Easy Christmas Cookie Cake Recipe (Perfect for Holidays)

Introduction

Get ready to bake the most festive and delicious treat of the season: a Christmas cookie cake! This isn’t just any dessert; it’s a soft, chewy, giant cookie masterpiece, bursting with holiday cheer. Perfect for sharing, this simple recipe makes holiday baking incredibly easy and stress-free. Prepare to delight your family and friends with this irresistible, crowd-pleasing dessert that everyone will adore. Let’s make this holiday season extra sweet!

Why You’ll Love This Christmas Cookie Cake

This festive dessert quickly becomes a holiday favorite for many great reasons.

• Simple to Prepare: You need basic baking skills to create this impressive Christmas cookie cake. It’s a straightforward recipe perfect for beginners.
• Feeds a Gathering Easily: A single giant cookie cake serves many, making it ideal for holiday parties and family get-togethers. No need to bake dozens of individual cookies!
• Highly Festive and Visually Appealing: With vibrant frosting and sprinkles, this cake looks like a celebration on a platter. It truly embodies the spirit of Christmas.
• Customizable for Any Holiday Theme: Easily adapt the frosting colors and decorations to suit any winter celebration beyond just Christmas.
• Irresistibly Delicious Taste: Enjoy a buttery, soft-baked cookie texture with rich chocolate chips, all topped with a sweet, creamy frosting. It’s pure dessert bliss.

Olivia

Easy Christmas Cookie Cake

A festive giant cookie cake that’s soft, chewy, and perfect for the holidays, topped with creamy frosting and colorful holiday sprinkles for a seasonal treat everyone will love. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 22 minutes mins

Total Time 37 minutes mins

Servings: 8 servings

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 520

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Cookie Cake Dough

• ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
• ¾ cup light brown sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg room temperature
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups unbleached all‑purpose flour
• 2 tsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• ¾ cup bittersweet or semi‑sweet chocolate chips

Frosting & Decoration

• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 3 TBSP milk room temperature
• green and red gel food coloring as needed
• holiday sprinkles for decorating

Equipment

• 9‑inch or 10‑inch springform pan
• Parchment Paper
• Electric hand mixer
• Large mixing bowls
• Whisk
• Rubber spatula
• Wire rack
• Piping bag and tip (optional)

Method

 

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line and grease a 9‑inch or 10‑inch springform pan with parchment paper. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
2. In a large mixing bowl, use an electric hand mixer to cream softened butter with light brown sugar and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
3. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
4. Whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt in another bowl. Gradually add to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined, then fold in chocolate chips. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
5. Press cookie dough evenly into the prepared pan and bake 18–22 minutes until edges are set and lightly golden. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
6. Allow the cookie cake to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
7. Mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to make frosting. Divide into bowls and tint with gel food coloring as desired. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
8. Decorate the cooled cookie cake with colored frosting and holiday sprinkles. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

Notes

Bring ingredients to room temperature for best texture and mix frosting colors for a festive look. Store leftover cake at room temperature in an airtight container up to 3–4 days or refrigerate up to 1 week. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

Ingredients

Here are the simple ingredients you’ll need to create your wonderful Christmas cookie cake:

• ¾ cup unsalted butter (1 ½ sticks or 12 TBSP), softened
• ¾ cup light brown sugar (150 grams)
• ¼ cup granulated sugar (50 grams)
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (240 grams)
• 2 tsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• ¾ cup bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract (plus extra to taste if desired)
• 3 TBSP milk, at room temperature
• Green and red gel food coloring (as needed)
• Holiday sprinkles (for decorating)

Notes & Substitutions

Bringing butter, egg, and milk to room temperature before baking is crucial. According to baking experts, room temperature ingredients emulsify more effectively, leading to a smoother dough and better final texture. For sugars, light brown sugar adds moisture and chewiness, while granulated sugar contributes to crisp edges. Cornstarch is a secret ingredient that makes your cookie cake extra soft and tender. Research indicates that cornstarch helps create soft and chewy cookies by tenderizing the flour proteins. You can swap chocolate chips for white chocolate, milk chocolate, or even peanut butter chips for different flavors. Always use gel food coloring for frosting; it provides vibrant colors without thinning the consistency.

Equipment

You only need a few essential tools to make this delightful Christmas cookie cake.

• 9-inch or 10-inch springform pan: This pan makes releasing the cookie cake easy.
• Parchment paper: Prevents sticking and ensures a clean lift-out.
• Electric hand mixer: Speeds up creaming butter and making frosting fluffy.
• Large mixing bowls: For combining wet and dry ingredients.
• Whisk: To blend dry ingredients thoroughly.
• Rubber spatula: For folding in chocolate chips and scraping bowls.
• Wire rack: Essential for cooling the cookie cake completely.
• Piping bag and tip: For decorative frosting (optional, but recommended).

Instructions

Let’s bake a beautiful Christmas cookie cake! Follow these easy, step-by-step instructions for a perfect holiday treat.

