I’m in that place again.  I’m in that place where I have a birthday party looming in the not-so-distant future and I’ve done ZERO to get ready for it.  I haven’t ordered my decorations, started crafting my banners or even planned the meal.  The party is in eight days.  Oh, and I have that whole job thing, plus kids and dance classes and dinners and bathtimes and storytimes and homework and about eleventy-bazillion deadlines to meet before then.

I am fuh-reaaaak-ing out.

Why do I do this to myself?  Ok yes, I do work better under pressure, but no one likes stress-ball Erin.  I’m no fun.  I’m sweaty and grumpy and tired and mad at myself for procrastinating.  But, I have this nagging little thing in my brain that WON’T GO AWAY that’s all like, “You can do this.  Themed parties for 40 people are fun.  And of course it has to be better than our last party.”  And then I curse the day that Pinterest was invented and what’s wrong with birthday cakes made from a box mix and a couple of balloons, anyway?

(Not really, Pinterest.  I ♥ you.  Please don’t go anywhere, ever.)

But seriously – as much as I love to entertain and make everything just so, it is a LOT of work. But I love it.  For reals.  I think I just put a bit too much pressure on myself.  <– Understatement of the millennium.

So, one of the many reasons I’ve been procrastinating and not working on birthday-party-things in my spare time is that I had to make this cake for you ASAP.  It’s just what it looks like – a cookie cake.  But not just any old cookie cake – a four layer chocolate chip cookie cake with buttercream filling, and it’s just fabulous.

I came across this recipe on Kelsey Nixon’s website – I just love her, and I have since she was on The Next Food Network Star.  She’s so adorable and I love her style in the kitchen.  So when I saw this cake, I think it took me approximately 45 seconds to check my pantry for ingredients and I made it immediately.  The cookies are perfectly soft and just the right thickness, and although I altered the filling (she used cream-cheese frosting), it’s just the right combination of sweet and sweeter.

Ok, it’s very sweet.  But better than any cookie cake you’ll ever find at the grocery store.  Promise.

Plus, it’s actually very easy.  I happen to have four round cake pans so I was able to bake them all at once (instead of in a couple of batches) and that made it even quicker.

The cookies will get hard on you if you don’t keep them covered properly, so be sure to keep the cake under wraps until you’re ready to serve it. Use a long, sharp knife to cut it – and get your milk ready, you’ll need it.

I used a combination of chocolate chips and chocolate chunks – and it was perfect.  I even sprinkled some extra chunks across the top layer for aesthetic reasons. I actually considered drizzling the whole thing with chocolate ganache, but figured that would be too much.

Ha.  Because a four-layer cookie cake isn’t too much.

This cake is adorably rustic, and would be a fantastic birthday cake for a cookie-lover.  A couple of tall candles or a cute flag bunting would be so fun atop this tower-o-cookie-goodness, and you would totally look like a superstar hostess.  I love this particular cake stand, and it left just enough room to sprinkle a bunch of mini chocolate chips around the edge to hide the cardboard cake round.

As far as supplies go, I used 8-inch round cake pans, a cardboard round to put under the bottom layer (for easy transport) and parchment circles to prevent the cakes from sticking.  Everything else should be part of your traditional kitchen supplies.  Oh, and because everyone always asks, here’s the cake stand, too.

Hope you love this one.  It’s now among my favorite recipes of all time.  Enjoy!

♥erin

Chocolate Chip Cookie Layer Cake

 

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Prep time

30 mins

Cook time

30 mins

Total time

1 hour

 

A classic, favorite dessert, the chocolate chip cookie makes a perfect layer cake. This rustic dessert is beautiful, impressive and delicious, but also very easy! Enjoy! Recipe source: [Kelsey Nixon|http://www.kelseyskitchen.com/desserts/chocolate-chip-cookie-layer-cake-step-by-step-instructions.html]

Serves: 12-16 servings

Ingredients

Cake

• 4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 and ½ teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 sticks unsalted butter (1 and ½ cups), melted
• 2 cups light brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 large egg yolks
• 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 4 cups TollHouse chocolate chips or chunks

Frosting

• 3 sticks (1 and ½ cup) unsalted butter, softened but still cool
• 6 cups powdered sugar
• ¼ cup heaving whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Cake:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees (F).
2. Prepare four (8-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray and parchment. Set aside.
3. In a very large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt.
4. In another large mixing bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar until combined.
5. Add whole eggs and yolks one at a time, whisking after each addition until completely combined.
6. Add vanilla, stir to combine.
7. Using a large rubber spatula, fold the we ingredients into your large bowl of dry ingredients.
8. Continue to fold the mixture until all of the flour is absorbed, but do not over mix.
9. Stir in the chocolate chips.
10. Evenly divide the batter among the four baking pans, and use your fingers to press the batter and spread it to the edges of the pan.
11. Bake for 20-28 minutes or until the tops are just golden brown. Avoid overbaking - you want the middle to be soft.
12. Remove from oven and cool on wire racks until cookies are completely cool.
13. Prepare frosting.

Frosting:

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat softened butter until light and fluffy.
2. Add powdered sugar, cream and vanilla, and beat until completely incorporated and smooth. Add more milk if needed.
3. Assemble the cake by placed about a cup of frosting between the bottom three layers.
4. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the frosting sets, then remove from the refrigerator.
5. Enjoy!

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