Chocolate Chip Cookies and Milk Cake
My dad's birthday was today and his very favorite dessert is chocolate chip cookies. So, when I was put to the task to make him a birthday cake, I thought ... why not make a chocolate chip cookie cake? No, not one of those that you pick up at the mall ... I'm talking the essence of a chocolate chip cookie baked into a birthday cake. Behold, a creation of epic dessert proportions.
This vanilla cake is speckled with chocolate chips, layered with cookie dough frosting, wrapped in milk icing and topped with chocolate chip cookies. A Chocolate Chip Cookies and Milk Cake. Holy. Cow.
This playful three layer cake is decadent and super fun. A must-make for your next party!
Chocolate Chip Cookies and Milk CakeVanilla Cake with Mini Chocolate Chips: 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened ½ cup vegetable shortening 3 cups granulated sugar 5 eggs, room temperature 3 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup whole milk, room temperature ½ cup buttermilk, room temperature 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup mini chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350º F. Prepare three 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick baking spray or coated well with shortening or butter and floured, taking care to remove all excess flour.Cream together butter and shortening until light and fluffy with an electric mixer. Slowly add sugar one cup at a time, making sure to fully incorporate each cup before adding another. Add eggs one at a time, making sure to fully incorporate each egg before adding another. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Pour milks and vanilla into measuring cup and whisk together with a fork. Add to butter and shortening mixture alternately with milk mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Gently stir all ingredients until well combined. Stop mixer and scrape down sides and bottom of bowl, making sure to have all ingredients mixed well. Fold in chocolate chips. Evenly distribute cake batter between cake pans and place pans into oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove and allow to cool slightly in cake pans for about 5 minutes, then cool completely on a wire rack.
Cake recipe adapted from Add A Pinch.
Cookie Dough Frosting (for in between cake layers): 1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), softened to room temperature 3/4 cup light brown sugar1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup milk 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on high speed until creamy (about 1 minute). Switch the mixer to medium speed and add the brown sugar. Beat until combined, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. On low speed, add the vanilla, flour, and salt. Beat until everything is mixed; the dough will be thick and heavy. Add the milk and beat on low for 30 seconds to fairly mix it in. Then switch to high and beat for at least 2 minutes until combined and very creamy. Gently fold in chocolate chips. Set aside at room temperature until ready to use.
Layer cookie dough frosting between cooled cake layers. Frosting recipe adapted from Sally’s Baking Addiction.
Boiled Milk Frosting (for frosting outside of cake): 5 tablespoons flour 1 cup whole milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Pinch of salt 1 cup unsalted butter, softened 1 cup granulated sugar
Over medium heat, whisk flour and milk in a small saucepan and heat to a simmer, stirring frequently until it becomes very thick and almost pudding like. Remove from heat, whisk in vanilla and salt. Pour into a bowl to allow it to cool completely. Use a mixer to cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on medium, add the cooled flour mixture a little bit at a time. Continue to beat until the mixture becomes light and fluffy and resembles whipped cream.
Use Boiled Milk Frosting to frost outside of cake.
Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies (to decorate top of cake): 1/2 cup of butter (1 stick), melted 1/2 cup of sugar 1/2 cup of brown sugar 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract 1 egg 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. baking soda 2 cups of all purpose flour 1 cup mini chocolate chips Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Stir together melted butter, sugar and brown sugar. Add vanilla, egg, baking soda and salt. Stir until combined. Add flour and stir until everything is combined. Add chocolate and stir until just combined.
Use a mini cookie scoop to scoop out dough onto cookie sheet. Place in 350 degree oven for 9 to 10 minutes. Do not over bake. Makes approx. 24 cookies.
Decorate top of cake with cookies.