Easy Decorated Christmas Cookie Cake Recipe: Your Ultimate Holiday Dessert

This decorated Christmas cookie cake recipe is truly one of my favorite holiday treats, and for good reason—it’s incredibly easy to make! Imagine a giant, moist chocolate chip cookie, baked to perfection, and then adorned with vibrant, festive Christmas designs. This isn’t just a dessert; it’s a celebration in itself, perfect for bringing joy to your holiday gatherings without the stress of intricate baking.

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Looking for more delightful holiday season goodies for your festive parties? You might also enjoy my Eggnog Bread Pudding with Brown Butter Rum Sauce for a cozy, rich treat, or my No-Spread Sugar Cookies for classic decorating fun. For the ultimate holiday spread, why not combine them all with my stunning Christmas Charcuterie Board!

Christmas Cookie Cake Recipe: A Nostalgic Holiday Twist

If you’re one of my fellow 80s babies, you’ll undoubtedly remember the magic of those iconic mall cookie stores. The aroma of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies wafting through the air, culminating in those glorious giant cookie cakes with their perfectly piped frosting and “Happy Birthday” messages. Those treats hold a special place in our childhood memories, especially around the holiday season.

This decorated Christmas cookie cake offers the perfect opportunity to recreate those cherished memories with a festive twist. It’s the ultimate dessert for celebrating, adorned with vibrant Christmas sprinkles that instantly bring a cheerful, festive look to any table. It takes the familiar comfort of a classic chocolate chip cookie and elevates it into a show-stopping cake that’s surprisingly simple to prepare.

The best part? It’s SO easy to make. The base dough is essentially a classic chocolate chip cookie dough, but instead of the time-consuming process of scooping out dozens of individual cookies, you simply press the entire batch of dough into a single pan. This streamlines the baking process significantly, making it ideal for busy holiday schedules. Fewer steps, less fuss, and a truly impressive result – it couldn’t be simpler!

What Makes It a Cookie Cake and Why It’s Perfect for Christmas?

The name “cookie cake” perfectly describes this delightful hybrid: it’s a cake that embodies the beloved flavors and irresistible texture of homemade cookies, all baked into a single, impressive form. For this particular decorated Christmas Cookie Cake recipe, we harness the rich, comforting goodness of chocolate chip cookie dough. What transforms it into a festive masterpiece is the generous topping of colorful Christmas sprinkles and a beautifully piped ribbon of green (or red!) frosting, instantly evoking the holiday spirit.

Unlike a traditional cake, a cookie cake offers a denser, chewier texture, a delightful contrast to the light and airy crumb of sponge cakes. It’s less formal and more approachable, making it a fantastic centerpiece for casual holiday gatherings or a fun activity to bake with family. Its single-layer format also means no fussing with multiple cake layers or intricate frosting techniques—just press, bake, and decorate for maximum impact with minimal effort. This simplicity, combined with its universally loved chocolate chip base, makes it an absolute winner for Christmas festivities.

Cookie Christmas Cake Ingredients: For the Perfect Bake

Crafting the perfect Christmas cookie cake starts with selecting quality ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in achieving that moist, chewy texture and rich, comforting flavor. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need and why:

• Salted Butter: I prefer to use softened salted butter for an enhanced flavor balance that cuts through the sweetness. If you only have unsalted butter on hand, no worries! Simply add ½ teaspoon of salt along with your dry ingredients to achieve a similar depth of taste. Room temperature butter is key for proper creaming, creating an airy base.
• Brown Sugar & Granulated Sugar: This combination is the secret to a rich, complex sweetness and the ideal chewy texture in your Christmas Cookie cake. Brown sugar adds moisture and a hint of molasses, while granulated sugar contributes to the crisp edges and overall structure.
• Eggs: Ensure your large eggs are at room temperature. This helps them emulsify better with the butter and sugars, leading to a smoother, more uniform dough and a better rise in your cookie cake.
• Pure Vanilla Extract: Vanilla is a cornerstone flavor in this cookie cake, elevating the chocolate notes and adding warmth. Using a great-quality pure vanilla extract makes a noticeable difference in the final taste. Don’t skimp here!
• All-Purpose Flour: For consistent and accurate baking, I highly recommend measuring your flour by weight using a kitchen scale. For this recipe, you’ll need approximately 288 grams of flour. Measuring by volume can lead to variations in density, affecting your cookie cake’s texture.
• Baking Soda: This leavening agent provides a gentle lift, ensuring your Christmas cookie cake is tender and slightly soft in the center, rather than dense and cracker-like.
• 1 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips: I love the way mini chocolate chips distribute evenly and melt beautifully throughout the cake, creating perfect pockets of chocolate in every bite. However, feel free to use regular chocolate chips, festive white chocolate chips, or even chunks of semisweet chocolate for a bolder chocolate presence. If you’re a true chocolate lover, also check out my Hot Chocolate Mug Cake or my decadent Pinecone Brownie Recipe!
• M&M’s: Adding some holiday M&Ms to the top of the cake before baking, and then again on top of the frosting after it’s baked, adds a delightful crunch, extra chocolatey goodness, and a pop of festive color. For more M&M fun, try my Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies!
• Sprinkles: A mix of red and green sprinkles is essential for that unmistakable Christmas cheer. They add texture, color, and a joyful touch to your Christmas Cookie cake. If you adore sprinkles, you’ll also love my Birthday Rice Krispie Treats!
• Frosting: To keep this recipe super easy, I often opt for a convenient buttercream frosting from a Pillsbury filled pastry bag or a store-bought decorating icing. This shortcut makes decorating your easy Christmas cookie cake quick and simple, allowing you to focus on the fun designs. If you prefer to make your own from scratch, my mini vanilla cake recipe includes a fantastic homemade buttercream recipe you can adapt.

