Heart-Shaped Cookie Cake (with Video)
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A foolproof recipe for making a gourmet cookie cake at home, this Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake is the perfect special-occasion dessert for baking with kids, especially when serving to loved ones who prefer cookies over cake. Endlessly customizable, cookie cakes are the perfect treat for birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Father’s Day or Mother’s Day… or whenever the craving for a batch of chocolate chip cookies strikes!
Valentine’s Cookie Cake Recipe
This heart-shaped cookie cake offers all the nostalgia of a classic chocolate chip cookie in a sliceable centerpiece. It brings all of the festivity of a cake without the fussiness – making it perfect for those occasions when you’re pressed for time or when you’re baking for someone who prefers cookies over cakes.
Buttery, crisp edges give way to a soft, chewy center dotted with melting chocolate chips and bursts of crunchy Valentine’s sprinkles.
The deep cocoa frosting piped around the border adds a rich contrast to the cookie’s buttery, caramel undertones.
A great recipe to make with the kids – there’s no chilling, the piping is incredibly easy (or you can just slather the cookie cake with the homemade buttercream frosting and skip the piping) and it’s the perfect compromise when you can’t agree on whether you want to make a cake or a batch of cookies.
While obviously perfect for Valentine’s Day, you can shape the cookie into different shapes, just bake in a circle or stick to the heart-shape for a loving treat all year long.
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with this heart-shaped chocolate chip cookie cake. This easy, one-pan cookie cake combines buttery cookie dough, melted chocolate chips and cocoa frosting for an unforgettable homemade treat.
Why You’ll Love This Cookie Cake Recipe
Why You’ll Love This Cookie Cake Recipe - Delivers the perfect chewy-meets-crispy texture in every slice.
- Easy to decorate but looks professionally made. The star piping tip does all of the heavy lifting here, but if you don’t have a piping tip and don’t want to buy one, just slather the cake with the frosting – no one will complain!
- Can be made using your favorite cookie recipe or pre-made cookie dough.
- No portioning out individual cookies makes this recipe easy for kids – just press into shape and bake!
- No chilling the dough means this recipe takes less than 30 minutes to whip up – not including a brief cooling time as you whip up the frosting.
- A crowd-pleasing showstopper that feels homey yet special. A unique twist on an everyday batch of chocolate chip cookies that makes it feel more special while ironically taking less work to prep!
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use an 8- or 9-inch round or square pan. Adjust baking time by a few minutes depending on thickness.
The edges should look lightly golden and set. The center may appear soft but will firm up as it cools.
Yes, refrigerate the dough for up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature before pressing it into the pan.
To freeze the cookie dough, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then place it in a freezer bag. Store for up to 2 months, thaw in the refrigerator overnight before baking.
Absolutely. Wrap tightly and freeze up to one month. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
(For best results, freeze the frosting and cookie cake separately.)
Once baked, store the cookie cake tightly covered at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days for maximum freshness.
Cookie Cake Recipe Video
Check out our quick recipe video to see just how easy it is to make this Heart-Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake for yourself – and then don’t forget to scroll down to grab your free printable recipe card:
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake Ingredients
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake IngredientsChocolate Chip Cookie Ingredients:
- Unsalted butter, softened
- Brown sugar, packed
- White granulated sugar
- Large eggs
- Egg yolks
- Vanilla extract
- Baking soda
- Salt
- All-purpose flour
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
- Valentine’s Day sprinkles, divided
For the Chocolate Frosting:
- Unsalted butter, softened
- Powdered sugar
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Heavy whipping cream – sometimes called by different names, look for 35% milk fat
- Vanilla extract
- Valentine’s Day sprinkles, for garnish
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.
Tip: Measure flour by spooning it into the cup and leveling – packing it in leads to a dry or dense cookie.
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Mixing Bowl
- Electric Mixer
- Heart-Shaped Cake Pan
- Large Piping Bag fit with a Large Star Tip
How to Make a Heart-Shaped Cookie Cake
How to Make a Heart-Shaped Cookie CakeTo Prep: Preheat the oven to 350°F and line or grease a 9-inch heart-shaped pan. Set aside.
