Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
Who else grew up crossing alllll the fingers that a giant chocolate chip cookie cake would be served at your friend’s birthday party? It was the best, right?! Well, now you can make it at home! This easy chocolate chip cookie cake recipe comes together quickly and will be the hit of any birthday party. Add chocolate frosting and sprinkles to make it extra festive!
Anyone who grew up in the 1980s has at some point consumed a cookie cake, am I right? They definitely weren’t the typical go-to for birthday cakes, so when they made an appearance, everyone was insanely excited. Give me a party with a cookie cake or an ice cream cake, and I was one ecstatic little girl. One of my aunts, in particular, always served chocolate chip cookie cakes, so I was naturally excited for every one of my cousins’ birthday parties.
It’s amazing how one gigantic chocolate chip cookie can incite so much giddiness in a bunch of kids. I have a feeling it’s less about the cookie and more about the notion of something different and out of the ordinary. That is the same reason I still love cookie cakes as an adult!
Finding the Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
When first brainstorming a recipe for a homemade chocolate chip cookie cake, I immediately thought of my favorite chocolate chip cookie that doesn’t require the dough to be refrigerated (thick and chewy chocolate chip cookies), but they tend to be a bit on the ooey and gooey side. While that’s absolutely perfect for cookies, it wouldn’t work as well for a “cake” that needs to be sliced and served.
After slightly increasing the flour and playing around with baking powder and baking soda, I had a perfect combination of flavor and sturdiness.
Save This Recipe
Enter your email address, and we'll send it straight to your inbox!
This cookie cake bakes up super soft but with enough stability to not fall apart when it’s sliced, which is chocolate chip cookie cake perfection. The best part? It can be mixed together and in the oven in just 10 minutes; be ready to party in no time!
This can be served plain, with a big, dripping scoop of ice cream, or decorated with buttercream frosting (and sprinkles!). Anything goes here!
As you can see, when it comes to food, I’m definitely still a kid at heart.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
Ingredients
- 2¼ cups (270 g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 12 tablespoons (170 g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled to room temperature
- 1 cup (213 g) light brown sugar
- ½ cup (99 g) granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup (170 g) semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan, then line the bottom with a round of parchment paper; set aside.
- Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl; set aside.
- Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter and sugars together until thoroughly blended. Beat in the egg, yolk, and vanilla until combined. Add the dry ingredients and beat at low speed just until combined. Using a rubber spatula, stir in the chocolate chips.
- Turn the dough out into the prepared cake pan and use your fingers to press into an even layer. Bake until the cookie cake is light golden brown and the outer edges have started to harden, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and plan the pan on a wire rack to cool completely. Use a metal spatula to loosen the sides of the cake from pan, then turn it out and place it on a serving plate or platter. Serve or decorate as desired. Leftovers should be kept in an airtight container and kept at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
Update Notes: This recipe was originally published in February 2014; updated in January 2020 with new photos and clearer recipe instructions.
[photos by Ari of Well Seasoned]
Made this for my family today and it was a hit! My nephews liked it better than the ice cream we served it with.
Is it 12 tablespoons of butter? Do you know how many cups that would be?
Hi Elisa, Yes, 12 tablespoons of butter. That’s ¾ cup.
This recipe was perfect for a late night dessert craving:) I made this on a total whim last night at 9pm, and then enjoyed it with hubby while catching up on Downton Abbey.
I was bored one day, and decided to make this. It looks perfect in the picture, so I put my baking skills to the test and tried this recipe out. Well, that’s when I realized I had no baking skills and somehow managed to mess this whole thing up. Mine looked super pretty, but ended up tasting terrible and dry. I should just leave the baking to the pros… :)
Ok, update. I got it down! I finally made it correctly and it tastes great! I like to put a thin layer of chocolate icing on it. It is quite amazing and definitely a guilty pleasure of mine…
I grew up and live in Pakistan so we dont have cookie cakes here unfortunately!
Ive heard alot about them and my sister in Texas had one and said i MUST try to make it as im a baker. Im trying this today for sure :D
Just one question, Is it necessary to line the bottom with parchment paper or can i just dust it with oil and flour like regular cakes?
Hi Tayyaba, You could grease and flour, for sure. I always line my cake pans with parchment as extra protection against breaking when turning them out, but if you feel comfortable just greasing and flouring, then that’s definitely okay.
This sounds divine! Do you think I can double the recipe and make it a rectangle on a cookie sheet?
Hi Sarah, Yes, certainly!
Hi Michelle!
I made this once already and it was amazing! Now I need to make two for my sons birthday party this weekend. Do you think I can double it and just split the batter between two pans or should I make them separate?
