Before we get into the magic of these Dark Chocolate Cookie Layer Cakes, can we discuss how this whole What’s Gaby Cooking thing got started?
I’m frequently asked how I got into this line of work and when I really take the time to think about it, the answer is simple. I love feeding people. It’s the reason I used to cook for my tennis team in college. It’s the reason I have Sunday night dinner parties with my friends here in LA. It’s the reason I worked as a private chef for a number of years. And it’s certainly the reason I started the blog. I truly think the act of cooking or baking for someone is the best way to show someone you care. The second question I get asked is, what the heck do you do with all the food coming out of your kitchen?? That answer is more simple… I’m all about spreading the love. My UPS driver frequently gets batches of cookies, Thomas takes food into work for his co-workers and my trainers at the gym get goodies on a weekly basis. It’s all about spreading the love.
When Nestlé asked me to be a part of their #BakeSomeGood campaign, it was a no brainer. First – Nestlé is stocked in my pantry at all times. Dark Chocolate Morsels, Nestlé Toll House Premier White Morsels, you name it… it has a place in the What’s Gaby Cooking pantry. Second – the whole campaign is about baking an extra dozen of whatever you’re making and spreading the love. I mean, could those 2 things be more on brand… I think not!! Game on.
OKAY – now let’s get to these Dark Chocolate Cookie Cakes. This base cookie recipe should be your go to for just about everything in life ever. I used Dark Chocolate Morsels but you could easily use the Nestlé Toll House Premier White Morsels if that’s more your style. Or… get crazy and use both. And because we’re feeling fancy today, I turned these into a cookie cake that you can eat with a knife and fork because hello! There’s a dollop of cream cheese frosting holding all the layers together and a Dark Chocolate Morsel on top just good measure. Make them immediately, you’ll thank me later.
So next time you’re baking up a storm of anything (but I encourage you to make this exact recipe because it’s a game changer), make a double batch and #BakeSomeGood and share it with someone just to say thank you!! Then post a pic on social and share it with me and use the hashtag so we can all vicariously eat delicious baked goods online!
Dark Chocolate Cookie Cakes
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup Nestlé Toll House Dark Chocolate Morsels, plus 1/2 cup extra for rolling
- 16 oz cream cheese, at room temp
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Frosting
Instructions
- Cream together the butter and sugars in a stand mixer until smooth, about 2-3 minutes. Add the eggs and vanilla, making sure to scrape down the sides of the mixing bowl. Add the flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder and mix on low until everything is incorporated. Stir in the dark chocolate morsels by hand. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
- Scoop out 3 tablespoons worth of dough and roll the dough into a ball. Place the cookies onto a parchment lined baking sheet, about 12 per sheet and add a few dark chocolate morsels on the tops of the cookie (these will allow the dark chocolate morsels to be front and center once baked), and bake for 12-13 minutes until the edges are just slightly golden brown and the center is still a bit soft.
- Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the cookies rest for about 10 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. Repeat this process for the remaining dough.
- Stack 1 cookie on a small cake plate and add a dollop of frosting on top. Repeat so there are 3 layers to each cake and finish with a dollop of icing. Add a dark chocolate morsels on top and serve as needed. (I like to eat these with a knife and fork!!)
3.1
If you’re in the LA area – be sure to check out the #BakeSomeGood bake sale next week, April 5th from 12pm-3pm at the 3rd Street Promenade. A few weeks ago, Nestlé Toll House partnered with Soul Pancake for a bake sale take-over on the Promenade to benefit awesome causes, like supporting women’s aviation and replacing a neighbors stolen bike. Everyone was pumped about the #BakeSomeGood vibes, and next week, we are reliving this moment!
Photo by Matt Armendariz / Food Styling by Adam Pearson / Recipe from What’s Gaby Cooking
