This decorated Christmas cookie cake is one of my favorite holiday desserts because it’s so easy and festive. A single large chocolate chip cookie baked in a pan and decorated with green frosting, red and green sprinkles, and holiday M&Ms makes a joyful centerpiece for holiday parties.
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If you enjoy this recipe, consider pairing it with other holiday treats like eggnog bread pudding, classic sugar cookies, or a festive charcuterie board to round out your celebration.
Christmas Cookie Cake Recipe
If you grew up in the 80s, you might remember the oversized chocolate chip cookie cakes from mall bakeries with piped frosting and a celebratory message. This recipe recreates that nostalgic treat with a holiday twist: one giant, moist chocolate chip cookie, baked in a pan and decorated with seasonal colors and candies.
The dough is the same basic chocolate chip cookie dough you know and love, but instead of scooping many cookies, you press the dough into a 9-inch pan and bake. It’s quick, simple, and perfect for serving a crowd.
Why is it called a cookie cake?
A cookie cake is essentially a giant cookie that’s baked and decorated like a cake. This version uses chocolate chip cookie dough as the base and is finished with a ring of buttercream frosting, sprinkles, and holiday M&Ms for a bright festive look.
Cookie Christmas Cake Ingredients
- Salted butter — softened. If you only have unsalted, add ½ teaspoon salt to the dry ingredients.
- Brown sugar & granulated sugar — a mix gives good flavor and chew.
- Eggs — use room-temperature large eggs.
- Pure vanilla extract — quality vanilla makes a big difference.
- All-purpose flour — measure by weight if possible (about 288 g for this recipe).
- Baking soda — for a bit of lift.
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips — mini chips distribute nicely, but regular chips or chopped chocolate work too.
- Holiday M&Ms — added before and after baking for festive color.
- Sprinkles — red and green nonpareils or sanding sugar for decoration.
- Frosting — a buttercream or store-bought decorating icing for piping around the edge.
Equipment
You’ll need a 9-inch springform pan, tart pan with a removable bottom, or a cake pan lined with parchment. A tart pan at least 1.5 inches deep works well. Also have a large mixing bowl, a rubber spatula, and a cooling rack on hand.
Step by Step
- Cream together butter and both sugars with a hand or stand mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth.
- Sift in flour and baking soda (and salt if using unsalted butter).
- Fold the dry ingredients with a rubber spatula until just combined; avoid overmixing.
- Fold in the mini chocolate chips, then press the dough into the prepared pan in an even layer. Dust a spoon or your hands with a little powdered sugar if the dough sticks.
- Scatter holiday M&Ms and sprinkles over the top as desired.
- Bake at 350°F for about 20–25 minutes. The edges should be golden and the center just set but still a little soft. Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan, at least 30 minutes, before removing.
- Pipe buttercream around the outer edge of the cooled cookie cake and top the frosting with more M&Ms and sprinkles.
Serve slices at room temperature. Enjoy — Merry Christmas and happy holidays!
Tips and F.A.Q.
A cookie cake is essentially a very large cookie baked in one piece and decorated like a cake. Texture and flavor are similar to a cookie, but presentation feels celebratory.
This cookie cake stays fresh up to 3 days at room temperature in an airtight container. You can freeze it for up to three months; thaw it still wrapped and bring to room temperature before serving.
It’s done when the edges are golden brown and the center is set but still slightly soft. Avoid overbaking to keep a soft, cookie-like center.
Change colors of sprinkles, M&Ms, and frosting to suit any occasion. Bake in themed pans (heart-shaped for Valentine’s Day, colors for Halloween) to adapt the recipe for other celebrations.
If you try this recipe, please consider leaving a rating and a comment — I love hearing your feedback. Share your creations on Instagram by tagging @chenee_today!
More Christmas Cookie Recipes
- Ginger Crinkle Cookies
- Matcha Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Cranberry White Chocolate Shortbread Cookies
- Salted Caramel Thumbprint Cookies with Cinnamon Sugar
- Almond Lemon Cookies
- Christmas Charcuterie Board ideas
📖 Recipe
Christmas Cookie Cake – Easy Decorated Holiday Recipe
Equipment you may need
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Mixing bowls
- Rubber spatula
- Stand or hand mixer
- Cooling rack
- 9-inch springform or tart pan
- Food scale (optional)
Ingredients
- Baking spray
- 1 cup (227 g) salted butter, room temperature (2 sticks)
- ½ cup (110 g) light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons (10 ml) pure vanilla extract
- 2 ¼ cups (281 g) all-purpose flour (about 288 g by weight)
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup holiday M&Ms
- ¼ cup sprinkles, nonpareils, or sanding sugar
- Frosting for decorating
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9-inch springform, tart, or cake pan with baking spray (or line with parchment).
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and both sugars for about 3 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Mix in the eggs, then add vanilla and beat another 2 minutes until smooth.
- Sift in the flour and baking soda, then fold with a rubber spatula until just combined.
- Fold in mini chocolate chips.
- Press the dough evenly into the prepared pan. Use lightly powdered sugar on a spoon or your hands if the dough is sticky.
- Scatter sprinkles and M&Ms across the top.
- Bake 20–25 minutes, or until edges are golden and center is slightly soft but set.
- Cool in the pan at least 30 minutes, then remove and transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Pipe frosting around the edge of the cooled cookie cake and top with additional M&Ms and sprinkles.
Notes
Pan choice: Use a springform pan, tart pan, or cake pan. If using a regular cake pan, line the bottom with parchment paper to remove the cookie cake easily.
Salted butter: This recipe uses salted butter. If you prefer unsalted, add ½ teaspoon salt to the dry ingredients.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 slice | Calories: 475 kcal | Carbohydrates: 58 g | Protein: 5 g | Fat: 26 g
