Giant cookie cake

Difficulty: Easy

Time: 30 minutes plus 20 minutes baking

Serves: 16 slices

I’ve wanted to make a giant cookie for a while (who doesn’t!) so when the kids asked to do some baking while we were packing to go on holiday I thought it was the perfect excuse! I figured we’d use a cookie recipe we already know and love and just try and bake it differently in one large cake tin. I’m pleased to say it worked. As long as you like your cookie a wee bit gooey in the middle I think you’d like this.

Ingredients

225g (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
350g (2 cups) soft light brown sugar
2 eggs
½ tsp vanilla extract
400g (3 1/3 cups) plain flour
½ tsp salt
2 ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 large packs of M&Ms

Method

Preheat the oven to 170C and line an 8 inch/ 20cm cake tin with baking paper

Mix the butter and sugar

Get your child to measure the butter (225g) and sugar (350g) out then add to a mixing bowl or freestanding mixer. Mix them together using the paddle attachment, a hand held mixer, or wooden spoons until the eggs and butter are light and fluffy.

Add the eggs and vanilla extract

Get your child to break the eggs, one at a time, into a small bowl. Add them to your bowl, mixing it a little between each addition.

Turn the mixer down to a slower speed and get your child to help you measure the vanilla extract (1/2 tsp) into the bowl. Let them use the spoon on their own if they are able to, or help them and steady their hand while you pour if you need to.

Add the remaining ingredients

Measure the flour (400g) into a small bowl. If your child is able to, get them to help measure the salt ( ½ tsp) and bicarbonate of soda (2 ½ tsp) into the flour. Add these into your large bowl.

Mix everything together until you have a smooth dough. If you need to, use a spatula to scrape the mixture down from the sides of the bowl. We seem to have to do this a lot, especially to get the bits at the bottom, but it’s a good excuse to sample a wee bit of raw cookie dough as you go along!

Get the toddler to add in one pack of the M&Ms to your dough mixture. Give it one last mix so that everything is nicely combined.

Make the giant cookie

Pour the cookie dough into your prepared cake tin. Press down the mixture with the back of a spoon. Sprinkle a few more M&Ms on top until it looks nice and colourful.

Bake the cookies

Pop the giant cookie in the oven for roughly 15-20 minutes. It’s ready when the edge has turned golden brown and they’ve flattened down. It’ll still be a bit gooey in the middle but that’s how I like them. Cook it longer if you prefer a more crispy cookie.

Leave it in the cake tin to cool slightly, then move it to a wire rack to cool completely.