Cookie Cake

By Krista Teigen

Updated Feb 17, 2025

Cookie cakes are such a nostalgic dessert for me. They make me think of birthday parties and celebrations, so I love having a homemade chocolate chip cookie cake recipe at my fingertips for any occasion. It’s so much fresher, softer, and chewier than the store-bought cakes, and it’s as easy to make as any cookie!

Homemade chocolate chip cookie cake with a triangular slice cut out. - 4

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I’m always craving chewy chocolate chips cookies , but sometimes they just don’t feel festive enough. But if I bake one big cookie—with frosting and sprinkles on top for good measure—and call it a cake, I have the best of both worlds. It’s the perfect dessert for birthdays, graduation parties, and basically any time you want to say “Congrats!”

Tips for Beginners

When measuring flour, use the spoon-and-level method. Simply add the flour to a dry measuring cup, and level it off the top. It should not be packed or heaping.
Don’t over-mix the batter or it will become tough when it bakes in the oven, and we want to make sure it comes out soft and chewy!
To soften the butter, it’s best to set the sticks out on the countertop for a couple of hours before using. If you’re in a time pinch, place them in the microwave for 5-10 seconds at a time until they become soft to the touch, but not melted.

Ingredients1x2x3x

▢ ¾ cup butter softened
▢ ½ cup granulated sugar
▢ ½ cup brown sugar
▢ 2 eggs
▢ 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
▢ 2½ cups all-purpose flour
▢ 1 teaspoon baking soda
▢ ½ teaspoon salt
▢ 1¼ cups chocolate chips

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting:

▢ ¼ cup butter softened
▢ 2 cups powdered sugar divided
▢ ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
▢ 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
▢ 2 tablespoons milk
▢ colored sprinkles

Video

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350℉.
In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars with an electric mixer. Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract until incorporated. ¾ cup butter, ½ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup brown sugar, 2 eggs, 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, little by little, beating lightly after each addition. Stir the chocolate chips into the batter. 2½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt, 1¼ cups chocolate chips
Press the dough into a 9-inch round cake pan.
Bake for 15-20 minutes until the edges are golden brown.
Let the cookie cake cool.

For the Frosting:

For the frosting, beat the butter and 1 cup powdered sugar in a large bowl. ¼ cup butter, 2 cups powdered sugar
Add in the cocoa powder, vanilla extract and whole milk. Then, beat until smooth. ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 2 tablespoons milk
Add in the remaining powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time, beating until smooth after each addition. Beat in another tablespoon or 2 of milk if needed.
Add the frosting to the cake by piping designs onto the cake, or simply spreading it over the top.
Top the frosting with colorful sprinkles. colored sprinkles

Equipment

9-inch Round Cake Pan

Becky’s Tips

I like whole milk for the frosting because it creates a thicker, creamier texture. You can substitute other milks or creams as needed, but you may get varying textures and consistencies.
I made this recipe using a 9-inch round cake pan so you won’t need to buy a special pan just for this one dessert. Cookie cake pans are available, but you will need to adjust the baking time since they are usually in the 10-11 inch range.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Ingredients for a chocolate chip cookie cake, separated into bowls. - 5

Gather all your ingredients together.

Mix together the batter: Preheat the oven to 350℉. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream ¾ cup of softened butter, ½ cup of granulated sugar, and ½ cup of brown sugar. Then beat in the 2 eggs and 1 ½ teaspoons of vanilla extract until incorporated.

In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Add the flour mixture to the bowl of wet ingredients, little by little, beating lightly after each addition. Then stir 1 ¼ cups of chocolate chips into the batter.

Rubber spatula folding chocolate chips into cookie dough. - 6

Transfer to a cake pan: Press the dough into a 9-inch round cake pan to create a flat, even layer. Sprinkle extra chocolate chips on top if desired, and gently press them into the dough.

Unbaked cookie cake batter spread into a round cake pan, with chocolate chips sprinkled in. - 7

Bake: Bake the chocolate chip cookie cake in a preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. Let it cool in the pan while you make the frosting.

Baked cookie cake in a round cake pan. - 8

Make the frosting: Beat ¼ cup of softened butter and 1 cup of powdered sugar in a large bowl. Add in ⅓ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons of whole milk. Then, beat until smooth. Next, add in 1 more cup of powdered sugar (½ cup at a time, beating until smooth after each addition). Beat in another tablespoon or 2 of milk if needed .

Cookie cake with chocolate chips, decorated with sprinkles and chocolate frosting. - 9

Decorate: Remove the cookie cake from the pan once it has fully cooled. Then frost by piping designs on top, or simply spread it over the top. Finish with colorful sprinkles and other decorations if desired!

close up on a piece of cookie cake on a plate. - 10

How to Store

This chocolate chip cookie cake can be stored at room temperature for 1 day, or for 3 days in the refrigerator, if frosted. Without frosting, it can be stored at room temperature up to 3-4 days.

Serving Suggestions

Slices of this homemade cookie cake always taste better with a glass of milk or a scoop of ice cream, especially when it’s served warm! If you don’t want to use the chocolate buttercream in the recipe card, use your favorite frosting (homemade or store-bought) instead. It also tastes great served with whipped cream , chocolate sauce , or even a little caramel drizzle.

More Celebratory Dessert Recipes To Try

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close up view of partially cut funfetti cake. - 12

Funfetti Sheet Cake

Cosmic Brownies

Lofthouse Cookies

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oreo poke cake with a bite taken out of it - 18

Oreo Cake (Creamy Oreo Poke Cake)

Homemade chocolate chip cookie cake with a triangular slice cut out. - 19

Equipment

9-inch Round Cake Pan