Cookie cake

My son saw his first cookie cake at his elementary school and was amazed. He then saw one in the grocery store and asked if we could buy one. I said that I knew we could make a better one at home. After all, our homemade chocolate chips cookies are better than store-bought, right? So began our tradition of making cookie cakes. Now my son makes them on his own!

  
    Recipe serves
    Active time
    Total time
  

    8 people
    15m
    35m
  

  
    Special equipment needed
  
    Stand mixer, although a hand-held mixer can be used
  
    Disposable 12-inch pizza pan

Ingredients
2 sticks of butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour, using the spoon and level technique
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
12 ounces of chocolate chips

  
    Instructions
  
    • Preheat oven to 375º.
  
    • Mix the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Combine thoroughly.
  
    • Cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. The mixture should be a pale yellow.
  
    • Add 1 egg at a time, beating slowly, until completely incorporated. Add the second egg and completely incorporate.
  
    • Add the vanilla extract and mix.
  
    • Add the flour in three separate additions. Thoroughly combining before adding the next addition. Once all the flour is added, add the chocolate chips. Mix until the chips are evenly distributed in the dough.
  
• Spread the dough into the ungreased pizza pan. See picture below. Spread evenly. Bake for 20-22 minutes, rotating the pan after 10 minutes. Be careful when pulling the cake out of the oven; support it underneath with a large spatula or baking sheet.
  
• Let cool 20 - 30 minutes before serving.

  
    Variations
  
    • Use different colored chips for different holidays.
  
    • Add a frosting.
  
    • Melt chocolate and put it in a pastry bag or a plastic bag with a corner cut out. Write a message on the top, such as Happy Birthday.
  
    • Add chopped nuts.

  
    Storage
  
    • The cookie cake can be made a day ahead and stored covered at room temperature. It will keep for several days.
  
    • For longer storage, cut the cake into pieces. Put the pieces in a covered container. Use wax paper to separate the pieces if you have multiple layers. Alternatively, freeze the individual pieces on a tray. Once frozen, put them into a sealable plastic bag and store in the freezer. These will keep for several months.

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