Preparing Your Dough

First, set out your butter, egg, and milk to reach room temperature; this is essential for the best texture. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and measure out all your ingredients for a smooth process. In a large mixing bowl, use your electric hand mixer to cream together the softened butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Beat until the mixture is light, fluffy, and creamy, about 2-3 minutes. Next, beat in the large egg and pure vanilla extract until they are fully incorporated into the sugar mixture.

In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together the unbleached all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add this dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients in the large bowl, beating on low speed with your electric mixer. Mix until just combined; avoid overmixing. Finally, gently fold in the chocolate chips with a rubber spatula until evenly distributed throughout the dough.

Baking The Cookie Cake

Take your 9-inch or 10-inch springform pan and place a sheet of parchment paper on the bottom. Lock the sides of the pan around the parchment paper to secure it; this prevents sticking and helps with easy removal. Press the prepared cookie dough evenly into the bottom of the lined springform pan, smoothing the top.

Place the pan on the center rack of your preheated oven. Bake for 18-22 minutes. The edges should appear set and lightly golden, but the center can still look slightly soft. For a beautiful golden-brown top, once your cookie cake has finished baking, turn your oven to broil on HIGH. Watch it continuously for about 1 minute. The top will quickly achieve a perfect golden hue. Turn off the broiler immediately and carefully remove the pan from the oven using oven mitts. Allow the cookie cake to cool completely on a wire rack before attempting to frost or slice. It will continue to set as it cools, developing that ideal soft, slightly chewy center.

Making The Frosting

While the cookie cake cools, prepare your simple and delicious frosting. In a medium bowl, combine the powdered sugar, milk (at room temperature), and pure vanilla extract. Use your electric hand mixer to beat the ingredients together on medium speed until the frosting is smooth, creamy, and spreadable. If it’s too thick, add a tiny bit more milk, a half-teaspoon at a time. If it’s too thin, add a little more powdered sugar.

Divide the frosting into two smaller bowls if you plan on using multiple colors. Add a few drops of green gel food coloring to one bowl and red gel food coloring to the other. Mix each until you achieve your desired vibrant holiday colors.

Decorating Your Christmas Cookie Cake

Once the Christmas cookie cake is completely cool, it’s time for the fun part: decorating! Spoon the green frosting into a piping bag fitted with a star or round tip. Pipe a festive wreath design around the edge of the cookie cake. You can create small rosettes, stars, or simple loops to form the wreath.

Next, use the red frosting to add berries or bows to your wreath, or pipe a festive message in the center. Finish your holiday masterpiece by generously scattering colorful holiday sprinkles over the entire cake. The sprinkles add extra sparkle and a festive crunch, making your Christmas cookie cake truly spectacular.

Pro Tips & Troubleshooting

Achieve Christmas cookie cake perfection with these helpful hints. Always use accurate ingredient measurements, especially for flour and sugar; baking is a science! Avoid overmixing your dough after adding flour; overmixing develops gluten, leading to a tough cookie cake. When using the broiler, never walk away. Broilers can quickly burn food, so watch the top of your cake vigilantly until it reaches your desired golden brown.

Ensure your cake is fully cooled before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting and sliding off. If your cake seems dry, you might have overbaked it; next time, bake for less time, or remove it when the edges are set but the center is still slightly soft. If your frosting is too runny, gradually add more powdered sugar until it thickens to a pipeable consistency.

Serving, Storage & Variations

Serving Suggestions

This delicious Christmas cookie cake is wonderful served either slightly warm or at room temperature. For an extra indulgent treat, serve a slice with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. A mug of hot cocoa or coffee also pairs perfectly with this festive dessert. Cut into wedges for easy serving at your holiday gatherings.

Storage Instructions

Store any leftover Christmas cookie cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. For longer freshness, especially if it’s hot or humid, refrigerate the cake. It will last up to a week in the fridge. Allow refrigerated slices to come to room temperature for the best texture before serving.

Variations

Get creative with your Christmas cookie cake! Try adding different mix-ins like white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, chopped pecans, or walnuts to the dough. For frosting, experiment with flavors like peppermint extract, almond extract, or even a cream cheese frosting. Decorate with crushed candy canes, mini marshmallows, or edible glitter for an extra festive touch. You can also press a variety of holiday-themed candies into the dough before baking.

Nutrition

The nutritional information provided here is an estimate only. It can vary significantly based on specific ingredients used, brands, and serving sizes. We strongly recommend using an online nutrition calculator with your exact ingredients for the most accurate data. This festive Christmas cookie cake is a special treat meant for enjoyment during the holidays.

FAQ

Conclusion

This easy Christmas cookie cake is the perfect festive treat to bring joy to your holiday table. Its simple preparation, delicious flavor, and impressive appearance make it a true winner for busy parents and beginner bakers alike. We hope you create wonderful memories sharing this giant, chewy cookie with all your loved ones this season. Happy baking, and happy holidays!

Olivia