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Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
The ultimate chocolate chip cookie cake is a gigantic chocolate chip cookie baked into a cake a pan and decorated with frosting. This cookie cake is perfect for birthdays, celebrations, graduation, just saying “thank you,” and parties.
When I was a kid, I studied cookbooks like no other. You couldn’t get me to study History, let’s say, to save my life but if I could read about chocolate chip cookies, I was all in. During high school, I had a job at the GAP. They put me at the front of the store to smile and greet everyone. What they didn’t realize is that I would be terrible at it. I had the smiling and saying “hi” down to a science. However, I basically took greeting to the next level. I would end up talking to everyone and their dog and not really actually sell clothes.
So I decided that I may be suited better at GAP kids where most people who came in were 3-year old toddlers and their mothers. It was less distraction since my high school peers weren’t coming in and I could turn off “Chatty Kathy.”
Since I spent years working in the mall, every time I would have a break, I would take the escalator straight up to the Food Court. I would beeline to the bakery and dream of the chocolate chip cookies. They had displays of their gigantic decorated chocolate chip cookie cakes for sale. Forget the traditional birthday cake, I wanted a huge cookie cake instead! I was determined to figure out how to make them at home because this is the best birthday cookie cake!
I begged my Mom to drive me down to the craft store to buy the largest cake pan I could find. It ended up being a pizza pan. I made my first birthday cookie cake for my best friend’s birthday. I made everything from scratch and I couldn’t wait to give it to her! She loved it so it was then that I started making them for all of my friend’s big days.
Making a homemade birthday cookie cake was much cheaper than buying the expensive ones at the local bakery. Plus they tasted a million times better. Homemade frosting wins out every single time. I found out it was much easier than I thought to make a homemade birthday cookie cake too! I will share all of my tips and tricks for making a perfect gigantic frosted cookie.
Today is my youngest daughter’s birthday and my oldest daughter is graduating in 9 days from high school. This is the perfect dessert to serve on birthdays and to celebrate graduations. There are big changes happening in our home and I am not sure I am ready for it. It was like yesterday that I had them in a stroller at the zoo. I just love being a Mom!
Let’s get back to cookies before I start tearing up over here.
How to make the BEST Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake:
- Cream Butter and Sugars for 4 minutes, until light and fluffy. This is an important step as it allows the butter to wrap around the sugar to create a creamy texture. It also whips in air to the cookie dough.
- Use a combination of leavening ingredients. To make a chocolate chip cookie cake, use both cornstarch and baking soda. This helps to give it not only rise but a tender texture.
- Spread into 8 or 9-inch cake pan. You can even use a springform pan to make it even easier. If you want to make a larger cookie cake, you can use a pizza pan. It will be much thinner and will bake much faster. Bake just until the center is cooked through. May want to cover with foil halfway through the baking time if the top is getting too brown. Don’t overbake. Watch it carefully.
- Let cool before removing from pan. Run a knife along the edges to release cookie from pan. Invert onto a plate and if necessary, use a heavy object to hit the bottom of the pan to aid in the release of the cookie. Make sure the serving plate or platter is large enough and flat so the cookie doesn’t concave in the middle.
- Frost with homemade frosting. May use decorative tips to create designs along the edges. If you are going to write something in the center, you can use the thin writing tip.
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Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 Tablespoons Butter (softened)
- 1 cup Brown Sugar
- 1/4 cup Sugar
- 1 Egg
- 1 Egg Yolk
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla
- 1 3/4 cup Flour
- 1 teaspoon Cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 3/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1 1/2 cups Chocolate Chips
Chocolate Buttercream Frosting:
- 1/2 cup Butter softened
- 1/3 cup Cocoa Powder
- 1 3/4 cup Powdered Sugar
- 1-2 Tablespoons Cream or Milk
Vanilla Buttercream Frosting:
- 1/2 cup Butter softened
- 2 cups Powdered Sugar
- 1-2 Tablespoons Cream or Milk
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 8 or 9-inch cake pan or springform pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream butter, brown sugar, and sugar for 3-4 minutes scraping the sides of the bowl often, until light and creamy.
- Add egg, egg yolk, and vanilla. Mix for 1 minute.
- Stir in flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt, just until combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
- Spread cookie dough into cake pan.
- Bake for 20-26 minutes, depending on the depth of the pan. If using a large, thin pizza pan, reduce baking time for 15-18 minutes. If the cookie is browning too much, cover with foil halfway through baking time.
- Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center of the baking pan. Set aside to cool.
- Once it is cooled, run a knife along the sides of the baking pan. Invert onto flat, larger serving platter or plate. May use a heavy object, such as a rolling pin, to bang on the bottom of the pan, once it is inverted to help release the cookie from the pan.
- To make frosting: cream butter for 2 minutes. Add cocoa powder (if making chocolate frosting), powdered sugar, vanilla, and cream.
- Using a cake decorator set, frost the cooled cookie, according to preference.
- Cut into wedges to serve.
Notes
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This cookie cake & chocolate frosting recipe is excellent & was enjoyed today as we celebrated my Husband’s Birthday! Thanks for sharing it with us!
I have been making this recipe of yours for a long time. I have always found that my batter seems to sink a lot in center of cookie cake as it cools. It Doesn’t affect taste but yours does not look like it sinks that much. So as I was making the recipe today, I finally noticed that your instructions say to stir in the flour mixture. I’ve always used my stand mixer to do this but today, I turned off mixer at this point ….and I stirred in flour mixture by hand,,,just until flour was incorporated…then finished with chocolate chips. It was the prettiest cookie cake I’ve made with very little sinking in center! And I agree with readers, It’s the best cookie cake recipe I’ve tried. Thank you for such awesome recipes that have become family favorites. *I used 9” round cake pan, with parchment circle …and baking spray.
Can this recipe be doubled and made in a 9×13?
Made this for a birthday party and it was gone in minutes! Everyone loved it!
Just made and ate a few slices as soon as it wasn’t molten lava hot!
No frosting for this time, but added a mix of chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, and m&ms. YUM!
Hi there- I made this when I lived in Florida several times and it turned out beautifully but when I tried to make it in Denver, it was overly done on the outside, then a ring of gooey not cooked mess and the middle was done and perfect.. Is there a trick for the high altitude? Thanks so much- it is so delicious!
I have been making this cookie cake for several years and just realized I have not reviewed it. When a recipe is exceptional, I always enjoy submitting a review. My family loves this recipe. I am making it today to
send to neighbors and their 7 wonderful children for their July 4th celebration. I will use white icing, piped like yours, red and blue Sprinkles with small American flags. I know they will love this cookie cake just like my family does. How do I join your cooking site to receive your recipes? Thank you and Happy 4th of July!
This was delicious!! Making it for the second time this month!
I’ve made several different cookie cakes before but this was my favorite!
What is the best way to store this cookie recipe . I am making one for my son using butter cream frosting . do not really want to have to put it in the fridge . Hope it can be left out at room temperature .
I think doubling it would do it. Can you test the recipe in that pan before the event? The cake in a 9 inch round it pretty thick, so I think doubling it should be enough for the pan you’re describing. I’ve made cookie cakes in a sheet pan in the past and the amount of batter in this is about half of the one I use for the sheet pan. Just watch while it bakes. You will likely need less time if it’s a thinner/larger cake! Please share results! This is so good I’d love to hear how making a bigger one works out!