Thank you!
Desiree
Hi Desiree, Yes, you could definitely double the recipe and split the dough. Enjoy! :)
Hi Michelle,
I doubled this for my son’s 2nd birthday party and it was amazing. Thank you again! My cookie monster was very happy :-)
I made this today and followed the recipe exactly and was diasppointed with the taste. It was very bland, but had a very good consistency. Won’t be making this recipe again, but for those who do, I recommend much sugar and vanilla extract.
Your green bean casserole recipe changed my life, so I’m going to try this;)
Just checking that the baking time is correct. I baked this for about 30 mins. and when I turned it out onto a platter the center was still raw. I put it back into the pan and baked it for another 20 mins.
Hi Anita, The baking time is correct, and it definitely should not need an additional 20 minutes, or it would be severely overdone. Did you by any chance use a smaller pan?
I made this for my husband’s birthday and it was unbelievably good! Even better than the cookie cakes I remember from my youth. Thanks so much for sharing!
I used a 9 inch springform pan and it worked perfectly.
Leftovers good for up to 5 days….hahaha…that cookie cake would not last 5 hours at my house! Looks heavenly. I’ll remember this next time I need a good dessert :-D
This looks amazing! It took no time to find this amazing looking cake. I just can’t wait to make this for my boyfriend’s birthday, cookies are his favorite!
I made this cake tonight. I used a 9-inch springform. It baked 30 minutes and it still wasn’t done in the middle (I thought it was done and took it out). I did nuke individual pieces just a little bit just to cook the center and it was delicious. Sweet; so next time I might use dark chocolate chips. I assume it could be baked in bigger/smaller pans.
Absolutely delicious! I’ve already eaten 3/4 of all cake! But I can still say, that I ate just 3/4 of the one cookie, am I right? ;)
I printed the recipe before you made a correction of baking powder’s addition, so I didn’t add it, but it also turned out great :) Love the recipe, will make it again for sure!
It’s like you read my mind! My husband gets a cookie cake every year for his birthday (which is this weekend) because he prefers cookies to the traditional birthday treat. I’m glad to have a new recipe to try this year.
this looks lovely.
i have never been privalage to such a thing.is this because im in the uk iu wonder?or just unlucky.
is this like a cookie or is it like a cake-texutre wise i mean-?
Hi Kate, It’s basically a massive cookie!
My little girl and I made your wonderful Chocolate Chip Cookie cake, and it just came out of the oven and looks amazing! If it’s anything like your Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie bars, then I’m in trouble. :) Thanks for all of your yummy recipes.
Hi!!! I just discovered your blog and I loved it … I will try more than one of your recipes. Thanks for publishing
This looks absolutely divine! I love cookies and cake- so combining the two is pure genius! :)
Cookie cakes!!!! I don’t like cake (even though I bake cupcakes all the time), so I STILL get cookie cakes on my birthday. :)
made this last week and it was so good!
but- i think the 8″ pan i used left it a bit undercooked
do they make a 9″ disposable??
Hi Susan, I’m not sure what is available in terms of disposable cake pans, I’ve never seen them – I’ve only seen roasting pans, square pans and loaf pans.
i don’t know what it is because nothing happens or no error given but i have a hard time pinning your recipes from your blog.
I made this on Saturday to bring to a friends house for dinner. We all loved it! We served it with vanilla ice cream.
I’m making this right now! Can’t wait to taste it! Should the baking powder be included in step 2? I’m assuming yes, as I don’t see it listed elsewhere and it is a dry ingredient, but just wanted to clarify. Thanks as always for your wonderful recipes!!!
Hi Amy, Yes! My apologies for that omission; I am correcting the recipe right now. So sorry for any inconvenience!
What’s with the past tense?? I have had a cookie cake from Great American Cookie Company for like my past five birthdays, the last of which was #33. ;) Of course, that will probably be the last one until they change things over there–I died a little inside when I realized, just this past year, that they still have the dreaded trans fat in their products. I will have to console myself with this recipe!!
I made this recipe yesterday expecting it to be tasty, but it turned out DELICIOUS! I myself just call this a cookie pizza because I just cut a slice and eat it like one, except its filled with buttery crust and sweet chocolate chips instead of cheese. SO good and SO glad I made it!
So I have heard of cookies and I have heard of cakes but how smart to combine in one!
Ohhh I made this on Friday, my nine year old grandson and my husband really liked this. Thanks for a delicious treat. I really enjoy your blog. Have a great Pittsburgh weekend!!!
I’ve never even heard of a cookie cake – it looks so amazing! But I would end up eating the whole thing, it’s just one cookie right?
The Macadame. xx
http://www.creamstop.com