Indulge in the Ultimate M&M’s Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake: An Easy Recipe for Any Celebration
Forget the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary with our spectacular M&M’s Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake! While countless chocolate chip cookie cake recipes exist, this particular one stands out as a timeless favorite. It’s incredibly versatile, allowing you to create a classic, melt-in-your-mouth cookie cake with luscious semisweet chocolate chips, or elevate it into a vibrant, festive masterpiece by adding colorful M&M’s and a beautiful swirl of frosting. Whether it’s a birthday, a holiday gathering, or just a weekend treat, this easy cookie cake is destined to become your go-to dessert for pleasing any crowd.
Why Choose a Giant Cookie Cake Over a Traditional Cake?
There’s a unique charm and undeniable appeal to a giant chocolate chip cookie cake that often surpasses its traditional cake counterparts. Firstly, it’s far less intimidating to bake, especially for those who might feel daunted by layers, intricate fillings, or delicate crumb structures. This particular recipe for a homemade cookie cake offers a straightforward approach, yielding a consistently delicious result. It’s also incredibly shareable – imagine cutting generous wedges of warm, chewy cookie for everyone! Plus, the flat surface of a large cookie cake provides a perfect, forgiving canvas for even beginner decorators to practice their skills, making it a fun project for all ages.
Essential Equipment and Preparing Your Pan
To create this magnificent 14-inch pizza pan cookie cake, the right equipment is key. A large, round pizza pan is ideal for achieving that perfect, expansive cookie canvas. While the recipe specifies a 14-inch pan, you can adjust the dough quantity if you’re using a slightly different size; just ensure it’s a large, round baking surface. The image below shows the dough ready for baking:
As you can see, I’ve lined the entire round pizza pan with nonstick foil. This simple step is a game-changer, making it significantly easier to remove the cookie cake once baked and to slice individual pieces without sticking. If you’re using a brand-new pan with an excellent nonstick coating or have a trusty seasoned pan, you might find that parchment paper or even a light greasing and flouring is sufficient, but nonstick foil offers maximum convenience. An important tip to remember is that the cookie dough spreads during baking. Therefore, when you press the dough into the pan, make sure the perimeter of your cookie dough circle is about 1 ½ to 2 inches from the rim. This allows ample room for the dough to expand into a perfectly round and thick giant cookie cake without overflowing. Failing to leave enough space might result in a thinner, less impressive cookie, or one that bakes unevenly.
The M&M’s Magic and Decorating Inspiration
While a classic chocolate chip cookie cake is delightful on its own, adding M&M’s brings a burst of color and a delightful crunch that makes this version truly special. The vibrant candies transform this dessert into an instant party favorite, appealing to both kids and adults alike. Below is an image of the baked M&M cookie cake, just waiting for its decorative flourish.
Practice Your Decorating Skills: Making Your Cookie Cake a Masterpiece
One of the many joys of making a giant cookie cake is the opportunity for creative expression through decoration. At some point, I’ll update this post with a photo of a truly beautifully decorated cookie cake – perhaps when my own decorating skills catch up! But that’s the beauty of it: cookie cakes are wonderfully forgiving blank slates for learning and practicing. If you’re not an expert cake decorator, don’t worry! This is the perfect dessert to “throw together” and experiment with. You can practice piping elegant frosting borders, writing personalized messages with icing, or simply creating fun patterns with different colors of buttercream. Consider using a simple star tip for classic borders, or a round tip for writing names or greetings. For birthdays, you can match the M&M colors to a party theme, or add sprinkles, edible glitter, or even small toy figures for a whimsical touch. This easy cookie cake provides a low-pressure environment to develop your decorating confidence, and no matter how it turns out, it will still taste absolutely incredible. I highly recommend grabbing some frosting and a piping bag to give it a try – you might surprise yourself!
More Cookie Madness Recipes You Might Love
If you’ve enjoyed making this M&M’s Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake, you might be interested in exploring other delightful cookie creations from our collection. These recipes offer a variety of flavors and styles, perfect for expanding your baking repertoire:
- Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie Pizzas
- Peanut Butter and M&M Cookies
- Best Yet M&Ms Cookies
- Favorite M&M Bars
- Jumbo M&M Cookies
Recipe: M&M’s Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
M&MS Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
Anna
Pin Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, bleached makes a softer cake (315 grams) – For the chewiest, softest texture in your giant cookie cake, bleached all-purpose flour is recommended.
- ½ teaspoon baking soda – The leavening agent that helps your cookie cake rise slightly and achieve a pleasant texture.
- 1 teaspoon salt – Balances the sweetness and enhances the overall flavor of the chocolate.
- 4 oz butter, preferably unsalted (114 grams) – Unsalted butter gives you more control over the total salt content.
- ½ cup shortening** (96 grams) – Contributes to the soft, chewy texture and helps prevent excessive spreading.
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar (200 grams) – Adds moisture, chewiness, and a rich, caramel-like flavor.
- ½ cup granulated sugar (100 grams) – Provides crispiness at the edges and sweetness.
- 2 large eggs – Binds the ingredients and adds structure and richness.
- 2 teaspoons vanilla – A essential flavor enhancer that complements the chocolate.
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips – The classic choice for a chocolate chip cookie cake. Feel free to use milk or dark chocolate as preferred.
- 1 small bag M&Ms (or Smarties if you are in the UK) – Adds color, crunch, and a fun, festive touch.
Instructions
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Prepare your oven and pan: Preheat your oven to a steady 300° F (150° C). This slightly lower temperature ensures even baking for such a large cookie. Line a large, 14-inch round pizza pan with a circle of parchment paper or, as recommended for easier removal, non-stick foil. This step is crucial for preventing sticking and allowing you to easily transfer your finished giant cookie cake.
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Combine dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt until well combined. Set this mixture aside for later use.
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Cream wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, shortening, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar. You can do this by hand with a sturdy spoon or spatula, or for a quicker and lighter texture, use an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract, ensuring each addition is fully incorporated before adding the next. Once the wet ingredients are well mixed, gradually add the reserved dry flour mixture. Stir until just blended, being careful not to overmix, which can lead to a tough cookie. Finally, gently fold in the chocolate chips.
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Form and decorate: Transfer all the cookie dough batter into your prepared 14-inch pizza pan. Using your hands or the back of a spoon, press the dough evenly into a large circle. Remember to stop the dough circle about 1 ½ to 2 inches from the rim of the pan. This crucial space allows the dough to spread nicely during baking without overflowing. For that signature M&M’s cookie cake look, gently press the M&M’s decoratively into the top surface of the dough, ensuring they are partially embedded.
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Bake to perfection: Carefully place the pan on the center rack of your preheated oven. Bake for 32-35 minutes, or until the edges of the cookie cake are beautifully golden brown and the center appears set. Keep an eye on it – you want a soft, chewy interior, not a dry, overbaked one. The cookie will continue to set as it cools.
Notes
**Shortening Substitute: For those who prefer not to use shortening, you can substitute it with an equal amount (½ cup) of additional butter. While this will still yield a delicious cookie, the butter/shortening combination is highly recommended for achieving the optimal chewy texture and preventing excessive spreading, resulting in a superior giant chocolate chip cookie cake.
Baking Tips for the Perfect Giant Cookie Cake
Achieving a perfectly baked giant chocolate chip cookie cake, especially one adorned with M&M’s, requires a few key considerations. The specified oven temperature of 300°F (150°C) is slightly lower than typical cookie recipes, which is intentional. This lower heat allows the large mass of dough to bake through evenly without burning the edges or leaving the center raw. Always ensure your oven is fully preheated before placing the cookie cake inside. During baking, keep an eye on the edges; they should turn a lovely golden brown, indicating they are done. The center might still appear slightly soft or underbaked when you pull it out, but don’t worry – it will continue to set as it cools on the counter. Overbaking is the enemy of a chewy cookie cake, so err on the side of caution. Once removed from the oven, let the cookie cake cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. This allows it to firm up and prevents it from breaking when you attempt to slice it. Resist the urge to cut into it too soon!
Serving and Storage Suggestions
Once your M&M’s Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake has cooled and, if desired, been beautifully decorated, it’s ready to be the star of your dessert table. To serve, use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to slice it into wedges, just like a pizza. This recipe yields a generous 10-16 servings, making it perfect for parties. You can serve it at room temperature, or for an extra special treat, warm individual slices slightly in the microwave and top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of chocolate sauce. Store any leftover cookie cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days to maintain its freshness and chewiness. If you want to keep it longer, you can freeze individual slices for up to a month; just thaw at room temperature or warm gently before enjoying.
Make This Easy Cookie Cake Your Next Celebration Dessert
This M&M’s Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake truly embodies the spirit of easy, delicious, and fun baking. From its simple preparation to its impressive presentation and universally loved flavor, it’s a dessert that consistently brings smiles. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting your culinary journey, this recipe offers a rewarding experience with fantastic results. So, gather your ingredients, follow these steps, and get ready to bake the ultimate homemade cookie cake that will undoubtedly be requested again and again for every special occasion. Enjoy the process, and most importantly, savor every last bite!