Name: Halloween Black Monster Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 9 min
Total time: 24 min
Cuisine: American
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; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 2/3 cup black cocoa powder; 1/4 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/4 cup Halloween sprinkles; Halloween eye candies; 3/4 cup peanut butter chips

Jump to Recipe· 4.5 from 50 reviews

If you’re looking to wow at your next spooky bash, I’ve got just the treat for you: a Halloween Black Monster Cookies Recipe that’s as fun to make as it is to eat. These cookies pack a punch with their rich black cocoa base, crunchy peanut butter chips, and colorful Halloween sprinkles that bring out your inner kid. Trust me, whether you’re baking with little monsters or just love seasonal sweets, this recipe will become your new Halloween classic.

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Why This Recipe Works

Deep, Bold Flavor: The black cocoa powder gives these cookies an intense chocolate flavor and that gorgeous dark color perfect for spooky vibes.
Texture Contrast: Peanut butter chips add a creamy, nutty crunch making every bite interesting and satisfying.
Festive Fun: Halloween sprinkles and eyeball candies create playful, creepy accents that make these cookies instantly party-ready.
Simple & Quick: With minimal ingredients and a straightforward method, these cookies are beginner-friendly but still super impressive.

A close-up of a dark black cookie with a rough texture, showing chocolate chips and orange, yellow, and red small sprinkles scattered on top. The cookie has two white candy eyes placed near the center, giving it a playful look. One side of the cookie has a big bite taken out of it, showing the thick cookie layer beneath. The cookie rests on a white marbled surface, with a small black plastic spider nearby. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Halloween Black Monster Cookies Recipe has its role in turning out just the right balance of flavor, texture, and spooky charm. I recommend getting good-quality black cocoa and fresh peanut butter chips for the best results.

Butter (salted or unsalted): Softened butter keeps the cookies tender and flavorful; salted adds a slight savory balance but unsalted lets you control salt precisely.
White sugar: Adds sweetness and helps cookies crisp slightly around the edges.
Brown sugar: Gives moisture and that chewy, caramel-like depth you want in monster cookies.
Egg: Binds everything together and adds richness.
Vanilla extract: Enhances all the other flavors and adds warmth.
All-purpose flour: Forms the structure – measure carefully for perfect texture.
Black cocoa powder: The star ingredient that creates the dark black color and rich chocolate profile.
Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances flavors.
Baking soda: Helps cookies spread and rise properly for that monster cookie shape.
Halloween sprinkles: Fun bursts of color and crunch that make these cookies festive.
Halloween eye candies: That creepy, adorable detail that turns these cookies into real monsters!
Peanut butter chips: Offers creamy pockets of peanut buttery goodness in every bite.

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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.

Tweak to Your Taste

I love how versatile this Halloween Black Monster Cookies Recipe is — it’s such an easy canvas for adding your twists. Feel free to swap in other add-ins or adjust sweetness depending on what your crew loves most.

Variation: Sometimes I add chopped roasted peanuts for extra crunch, or swap peanut butter chips with white chocolate for a different flavor profile.
Dietary Modification: Use dairy-free butter and vegan chocolate chips to make this recipe vegan-friendly without losing texture.
Spice it Up: Adding a pinch of cinnamon or cayenne brings a subtle warmth that surprisingly compliments the chocolate well.

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

Step 1: Preheat and Prep Your Space

Start by heating your oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to keep your cookies from sticking and make cleanup a breeze — trust me, you’ll be glad you did! Set the sheet aside since you’ll need it shortly.

Step 2: Cream Your Butter and Sugars

In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter with the white and brown sugars until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step is key to getting a soft, chewy cookie, so don’t rush it — take about 3-4 minutes with an electric mixer. When it looks creamy and airy, add in your egg and vanilla extract, mixing just until combined.

Step 3: Add Dry Ingredients Carefully

Now, mix in the flour, black cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. A quick tip? Sift the cocoa powder to avoid clumps, which can be tricky in these super dark cookies. Stir just until you no longer see dry streaks — overmixing will toughen your cookies, and that’s not what monster cookies are about!

Step 4: Fold in the Fun Stuff

Next, gently fold in your Halloween sprinkles and peanut butter chips, saving some extra for topping later. This is where these cookies get their signature charm — those colorful sprinkles and peanut buttery bits bring every bite to life.

