If you’re dreaming of a festive treat that brings all the joy of Christmas into one sweet bite, this Christmas Cookie Cake Recipe is your new holiday hero. Imagine a giant, soft, chewy cookie packed with chocolate chips and colorful red and green M&Ms, baked to golden perfection and crowned with a luscious swirl of buttery, green vanilla frosting and sprinkles. It’s fun, it’s festive, and best of all, it’s easy enough to whip up with simple ingredients that come together beautifully to create a showstopper dessert for your holiday celebrations.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this Christmas Cookie Cake Recipe starts with a handful of straightforward ingredients, each playing its role—rich butter for moisture and flavor, sugars for sweetness and chewiness, and colorful toppings that make it undeniably festive and fun. Let’s look at all the essentials you need to get started.
- Unsalted butter (1/2 cup): Provides a creamy richness that makes the cookie cake tender and moist.
- Brown sugar (2/3 cup): Adds a deep caramel flavor and helps with chewy texture.
- Granulated sugar (1/3 cup): Balances sweetness and contributes to the perfect crumb.
- Eggs (2): Bind the ingredients together and add moisture.
- Vanilla extract (1 1/2 teaspoons): Brings a warm, aromatic note that elevates the flavor.
- All-purpose flour (2 cups): The backbone for structure and chewiness.
- Salt (1 teaspoon): Enhances all the sweetness and rounds out flavors.
- Baking soda (3/4 teaspoon): Helps the cookie cake rise just enough for soft texture.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips (1/2 cup): Melty chocolate pockets that add indulgence to every bite.
- Red and green M&Ms (1/2 cup): Festive bursts of color and crunch.
- Christmas sprinkles: To top the cookie cake with holiday cheer and visual appeal.
- Butter (1/2 cup, for frosting): Creates a smooth base for the luscious frosting.
- Powdered sugar (2 cups): Sweetens and thickens the frosting perfectly.
- Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon, for frosting): Adds vanilla’s comforting fragrance to the frosting.
- Milk (1 tablespoon): Adjusts frosting consistency for easy spreading.
- Green gel food coloring: Gives that iconic Christmas-green hue to the frosting.
How to Make Christmas Cookie Cake Recipe
Step 1: Preheat and Prep
Start by heating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a springform pan with parchment paper. This simple step ensures your cookie cake will bake evenly and slide right out for serving, setting the stage for a perfect Christmas Cookie Cake Recipe experience.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars
In a large mixing bowl, beat the unsalted butter until it’s silky smooth. Then add both brown and granulated sugars and cream them together for about 1 to 2 minutes. This process aerates the mixture, making your cookie cake wonderfully light and tender.
Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Next, crack in the eggs and pour in the vanilla extract. Mix them just until combined. Overmixing here can toughen your cookie, so a gentle hand is key to a soft, chewy texture.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking soda. This ensures they are evenly distributed and ready to be folded into your wet mix for uniform rising and flavor.
Step 5: Mix Dry into Wet
Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Stop stirring as soon as the flour disappears to maintain that tender crumb everyone loves in this Christmas Cookie Cake Recipe.
Step 6: Fold in Chocolate Chips and M&Ms
Finally, gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips and the festive red and green M&Ms. These colorful candies give the cookie cake its signature holiday look and a delightful crunch.
Step 7: Bake to Golden Perfection
Pour the dough into your prepared springform pan and bake it for 20 to 25 minutes. Keep an eye on the top—it should turn golden brown, signaling the cookie cake is perfectly baked but still soft inside.
Step 8: Cool Before Frosting
Once out of the oven, let your cookie cake cool completely. This cooling step is crucial so the frosting doesn’t melt and slide off, keeping the vibrant green top neat and festive.
How to Serve Christmas Cookie Cake Recipe
Garnishes
Top your cookie cake with colorful Christmas sprinkles for a cheerful look that matches the season. The sprinkles add a festive crunch and a playful touch, making your dessert instantly Instagram-worthy and irresistible.
Side Dishes
This Christmas Cookie Cake Recipe pairs beautifully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream to balance its sweetness. For a refreshing contrast, serve alongside some fresh berries or a holiday-spiced hot cocoa for the ultimate cozy combo.
