a recipe that didnt have to many ingredients that I didnt already have. I used regular white granulated sugar instead of the coconut sugar. I did go buy almond flour but almond flour was the only ingredient I didnt already have. They came out great! And my friend was very excited that she was able to eat dessert with us. Thank you for this great easy recipe.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • AvatarLindsay Grimes Freedman says

      Posted on 6/18/21 at 1:55 pm

      Yay!! I’m so happy you found my recipe and your friend could enjoy dessert with you guys!! Sending you lots of love! xo

      Reply
  4. AvatarKim says

    Posted on 2/7/22 at 7:49 pm

    Wow so sorry, didn’t mean to do 3 stars on that last post.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • AvatarLindsay Grimes Freedman says

      Posted on 2/8/22 at 10:57 am

      haha no worries! Yes you can leave out the pecans 🙂

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Lindsay

Hi Friend!

I'm Lindsay I love sharing simple, better-for-you recipes. When I'm not in the kitchen, you can find me at the beach watching my kids boogie board and soaking in that warm Cali sun (with sunscreen, of course).

Read more...

Recipe Key

GF Gluten-Free DF Dairy-Free V Vegan VG Vegetarian EF Egg-Free NF Nut-Free P Paleo Browse All

Most Popular

This is a horizontal image of a hand with deep pink nail polish holding a chocolate quinoa crisp in between their thumb and pointer finger. More chocolate quinoa crisps are blurred in the background.

5-Min Crunchy Chocolate Quinoa Crisps

overhead image of a muffin tin filled with 12 raw eggs sprinkled with pepper

Perfect Oven-Baked Eggs in a Muffin Tin

This is a side view of a chocolate almond butter bar with a bite taken out of it. The bar sits on a white piece of parchment paper and is sprinkled with salt. More bars are blurred in the background.

No Bake Almond Butter Bars

Lemon & Avocado Kale Salad

Freebie alert!

Get My Free No Bake Desserts eBook!

Explore

More Cookies

This is an overhead image of a green matcha cookie with white chocolate chunks. A bite is taken out of the cookie and is sitting on a white piece of parchment paper. Another cookie is in the bottom right corner of the image.

Crisp & Gooey White Chocolate Matcha Cookies

This is an overhead image of a peanut butter cookie with a bite taken out of it. The cookie is topped with colorful marshmallows and leaning against another cookie. The cookies sit on a white piece of parchment paper.

Peanut Butter Lucky Charms Cookies

This is an overhead view of biscotti dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with chopped hazelnuts. The biscotti lays on a white piece of parchment paper on a cooling rack. The cooling rack sits on a white surface. One biscotti is to the right side of a cooling rack on the white surface. Some chopped hazelnuts are on the surface next to the biscotti.

Chocolate Hazelnut Gluten Free Biscotti

This is an overhead image of a cooling rack coming from the lefthand side of the image. The cooling rack sits on a light grey surface with a white piece of parchment paper on top. On the parchment paper is six lofthouse cookies with pink and light green icing and rainbow sprinkles. The cookie to the top left has a bite taken out of it.
★★★★★

Soft-Baked Lofthouse Sugar Cookies

Browse All
15 No bake desserts

Download my FREE No Bake Dessert Ebook!

As seen on:

Food Network
Shape
Men's Health
NBC
Kitchn
Glamour
  • Browse by Diet
    • Gluten Free
    • Dairy Free
    • Vegan
    • Egg Free
    • Low Carb
    • Recipe Filter
  • Explore Resources
    • FAQ
    • My Baking Mixes
    • Cookbook
    • Shop Favorites
    • Web Stories
    • Meet Lindsay
Follow

@thetoastedpinenut

Accessibility

Privacy Policy

Disclaimer

Contact

© 2023 The Toasted Pine Nut
|
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled Support by Foodie Digital
Back to Top
134 shares