Step 5: Scoop and Bake

Using a 2-tablespoon cookie scooper (or a spoon if you don’t have one), place equal-sized dough balls onto your prepared baking sheet, leaving a couple inches between each for spreading. Bake for 8-9 minutes until the edges are just set but the centers still look slightly soft. Immediately top each cookie with spooky eyeball candies and a few extra peanut butter chips, then pop them back in for just a minute if you want them to stick nicely.

Step 6: Cooling is Key

Once out of the oven, let your cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 15 minutes to firm up while staying soft inside. Then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely if you can resist! This cooling step helps the cookies finish setting and makes them easier to handle.

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Pro Tips for Making Halloween Black Monster Cookies Recipe

Soft Butter is Your Friend: Make sure your butter is softened but not melting — this gives the best creaminess and texture.
Don’t Skip the Parchment: It prevents sticking and browning on the bottom so your cookies look flawless.
Watch Your Bake Time Closely: Black cookies can look done before they actually are, so rely on feel — edges set and centers slightly soft is perfect.
Add Candies at the Right Moment: Put eyeball candies on right after baking to keep their shape without melting.

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 usually add a few extra Halloween-themed sprinkles or edible glitter when serving to ramp up the spooky vibe. Those eyeball candies are my favorite garnish—kids love the fun factor and they make the cookies instantly Instagram-worthy.

Side Dishes

Pair these monster cookies with a cold glass of milk, a mug of hot cocoa, or even a festive punch for the perfect Halloween snack spread. For party vibes, I like to serve them alongside simple popcorn or candied nuts to balance flavors.

Creative Ways to Present

For Halloween parties, I’ve placed these cookies on a vintage-looking wooden board surrounded by autumn leaves, mini pumpkins, and flickering candles for an eerie yet cozy display. You could also stack them in a “monster” tower or serve them inside a hollowed pumpkin bowl for a fun presentation twist.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftover Halloween Black Monster Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, layering parchment paper between them to prevent sticking. They stay perfectly chewy and flavorful for about 4 days, which is great if you’re planning to bake ahead for a party.

Freezing

These cookies freeze wonderfully! I freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to a zip-top bag or airtight container after they’re solid. This way, you can bake ahead or stash extras for Halloween emergencies.

Reheating

To revive frozen cookies, let them thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes, then warm slightly in the microwave for 10 seconds or in a low oven (300°F) for 3-4 minutes. This brings back that freshly-baked softness without drying them out.

FAQs

Can I make Halloween Black Monster Cookies without black cocoa powder?

Black cocoa powder is what gives these cookies their iconic dark color and intense chocolate flavor, but if you don’t have it, you can substitute with regular unsweetened cocoa powder. Keep in mind the color will be lighter and flavor a bit less deep, but they’ll still be delicious!
How do I keep the peanut butter chips from melting into the dough?

Peanut butter chips usually hold their shape well during baking, but to minimize melting, add most of them folded into the dough and reserve some to press on top of the cookies right after baking. This keeps visible chips as a tasty texture highlight.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?

You can try swapping the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free 1:1 baking flour blend. Just note that texture might vary slightly, sometimes a bit more fragile, so handle with care when moving them off the baking sheet.
How do I prevent cookies from spreading too much?

Make sure your butter isn’t too melted before mixing, and chill the dough for 15-20 minutes before scooping if your kitchen is warm. This helps the cookies hold their shape better during baking.
What’s the best way to store these cookies for a Halloween party?

Store in airtight containers layered with parchment paper at room temperature. If preparing days ahead, freeze the cookies and thaw on the day you need them to keep that fresh-baked taste.

Final Thoughts

I still remember the first time I made these Halloween Black Monster Cookies — my kitchen was filled with laughter, sticky fingers, and that irresistible chocolate-peanut butter aroma. These cookies aren’t just about looks; they bring everyone together and spark so much joy with every bite. If you want a dessert that’s as fun to bake as it is to eat, you absolutely have to try this recipe. Seriously, once you taste that chewy black cookie with peanut butter chips and those playful eyeball candies, Halloween will feel a little more magical.