Easy Homemade Cookie Cake Recipe

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!

More Sweet Treats + Cookie Recipes

• Lemon Cake Mix Cookies
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe