Goodbye Katy Cookie Cake

People love to eat when they're sad. I made this for one of my good friends and coworkers, Katy's, goodbye game night party. :(

We're sad she is moving on to Dallas, but we all became happy again while eating this cookie cake together... Too bad I only got a picture of the sad part.

This is seriously. The. Best. Recipe. It's so quick and easy - 10 minutes to throw together and 20 minutes to bake. I love cookies, but I hate scooping cookie dough balls since it makes such a big mess. Well, it always make a big mess when I do it... Technically you could use any cookie recipe and bake into a "cake" per the below, but I really love this recipe. It's just so chewy and perfect. I think the secret is all the extra brown sugar! I've made this many times and everyone always asks me where I bought it from. Seriously, its so much cheaper than a mall cookie cake and so much more delicious that its RIDICULOUS! You can even pop it in a large baker's box/unused pizza box and people will think you've come straight from heaven.

So many options here to vary it up. The original recipe calls for a variety of chocolate chips and nuts, but I just use the regular ole chocolatey chips. Classic perfection. You could also make 2 small circles in round cake pans and layer icing in between, stacking like a real cake, or bake in a square pan for a thicker version.

The bf loves this cookie cake too, but there was nary a piece in this one for him. Sad story. He watched me make it, enjoyed the fresh-baked cookie smells and then I put it in his fridge for a whole day and told him "NO TOUCH!" He looked so sad, but he's had this many times before so don't feel too bad for him- UPDATE there ended up being a few slices leftover for him. He has access to more baked goods than most guys his age!

Best Cooke Cake Ever

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups & 2 TBSP AP flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 bag semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375. Line a large, round pizza pan with parchment paper and spray with non-stick cooking spray. The parchment paper really helps keep the edges/bottom from getting too toasty.

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars.

Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt with a whisk. Slowly add to butter mixture until fully incorporated.

Add vanilla.

Fold in chocolate chips by hand.

Resist the urge to scoop directly into your mouth, but pleaseeee lick the beaters/spoon!

Place dough on prepared pan and spread across the bottom until evenly spread out in a circle, but do not spread all the way to the edges. Leave a couple inches for it to spread when it cooks. I always start with a wooden spoon or spatula but end up using my (clean!) fingers to round it out. Have fun!

Bake 18-25 minutes, depending on the thickness of your cookie cake (mine took 20), until the edges are golden and the center is still slightly soft. It's OK if it looks a little underdone- it's tricky like that! Cool completely before icing.

Cookie Cake Icing
Makes enough for minimal decorations. Double if you want to get fancy.

• 1/2 stick butter, softened to room temperature
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 TBSP milk

Using paddle attachment, beat butter for a couple minutes until fluffy. Turn off and add powdered sugar. Slowly turn mixer back on. Continuing to mix, gradually add vanilla and milk until desired consistency is reached.

Add food coloring if you wish and scoop into icing bags. I used one bag with a star tip to create the edges and one bag with the end snipped into a small opening (no tip) to write.

Ice cooled cookie cake as you wish. Store in fridge until ready to serve. Enjoy with a group of friends! :)

-Marissa