Let’s celebrate, shall we? Apparently I missed the memo that fall is birthday season. We have been honoring some serious milestone birthdays with friends and family these past few weeks. You guys know me- I absolutely love it. My kitchen hasn’t been as busy as of late, but I have enjoyed the regular opportunity to make birthday treats. Whether it’s a yummy cocktail, a bourbon chocolate chip cookie, or even today’s DIY cookie cake, I’m all about the celebration. If that’s you too, you’re in luck! Today’s recipe is a birthday winner.

I’ve already spoken at length about my love for cookies from the mall, and this DIY cookie cake is evidence to that fact. Even now, as a 30-something year old woman, I LOVE a cookie cake; they just never get old. I figured it was time to master the at-home method so we could DIY America’s favorite cookie cake. This recipe that I landed on is truly a winner- chewy, sweet, and balanced in flavor. There’s chocolate chips throughout and just enough frosting to wash it down with. Let me tell you how to make them.

DIY Cookie Cake
We start with melted butter. Stir it together with brown and granulated sugar. Next, add a single egg and a splash of vanilla extracts. The dry ingredients are modest- flour, leavening, and salt- with loads of chocolate chips. We chop up the chips so we don’t land a giant bite of chocolate- remember, balance is everything. Press the dough into a round rimmed baking sheet and bake until the outside is barely beginning to set.

The frosting here is simple- butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and salt. Just a little goes a long way, and I love that the cookie retains it’s original charm without the toothache. This DIY cookie cake goes a long way, serves a crowd, and can even be made in advance! Just wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil before freezing for up to 2 weeks in advance.
If you have any upcoming celebrations, I hope you’ll give this cookie cake a chance. Happy Sunday and happy baking!

If you like this DIY cookie cake you should try:
Sugar Cookie Double Doozies
Half Birthday Cake Tutorial
Alphabet Cream Pie Tutorial
Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies
DIY Cookie Cake
This DIY Cookie Cake features a chewy chocolate chip cookie topped with a simple homemade buttercream!
- Author: Kate Wood
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 15
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 10 Servings
- Category: Dessert
Ingredients
For the cookie:
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1–1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup chopped semisweet chocolate chips
For the frosting:
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1–1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease an 11” round rimmed baking pan.
- In a small pan over medium heat, gently melt the butter just until melted. Pour the butter into a large mixing bowl with the brown sugar and sugar. Stir until smooth. Add the egg and extract, stirring just until smooth. Add the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder, stirring with a spatula until smooth. Fold in the chopped chocolate chips and dump the batter into the prepared pan, pressing gently with your fingers until the dough is spread out evenly. Bake in the preheated oven about 11-12 minutes or until the edges are barely set. The insides will look underdone- do not overbake! Allow to cool completely prior to frosting.
- To frost the cookie cake, combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl. Using a hand mixer, stir on low until combined and then increase the speed to medium to beat to smooth for 2 minutes. Use a 1M piping tip fitted bag to pipe the frosting on the cooled cake prior to enjoying.