How to Make a Cookie Cake

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Pillsbury™.  The opinions and text are all mine.

I love celebrations!  Big celebrations like birthdays are my favorite but I also love the smaller celebrations that celebrate milestones like the first lost tooth, the last day of school, or a good grade on a hard test.  I love the memories that are created by making everyday moments big.  While it might seem like those types of celebrations are a lot of work, they don’t have to be.  A simple cookie cake is easy to make, looks great, and can be customized for any occasion … and I have a few tips to make the cookie cake process even easier!

To make a cookie cake at home, you’ll need to pop in to Walmart to grab the following ingredients:

1-2 packages {30 ounces} refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough {I like the cookie to be thick so I typically use two packages but the amount will depend on the size of your pan and the thickness of the cookie}

Pillsbury™ Filled Pastry Bags in Chocolate Fudge and Vanilla flavors {there’s also a cream cheese flavor which would be delicious!}, and

a variety of sprinkles for decorating.

Let the cookie dough soften at room temperature for ten minutes.

Coat a deep dish pizza pan with cooking spray and add a strip of parchment paper down the middle to serve as a lifter.  I use a 12 inch deep dish pizza pan that I bought at Walmart but a smaller size will also work well.  If you don’t want the cookie to spread out, you’ll need to use a pan with sides but if you aren’t concerned about the shape, you can use a flat pizza pan or a baking sheet as well.  If you use a smaller size pan, just adjust the cooking time a bit.

Break the cookie dough into chunks and press the dough evenly into the pan.  You can use a spreader to even it out …

… or press another pan on top of it to flatten it and even it out.

Bake at 325 degrees for 16-20 minutes for a smaller pan and 20-30 minutes for a larger pan.  Be sure not to overbake it.  Just like regular cookies, the cookie cake will firm up a bit as it sits.

Cool completely then lift it gently out of the pan using the piece of parchment paper you placed underneath.  If you don’t allow the cake to cool completely before lifting it, it will break.

Now comes the fun part: the decorating.  I love to make fun cakes and cupcakes for my kids but I’m NOT a cake decorator.  I need easy and fairly fail-proof and I finally found the perfect thing for someone like me: new Pillsbury Filled Pastry Bags {found in the frosting aisle of Walmart}.  These filled bags are a game changer!  With the frosting already in a pastry bag, all you have to do is push the frosting to the top of the bag, tear the plastic cover off the attached star tip, and start frosting!  I love that it’s so mess-free and easy.  No filling bags, no washing the bags after {bonus!}, and no need for a handful of tools.

The included star tip is completely versatile and the packaging shows you three different techniques for decorating.  It couldn’t be easier!

I did a little test in an area that I knew would later be covered with rosettes …

… and then added a message.  I told you I’m no cake decorator but it was quite easy to write with the star tip as well.

I added rosettes in different sizes around the top and sides of the cookie cake …

… to create a super simple, but super cute cake that’s perfect for celebrating my kids’ achievements!

And because I love a bit of color, I added some colorful candies among the rosettes …

… and dusted the entire cake with colorful round sprinkles.

To serve the cookie cake, simply slice it like a pizza, add a glass of milk, and get your party on!

I love the ease of the Pillsbury Filled Pastry Bags … they truly make baking a breeze!  From start to finish, it took me less than ten minutes to decorate the cookie cake … a total win and the perfect way to ensure that celebrations are abundant but easy!

How do you like to celebrate?