This chewy sheet pan cookie cake is the perfect birthday treat for a crowd! Bake in a rimmed half sheet cookie sheet, this giant cookie cake feeds 24 people!
Move on over Mrs. Fields, we're making our own giant birthday cookie cake today! Based on my round Homemade Cookie Cake Recipe, this chewy chocolate chip cookie cake rivals store-bought and can be made for a fraction of the cost!
Use food coloring and sprinkles to customize the toppings to your event and use my free large number stencils to create a bakery-worthy giant birthday cookie cake!
Why I Love This Sheet Pan Cookie Cake
- Super chewy: The melted butter gives this giant chocolate chip cookie sheet cake the perfect chewy texture.
- Feeds a crowd: This recipe makes a large 13x18" cookie cake, which is enough to feed 24-32 people (depending on how big you cut the squares!). Sheet pan desserts for the win!
- Slices perfectly: Just like my regular sized Homemade Cookie Cake Recipe, this sheet pan cookie cake cuts into perfect, sturdy (but soft!) squares.
- Layer it! For even more cookie cake deliciousness, double the recipe and make a layered sheet pan cookie cake.
Ingredients
- For the Cookie Cake: butter, white sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, baking soda, baking powder, flour, and semi-sweet chocolate chips.
- For the Homemade Frosting (optional): butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, salt, and milk.
- Rimmed Half Sheet Pan
- Large star piping tip (if you plan to pipe!)
- Sprinkles, duh!
Tip: If you want to try more flavors, double my other homemade cookie cake recipes like my Frosted Sugar Cookie Cake or Chewy M&M Cookie Cake!
How to Make Sheet Pan Cookie Cake:
Step 1: Crush Half the Chocolate Chips
Place 1 cup of the chocolate chips in a plastic bag and use a meat mallet or rolling pin to break them down into small pieces (set the other 1 cup of unchopped chocolate chips aside).
Tip: You can also just use a chopping knife to chop the chocolate.
Step 2: Melt Butter & Add Ingredients
In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter for 30-60 seconds until fully melted (you don't want it piping hot).
Transfer butter to a large mixing bowl and add in white sugar and brown sugar. Use a spatula (don't use a mixer!) to stir by hand until combined. Mix in eggs. Next, add in baking soda, baking powder, and salt and mix again.
Add flour and mix until all the flour disappears into the dough. Lastly, add the 1 cup of chopped chocolate chips and 1 cup of whole chocolate into the dough and mix.
Step 3: Press Dough Into Pan & Bake
Grease a half sheet metal cookie cake pan with nonstick cookie spray and press dough into an even layer. Although this cookie removes cleanly, if you are worried about it sticking, line the bottom and sides of the pan with parchment paper first.
Bake at 350 degrees for 16-18 minutes or until edges are slightly brown - do NOT overbake or your chocolate chip cookie cake will not be soft. Allow the cookie cake to completely cool before frosting.
Tip: If you don't need such a giant cookie cake, you can also cut this recipe in half and bake it in a 9x13 pan (bake shorter for 12-14 minutes).
Step 4: Decorate & Serve
Use the instructions in the recipe card below to make my homemade vanilla buttercream (it tastes like ice cream!) or you could also use canned frosting.
Using a large star piping tip, pipe around the edges then immediately add sprinkles (the frosting will start hardening quick, so add sprinkles right away!). This recipe makes enough to pipe a generous border along the edges, while still having some to decorate the center.
To Serve: After frosted, cut in 24 squares. You can also cut smaller pieces to serve a larger crowd.
Cookie Cake Buttercream Frosting
This homemade buttercream will start developing a crust, which makes it a great frosting to make a day ahead. Because of the sugar content, you don't need to refrigerate the frosted cookie cake if you plan to enjoy it within 1 day. If you are making ahead earlier, I'd suggest waiting to frost until the day of OR gently wrap the frosted cookie after the frosting sets and place it in the fridge.
Cookie Cake Decorating Ideas
Use my free large number stencils to pipe on a birthday number! To do so, simply cut out the center number and then gently place on the cookie. Use a small piping tip or ziploc bag to pipe small dots inside the letter. Remove to reveal your bakery-worthy cookie cake!
Storage & Freezing Tips
Storing: After decorating, allow frosting to harden, and then carefully wrap the cookie in plastic wrap. This cookie cake is best to eat within 2 days; after that it starts to dry out.
Make-Ahead/Freezing: If you need to make this more than 2 days ahead, wrap the unfrosted sheet cake in plastic wrap and foil, then freeze. When ready to serve, let thaw and decorate.
Frequently Asked Questions:
If you don't need such a huge cookie cake, you can alter this cookie sheet cake recipe depending on your pan size.
- For 9x13, cut the recipe in half and bake for 12-14 minutes.
- For a 12" circle, use my Homemade Cookie Cake Recipe (this sheet pan recipe is my standard recipe but doubled for the dough and tripled for the frosting).