Essential Equipment for Your Christmas Cookie Cake

While this Christmas Cookie cake recipe is wonderfully simple, having the right tools can make the process even smoother and ensure a perfect outcome. Here’s what you’ll need:

• **A 9-inch Pan:** The star of the show is your baking vessel. A 9-inch springform pan is ideal because its removable sides make unmolding the giant cookie cake incredibly easy, preserving its beautiful shape. Alternatively, a standard 9-inch cake pan can work; just be sure to line the bottom with parchment paper to aid in removal. I personally love using a tart pan with a removable bottom, which offers a lovely fluted edge to the cake. If you opt for a tart pan, ensure it’s at least 1.5 inches deep to comfortably accommodate the amount of cookie dough.
• **Large Mixing Bowl:** You’ll need a spacious bowl to combine all your ingredients without making a mess. A sturdy bowl that can handle an electric mixer is a must.
• **Electric Mixer or Stand Mixer:** While you *could* mix by hand, an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer with a paddle attachment will make creaming the butter and sugars much easier and ensure a light, fluffy texture.
• **Rubber Spatula:** Essential for scraping down the sides of the bowl and gently folding in dry ingredients and chocolate chips without overmixing.
• **Cooling Rack:** Once baked, your giant cookie cake needs to cool properly to prevent condensation and ensure it sets perfectly. A wire cooling rack allows air to circulate around all sides.
• **Piping Bag & Tip (Optional, for decorating):** If using pre-made frosting bags, you might not need separate tips. Otherwise, a piping bag and your favorite decorating tip (like a star tip) will help you create those beautiful borders and festive designs.

With these simple tools, you’re well on your way to baking a magnificent Christmas cookie cake!

Step by Step: How to Make Your Easy Christmas Cookie Cake

Creating this festive Christmas cookie cake is a breeze with these straightforward steps. Follow along to achieve a perfectly moist and delicious holiday treat:

1. Prepare Your Pan & Preheat Oven: First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease and flour your chosen 9-inch pan (springform, cake, or tart pan) with baking spray, or line a regular cake pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang to easily lift the cake out later.
2. Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, combine your softened salted butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Using an electric mixer (handheld or stand mixer), cream these ingredients together on medium speed for about 3 minutes until the mixture is visibly lightened in color and fluffy. This step incorporates air, making your cookie cake tender.
3. Add Wet Ingredients: Next, beat in the room temperature eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated before adding the next. Follow with the pure vanilla extract. Continue to beat for another 1-2 minutes until the mixture is smooth and even fluffier.
4. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together your all-purpose flour and baking soda (and ½ teaspoon salt if using unsalted butter). Sifting these dry ingredients beforehand can help prevent lumps, though whisking thoroughly is often sufficient.
5. Gently Fold in Dry Ingredients: Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold until they are *just* combined. The key here is to avoid overmixing, which can develop the gluten in the flour too much, resulting in a tough cookie cake. Stop mixing as soon as no dry streaks of flour remain.
6. Fold in Chocolate Chips: Finally, fold in your mini chocolate chips until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough. You want chocolate in every bite!
7. Press Dough into Pan: Transfer the cookie dough to your prepared pan. Using your hands (lightly floured or coated with a little powdered sugar to prevent sticking) or the back of a spoon, press the dough into an even, single layer across the bottom of the pan. Make sure it’s packed relatively uniformly for even baking.
8. Decorate with M&M’s and Sprinkles (Pre-Bake): Now for the fun part! Generously sprinkle a portion of your holiday M&M’s and red and green sprinkles all over the top of the unbaked chocolate chip cookie cake. Don’t be shy – the more festive, the better!
9. Bake to Perfection: Place the pan in your preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. Start checking at 20 minutes. The cookie cake is done when the edges are golden brown and the center appears set but might still be slightly soft. This slight softness in the center is desirable, as it will continue to cook slightly as it cools and results in that perfect chewy texture. Be careful not to overbake, as this can lead to a dry cake.
10. Cool Completely & Final Decoration: Allow your Christmas cookie cake to cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes before attempting to remove it. Once partially cooled, carefully remove it from the pan (especially if using a springform or tart pan) and transfer it to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. This is crucial before frosting! Once fully cooled, use your piping bag to swirl your chosen frosting around the edge of the cake. Finish with additional holiday M&M’s and sprinkles for a truly dazzling and delicious presentation.

Enjoy this incredibly easy and wonderfully festive treat! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Tips and Frequently Asked Questions for Your Christmas Cookie Cake

To help you achieve the best possible Christmas cookie cake, here are some helpful tips and answers to common questions:

More Delicious Christmas Cookie Recipes for Your Holiday Table

The holiday season is perfect for baking, and if you loved this Christmas cookie cake, you’re sure to enjoy these other festive favorites:

• Ginger Crinkle Cookies: Soft, chewy, and bursting with warm ginger spice.
• Matcha Chocolate Chip Cookies: A unique twist on a classic, with earthy matcha flavor.
• Cranberry White Chocolate Shortbread Cookies: Elegant and buttery, with a delightful festive tang.
• Salted Caramel Thumbprint Cookies with Cinnamon Sugar: A perfect balance of sweet and salty, with a hint of spice.
• Almond Lemon Cookies: Light, zesty, and delicately flavored.
• Christmas Charcuterie Board: Not a cookie, but an incredible centerpiece for holiday entertaining!

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