This post may contain affiliate links. If you shop from one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Updated: February 3, 2022/ First Posted: February 3, 2022Amy Palanjian 12 Comments

Celebrate a special occasion (or just a random happy afternoon!), with this yummy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Cake recipe. It’s basically a giant cookie that bakes up so easily in a cake pan.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

There is nothing more fun to share with the kids as cookies…except for a giant cookie! And this cookie cake fills the bill and totally makes my kids light up with amazement when they see it come out of the oven.

It’s easier since you can bake all of the batter at once, rather than having to portion out into cookies, and once it’s cooled, it’s ready to serve simply by slicing it up.

We have so many memories of sharing this on days when the kids had snow days or we needed something to bake together.

Healthy Cookie Cake

I love baking treats for my family, but I almost always find conventional recipes to be too sweet for my taste—and many recipes are easy to make with less sugar and still deliver great results.

In this cookie cake, I reduced the sugar, keeping just enough for the slightly crisp texture around the edges, and mixed some applesauce in with the butter.

(My husband approves of it, though, so you can be assured that it’s still plenty sweet!)

Ingredients You Need

To make this cookie cake recipe, you’ll need:

• Whole wheat flour: You can substitute a gluten-free cup-for-cup flour if needed.
• Rolled oats: These are sometimes called “old-fashioned.”
• Shredded unsweetened coconut: You can omit and use additional oats if you prefer.
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Unsalted butter: Plan to let this sit at room temperature for a bit so it’s soft to the touch.
• Applesauce: I use smooth, unsweetened applesauce here.
• Egg
• Vanilla extract
• Sugar
• Brown sugar
• Bark or semisweet chocolate chips: I use regular size chocolate chips here, but minis also work.

TIP: If you’re not a fan of coconut, you can use more oats in place of it.

How to Prepare the Pan When Making a Cookie Cake Recipe

Spray the bottom of the pan with nonstick spray and top with a piece of parchment paper, cut into a round to fit, on top. Spray again with nonstick spray.

This will ensure it doesn’t stick. (Honestly, you could probably just grease it and skip the paper, but I like to be extra sure!)

TIP: To cut out your parchment paper, place pan on top of a piece of parchment and trace with a pen or pencil. Cut out, slightly inside the lines to ensure it fits.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Here’s a look at the process involved in making this cookie cake recipe. Scroll down to the bottom of this post for the full information.

1. Chop your chocolate. (This helps distribute the chocolate throughout the cake without having to use a ton of it.)
2. Beat the butter, egg, and vanilla together.
3. Beat in the sugar.
4. Stir in the dry ingredients to form a thick, moist batter.
5. Press into the prepared pan.
6. Bake until lightly golden brown around the edges and on top, and set in the middle.

TIP: You can use mini chocolate chips instead of chopping the chocolate if you prefer.

Can I make this gluten-free?

Using a cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend in place of the whole wheat flour works well and is an easy swap to make a gluten-free cookie cake.

Can I make this cake for a birthday?

Absolutely! It serves at least 8-10—or more if you slice the pieces smaller—and is really fun for the kids to eat.

Does it work to make this cake ahead of time?

Yes, with one caveat: On the day it’s baked, the edges of this cookie cake recipe are delightfully crisp. In following days, this softens.

You might not even miss the texture difference if you don’t know it was there since it otherwise tastes the same, but the crispness is very enjoyable should you have the option to serve it on the same day it’s baked (without storing it in a container first).

How to Store

The leftovers will be good for 3-4 days when stored in an airtight container. It will soften slightly, as I mentioned above, but otherwise holds up nicely.

Best Tips for Success

• This cake can be made up to 1 day ahead, though it is best on the day it’s baked—it softens slightly as it sits so you lose the slightly crunchy edges (but it’s otherwise great!). If making it ahead, let it cool fully on a wire rack after Step 6. Store in an airtight container and store at room temperature.
• Gluten-free: Use gluten free cup-for-cup flour and certified gluten free rolled oats.
• If you don’t happen to have applesauce, you can use mashed banana instead.
• Chop the chocolate or use mini chips to evenly distribute throughout the cake—so you get some in each bite.
• You may also like Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies, Healthy Chocolate Cake, and Chickpea Blondies.

I’d love to hear what you think of this recipe if you try it, so please comment below to share!

This post was first published February 2019.

Filder Under:Birthdays, Desserts, Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, Recipes, Vegetarian