Creative Ways to Present
Present your cookie cake on a beautiful holiday platter, surrounded by pine sprigs or candy canes for festive flair. You can cut it into wedges like a cake or even shape the dough into mini cookie cakes for individual servings that wow at a holiday party.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Wrap any leftover Christmas Cookie Cake Recipe tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container at room temperature. It will stay moist and delicious for up to 3 days—perfect for sneaking a sweet bite whenever the holiday rush hits.
Freezing
You can freeze the fully baked and cooled cookie cake by wrapping it securely in plastic wrap and aluminum foil for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then bring to room temperature before frosting for best results.
Reheating
For a fresh-out-of-the-oven feel, warm individual slices in the microwave for about 10 to 15 seconds. This revitalizes the gooey chocolate and soft texture, making every bite taste like it was just baked.
FAQs
Can I use different types of chocolate chips?
Absolutely! While semi-sweet chocolate chips are classic, feel free to swap in milk, dark, or even white chocolate chips to suit your taste. Each brings a unique flavor that complements the Christmas tones beautifully.
What if I don’t have a springform pan?
You can use a regular round cake pan lined with parchment paper or a well-greased 9-inch baking pan. Just be sure to adjust baking time slightly if using a different size.
How do I get the frosting so green?
Using gel food coloring is the secret to achieving a vibrant, rich green without thinning out the frosting. Add it a little at a time until you hit that perfect Christmas green shade.
Can I make this cookie cake vegan or gluten-free?
You can experiment by substituting vegan butter and egg replacers, and using gluten-free all-purpose flour. Just keep in mind texture and flavor might shift a bit, but it’s definitely worth a try for dietary needs.
Is this recipe suitable for kids to help with?
Yes! This Christmas Cookie Cake Recipe is fantastic to make with kids since it involves fun tasks like mixing, folding in colorful candies, and decorating with sprinkles. It’s a festive family bonding activity full of smiles and anticipation.
Final Thoughts
There’s something truly special about a dessert that feels both nostalgic and fresh, and this Christmas Cookie Cake Recipe nails that balance perfectly. Whether you’re baking it for a holiday party, family gathering, or just because you want to fill your kitchen with holiday cheer, this cookie cake promises smiles, sweet memories, and many happy seconds on your festive table. Go ahead and try it out—you’re going to love every bite.
Print
Christmas Cookie Cake Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 7 to 8 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This festive Christmas Cookie Cake combines classic soft-baked cookie flavors with colorful holiday M&Ms and sprinkles, creating a deliciously inviting treat perfect for holiday celebrations. The cake is layered with a creamy vanilla buttercream frosting tinted green with gel food coloring, making it both visually appealing and delightfully sweet.
Ingredients
Cookie Cake
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup red and green M&Ms
- Christmas sprinkles
Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 Tbsp milk
- Green gel food coloring
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it reaches the ideal temperature for baking the cookie cake evenly.
- Prepare Pan: Line a springform pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and allow easy removal of the cookie cake after baking.
- Cream Butter: In a large mixing bowl, beat the unsalted butter until it becomes smooth and creamy, which helps incorporate air for a soft texture.
- Add Sugars: Add both brown and granulated sugars to the butter and cream them together for 1-2 minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs and vanilla extract to the creamed butter and sugar mixture, mixing until just combined to avoid overbeating and to keep the batter tender.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, and baking soda to evenly distribute the raising agents and seasoning.
- Incorporate Dry Into Wet: Slowly mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined, being careful not to overmix to keep the cookie cake tender.
- Add Mix-ins: Fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips and red and green M&Ms gently into the dough, ensuring an even distribution throughout.
- Bake: Pour the dough into the prepared springform pan and bake for 20-25 minutes until the top is beginning to turn golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out nearly clean.
- Cool: Remove the cookie cake from the oven and allow it to cool completely in the pan to set properly before frosting.
- Prepare Frosting: In a bowl, beat the butter until smooth, then gradually mix in powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk until you reach a creamy consistency. Add green gel food coloring to tint the frosting to a festive green.
- Decorate: Spread the green buttercream evenly over the cooled cookie cake and decorate the top with Christmas sprinkles to add a festive touch.
Notes
- Ensure the cookie cake is completely cooled before frosting to prevent melting the buttercream.
- You can substitute the springform pan with a round cake pan lined with parchment, but removal might be more difficult.
- Use gel food coloring for vibrant color without altering frosting consistency.
- For a chewy texture, avoid overbaking; the cookie cake should be just set in the middle.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
