Ultimate Layered Cookie Cake Recipes

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease 6-inch cake pans, line with parchment paper, then grease the parchment paper. Parchment paper helps the small cookie cakes seamlessly release from the pans.
• Whisk the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl. Set aside.
• In a large bowl using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together on medium-high speed until smooth and creamed, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and beat on high speed until combined, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl and beat again as needed to combine.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low until combined. With the mixer running on low speed, beat in the chocolate chips. Dough will be thick and sticky.
• Divide cookie dough between however many cake pans you're using. Press evenly into each. I only have 3 6-inch cake pans, so I baked in batches. If baking in batches, cover any cookie dough that isn't being used and set aside at room temperature.
• Bake for 20-22 minutes or until the cake layers are lightly brown on top and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean. Allow cakes to cool for 10 minutes in the pans. Run a sharp knife around the edges, then carefully invert the pan so the warm cookie cake slides out. (At this point you can clean out pans, grease, line with parchment, grease parchment, then bake remaining cakes if needed.) Set the baked cakes on a wire rack to cool completely. The cakes must be completely cool before frosting and assembling.
• With a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the butter and peanut butter together on medium speed until creamy and smooth, about 2 minutes. Add confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and 1 Tablespoon milk. Mix on low speed for 30 seconds, then increase to high speed and beat for 2 minutes. Add another Tablespoon or 2 of milk if frosting is too thick. Taste and add a pinch of salt if needed. (I always add a pinch!)
• Place 1 cake layer on your cake stand or serving plate. Evenly cover the top with frosting. Continue layering the cake layers and frosting. Spread the remaining frosting all over the top and sides, if there's any leftover for the sides! If desired, top with chocolate chips. Slice and serve.
• Cover leftover cake tightly and store in the refrigerator for 5 days.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 3 large baking sheets. Cut three 10-inch rounds of parchment paper and set each round on each baking sheet.
• Beat 1 cup butter, brown sugar, and white sugar together in a bowl using an electric mixer until fluffy and smooth. Mix eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, baking soda, and salt into creamed butter until just combined; stir in flour until dough is just combined. Fold chocolate chips into dough.
• Divide dough into 3 parts; press 1 part onto each parchment round.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cookie rounds are browned and crisp around the edges and set in the middle, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely.
• Stir melted butter, milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract together in a bowl. Beat confectioners' sugar and cocoa powder together in a separate bowl until evenly combined. Beat butter mixture into cocoa mixture until frosting is smooth and thickened.
• Peel parchment paper off the bottom of each cookie round. Set aside the prettiest round to be used for the top layer. Spread 1/2 the frosting onto 1 cookie round and top with a second cookie round. Spread remaining frosting onto second cookie round and top with the third cookie round.

ULTIMATE LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• For the cakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease four 12- by 8- by 1-inch baking pans with cooking spray and line with parchment paper.
• Prepare the dark chocolate cake according to package directions, using 1/4 cup canola oil and 3 eggs, and substituting the chocolate milk for the liquid. Bake in 2 of the prepared pans. Cool and remove the cakes from the pans.
• Prepare the milk chocolate cake according to package directions, using the remaining 1/4 cup canola oil and 3 eggs, and substituting the cream soda for the liquid. Bake in the remaining 2 pans. Cool and remove the cakes from the pans.
• While the cakes are baking, make the frostings.
• For the milk chocolate frosting: Using an electric hand mixer, beat together the softened butter, softened cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder and chocolate milk.
• For the dark chocolate frosting: Using an electric hand mixer, beat together the softened butter, confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder and chocolate fudge sundae topping.
• For the chocolate glaze: Place the chocolate chips in a medium microwave-safe bowl and set aside. In a small saucepan, combine the cream and corn syrup. Cook over medium heat just until boiling. Pour over chocolate chips and stir until completely smooth. If not completely smooth, microwave on medium setting (50 percent power) for 2 minutes. Cool about 5 minutes or until the mixture thickens.
• Cut each cake in half horizontally, to make 8 even layers. Place a dark cake layer onto a serving platter and frost the top only with some dark chocolate frosting. Place a milk chocolate cake layer on top and frost the top only with the milk chocolate frosting. Continue until you have 8 layers. Don't frost the top layer. Carefully pour the glaze over the cake, coating the top and letting it drip down the sides.