This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure statement.
Make this easy and delicious homemade cookie cake recipe in a 9 x 9 inch square pan, or a heart-shaped dish, for the perfect dessert or snack!
How to Make a Cookie Cake
Cookie cakes are so simple. All you do is take any cookie recipe that makes 3 to 4 dozen cookies, and bake it in a pan. A 9-inch pan works best, but specialty pans, like my heart dish, can also be used. The heart dish is perfect for celebrating Valentine’s Day!
Ingredient Notes
- Butter: Unsalted butter or salted butter can be used.
- Sugar: both granulated white sugar and powdered sugar are used in the recipe. The powdered sugar adds a special taste and texture, but all white sugar can be used. Brown sugar should not be used.
- Eggs: large or extra large eggs work best.
- Pure vanilla extract: for added flavor, use vanilla bean paste in place of the vanilla extract.
- Leavening and spices: if using salted butter, decrease the amount of salt to 1/4 teaspoon.
- All purpose flour.
- M&M’s
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, or a large bowl with an hand mixer, combine the butter, white sugar, powdered sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
- Beat on medium high for 1 minute.
- Into a medium bowl, add the baking powder, baking soda, cream of tartar, salt, and flour. Whisk gently to combine.
- Add the dry ingredients to the sugar/egg mixture in 3 increments, mixing well on medium speed, and scraping the sides of the bowl between additions.
- Put cookie dough into prepared pan in an even layer. (See recipe card notes.)
- Before baking, top cookie dough with M&M’s.
- Bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.
- May be served warm or at room temperature.
Variations
- This versatile cookie cake recipe can be adapted for any special occasion, and any holiday, by simply changing the color of the M&M’s. For a patriotic twist, use red, white, and blue M&M’s. At Christmas, use red and green.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, or white chocolate chips, can be substituted for the M&M’s.
- Start the bake time at 20 minutes, and add more in 5 minute increments until the cookie cake is done in the middle, and golden brown on top. In my convection oven and baked in the heart dish, this cookie cake was done in 25 minutes.
- It’s also very festive to add colorful sprinkles to the cookie cake when it’s removed from the oven.
- To use this recipe as a birthday cake, fill a piping bag with canned frosting, and pipe the outer edges of the cookie cake.
- Instead of making one giant cookie cake, this recipe can be scooped into balls, and baked as cookies. Use a 350 degree F oven, and bake for 9 to 10 minutes. Make sure to line your cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Tips for Delicious Cookie Cake
- Make sure to prepare your baking pan with cooking spray. I use and recommend Baker’s Joy.
- An electric mixer works best, either a hand mixer, or a stand mixer. Don’t try to stir this cookie recipe by hand!
- For extra chocolate, M&M’s can be added to the batter before baking.
- Store this cookie cake at room temperature for 2 or 3 days, covered tightly with plastic wrap. It can also be cut into servings and stored in an airtight container. t’s actually really good, and still very moist, on the 2nd day.
- In order to get this cookie cake done in the middle, the edges may become a little brown. This is fine…and actually very delicious!
SHOP + SOURCE
Click the links below to be taken directly to the product listing. Every effort has been made to provide sources for the items found in this post. Where actual items were no longer available, I’ve provided similar options. If an item is out of stock but may be restocked, I left it on the list.
*Affiliate links included. See my disclosure statement. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
More Sweet Treats + Cookie Recipes
- Lemon Cake Mix Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Homemade Cookie Cake
Make this easy and delicious homemade cookie cake recipe in a heart-shaped dish for the perfect Valentine's Day dessert or snack!
Enter your email and I’ll send it your way!
I’d like to receive more ideas from On Sutton Place!
Ingredients
- 1 cup softened butter (2 sticks)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- Valentine's M&M's
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In the bowl of a standing mixer, or a large mixing bowl, combine the butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla.
- Beat on medium high for 1 minute. (An electric mixer works best.)
- In a separate bowl, add the baking powder, baking soda, cream of tartar, salt, and flour.
- Whisk gently to combine.
- Add the flour mixture to the sugar/egg mixture in 3 increments, mixing well and scraping the bowl between additions.
- Put cookie dough into prepared pan. (See recipe notes.)
- Before baking, top cookie dough with M & M's if desired.
- Bake for 25 minutes.
- May be served warm or at room temperature.
Notes
I prepared my pan with a light coating of Baker’s Joy.
The heart dish is available from Williams-Sonoma. See post text for the link.
An 8 x 8 or 9 x 9 inch pan can be used. Baking time may need to be adjusted.
Nutrition Facts
Homemade Cookie Cake
Amount per Serving
Calories
400
% Daily Value*
Fat
20
g
31
%
Cholesterol
82
mg
27
%
Sodium
444
mg
19
%
Potassium
91
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
50
g
17
%
Fiber
1
g
4
%
Sugar
16
g
18
%
Protein
6
g
12
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this recipe?Follow me at @onsuttonplace
If you make this recipe, and love it, please come back to leave a comment and a 5-star review. I would really appreciate it, and it would help me so much. Thank you!
Love all your ideas…especially the heart cookie cake ♥️🇺🇸🇺🇬