Canned frosting will work just fine, just keep in mind that it's not as sturdy when you pipe it. My recipe will create a nice, sturdy pipeable frosting that will harden.
If you do use canned frosting, you will need at least 2 cans to frost this giant chocolate chip cookie cake.
Absolutely! You can customize these cookie cake bars to your liking; add festive sprinkles, M&M's, or your favorite nuts. The fun thing about making a large rectangle cookie cake is that you can also put different toppings in different parts of the dough!
Chewy Sheet Pan Cookie Cake
Ingredients
⭐️ Before you begin! If you make this, will you do me a huge favor afterwards and leave a review and rating letting me know how you liked this recipe? This helps my small business thrive so I can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350℉.
- Place 1 cup of the chocolate chips in a plastic bag and use a rolling pin to break them down into small pieces (set the other 1 cup of unchopped chocolate chips aside).
- In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt the 1 cup unsalted butter for 20-30 seconds until JUST melted.
- Transfer butter to a larger bowl, then add in ½ cup granulated sugar and 1 cup light brown sugar and use a spatula to stir until combined (* do not use a mixer!). Add in 2 large eggs and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, then mix. Next, add in 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt and mix again. Add in 3 cups all-purpose flour and mix until all the flour disappears into the dough.
- Add the 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, chopped and 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, whole into the dough and mix. Immediately proceed to pressing into pan (you don't want the dough sitting out or it will set too much with the melted butter).
- Grease a 13x18" half sheet metal cookie cake pan (see notes below for alternate pans. Although this cookie removes cleanly, if you are worried about it sticking, line the bottom and sides of the pan with parchment paper first. Press dough into an even layer in pan.
- Bake at 350℉ for 16-18 minutes - do NOT overbake or your chocolate chip cookie cake will not be soft. You want the cookie cake to be slightly brown on the top and look slightly underbaked (my oven was perfect at 16 minutes). Remove from oven and place entire pan on a cooling rack. Allow the cookie cake to cool completely before removing.
- Using a large star piping tip, pipe around the edges then immediately add sprinkles (the frosting will start hardening quick, so add sprinkles right away!).
- Beat the softened ¾ cup unsalted butter on medium-high speed for 2 minutes until smooth. Turn the mixer to low speed then add the powdered sugar ¼ cup at a time (3 ¾ cups powdered sugar total). You may need to stop and scrape down sides. Add 1 tablespoon vanilla extract and ¼ teaspoon salt and turn mixer to medium speed. One tablespoon at a time, add milk (3 tablespoons milk total). Beat on high for 2-3 minutes until creamy and the frosting is at a good consistency to pipe. If it looks too runny, add more powdered sugar. If it looks too stiff, add a tiny bit of milk until you get to the desired consistency.This will make just enough frosting to pipe a border along the edges, as well as write a phrase on top.
Notes from Melissa
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Phenomenal!!!
This was a huge hit for my daughter's birthday.
Everyone said it was yummy!
Hello! Question! In the instructions it says not to use a mixer for the sugars and butter mixture. But after that, can I use the mixer or does it all need to be done by Spatula? Thanks!
Hi Mary! You can use a mixer, just keep it on low and only mix until everything is combined!
My daughter and I had fun making this together and everyone loved.
Sounds like a perfect day with your daughter! So glad you loved it!
Made this is in a 9x13 (x2) came out AMAZING
Would I be able to make this dough a day ahead of time? Then leave it in the fridge overnight, and put on a baking sheet to bake the next morning? Thank you!
Absolutely, Lauren! You can make the dough ahead and chill it overnight. Just let it sit out for a few minutes to soften before baking. Enjoy!
This recipe is perfect, the cookie and the frosting were simple and perfect! I found this recipe to be just as easy as making chocolate chip cookies!
So glad it was a hit, Holly!
I made these delicious chocolate chip bars as part of the monthly challenge. Thought this would be a fan favorite and I was right. I’ve already made these twice. Once for my family and neighbors for a Valentine’s Day treat and also for my son’s baseball team. My son loves the bars made with the icing on top. Try this recipe you won’t be disappointed. Keep the delicious recipes coming please.
#BakeAndTake!New!
Yay, so glad to hear everyone enjoyed the recipe! Turned out so cute! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review, Michelle!
Very yummy and easy! My neighbors loved it. #bakeandtake
So glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you so much for leaving a review, Pam! Those treat boxes are so cute!
This is such a good cookie! I love being able to use it in so many different ways! It was a huge hit at a recent party and so much fun to decorate. Yum yum!
#BakeAndTake
So glad to hear everyone enjoyed the recipe! Thank you so much for leaving a review, Adrienne! I really appreciate it!
I made this for a church potluck and it was a hit. So easy to make and the cookie is super soft. Will definitely be making again. #bakeandtake
I am so happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you so much for leaving a review, Amanda!