1. Prepare the dough: Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy, then mix in eggs, yolks and vanilla. Gradually add dry ingredients and fold in chocolate chips and sprinkles.
2. Bake the cookie cake: Press the dough evenly into the pan, sprinkle with extra chocolate chips and sprinkles, and bake 25-30 minutes until edges are golden and center is set. Cool completely before decorating.
3. Make the frosting: Beat butter, powdered sugar, cocoa powder, heavy cream, and vanilla until smooth and fluffy. Transfer frosting to a piping bag fitted with a star tip.
4. Decorate and serve: Pipe frosting around the edge of the cooled cookie cake, top with extra sprinkles, slice, and enjoy.
Cookie Cake Recipe Variations:
- Double Chocolate Cookie: Replace ½ cup of flour with cocoa powder for a brownie-like twist.
- Peanut Butter Cookie Cake: Substitute ½ cup of the butter with creamy peanut butter and use peanut butter chips instead of some chocolate chips.
- Red Velvet Cookie Cake: Swap out the vanilla extract for red velvet flavor extract and reduce cocoa powder in the frosting slightly for a festive hue.
- White Chocolate Raspberry: Fold in white chocolate chips and a handful of freeze-dried raspberries instead of sprinkles.
- Different Shape: Use a plain cookie sheet and shape the cookie dough into a different shape (or use a different cake pan shape).
- Seasonal Sprinkles: Use different themed sprinkles for a subtle twist.
- Pre-made Dough: Swap out the cookie dough recipe for pre-made cookie dough or your personal favorite cookie dough recipe.
Tips for the Perfect Cookie Cake
- Use room-temperature butter to ensure even mixing and a soft, fluffy dough.
- Measure flour by spooning it into the cup and leveling – packing it in leads to a dry or dense cookie.
- Sprinkle extra chocolate chips on top just before baking for a polished, bakery-style finish.
- Cool the cookie completely before decorating; otherwise, the frosting will melt.
- For a cleaner release, line the pan with parchment and leave an inch of overhang to lift out.
More Heart-Shaped Desserts
Pin this Easy Heart-Shaped Cookie Cake for a Romantic Treat everyone will love:
Printable Recipe Card:
Printable Recipe Card:Grab your free printable recipe card for our Heart-Shaped Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake recipe.
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Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with this heart-shaped chocolate chip cookie cake. This easy, one-pan cookie cake combines buttery cookie dough, melted chocolate chips and cocoa frosting for an unforgettable homemade treat.
Ingredients
Chocolate Chip Cookie Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup white granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 egg yolks
- 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
- ¾ cup Valentine’s Day sprinkles, divided
For the Chocolate Frosting:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup Valentine’s Day sprinkles, for garnish
Instructions
Make the Cookie Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly spray a 9-inch heart-shaped or round cake pan with Pam Baking Spray and line the bottom with parchment paper.
- Whisk dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream butter and sugars: In a large mixing bowl (or stand mixer), beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2–3 minutes.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Mix in the eggs, egg yolks, and vanilla extract until fully combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing just until a soft dough forms.
- Fold in mix-ins: Gently stir in 1½ cups of chocolate chips and ¾ cup Valentine’s sprinkles.
- Press and top: Transfer the dough to the prepared pan and press it evenly to the edges. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips and a few sprinkles on top.
- Bake: Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the center looks just set. The cookie will continue cooking slightly as it cools.
- Cool completely: Let the cookie cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then carefully lift it onto a wire rack or cake board to cool completely, about 45 minutes.
Make the Frosting
- In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute.
- Add the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, heavy cream, and vanilla. Beat on low at first, then increase to medium-high and mix until light and fluffy, 2–3 minutes.
- Scoop the frosting into the piping bag fitted with a large star tip.
Decorate the Cookie Cake
- Once the cookie cake has cooled completely, pipe decorative dollops of frosting around the edges.
- Finish with Valentine’s sprinkles for color and crunch.
- Slice into wedges to serve and enjoy.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 907Total Fat: 38gSaturated Fat: 18gUnsaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 109mgSodium: 371mgCarbohydrates: 139gFiber: 6gSugar: 102gProtein: 9g
Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.
I hope your family loves this easy heart-shaped cookie cake as much as mine did!
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