M&M Cookie Cake

This chewy homemade M&M cookie cake is a crowd-pleasing dessert made with chocolate chips and M&Ms then decorated with buttercream frosting.

Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 40

Servings:

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray 9-inch pie dish with non-stick cooking spray.
In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 1/2 cup granulated sugars on high 1 minute, until combined. Add 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla then mix until combined.
Add 2 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and mix just until combined. Fold in 1/2 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 cup M&M’s.
Press dough evenly into the pie dish. Top with extra M&M's, if desired.
Bake 18 to 22 minutes, or until the edges are barely golden brown and the cookie is set. Cool completely before removing from pie dish and frosting.

In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream 1/4 cup butter on high for 30 seconds.
Add 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder, 1/2 Tablespoon half-and-half, and 1 teaspoon vanilla then mix on medium speed. Add another 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1/2 Tablespoon half-and-half and mix until combined. Add the remaining 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1/2 tablespoon half-and-half, and mix until the frosting is smooth and holds its shape. If needed, add more powdered sugar to thicken or more half-and-half to thin it.

Using a piping bag, pipe the frosting around the edge of the cake. Decorate with M&Ms, if desired.

Variations: Make this cookie cake your own by swapping out the M&M's and chocolate chips for whatever your sweet tooth is craving; i.e. toffee bits, candy bars (roughly chopped), nuts, dried fruit, peanut butter chips, etc. The same goes the frosting flavor and how you decorate. Have fun with it.
Alternative baking dish: An 8- or 9-inch round cake pan or square baking dish will work in place of the pie dish, but it may alter the baking time so keep a close eye on it in the oven.