Cute Christmas Cookie Cake
This Christmas Cookie Cake is the cutest way to celebrate the Holiday season with dessert, with a super approachable recipe that anyone can make!
Equipment
- Reusable Baking Mat (optional)
Ingredients
Christmas Cookie Cake
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup chocolate chips dark or semi-sweet
White Chocolate Ganache and Christmas Tree Decor
- 12 ounces white chocolate chips 12 oz = approx 1 ½ cups
- 8 ounces heavy whipping cream 8 oz = 1 cup
- 5 drops green food coloring
- ⅔ ounce black writing gel ⅔ oz usually = 1 small tube
- ¼ cup M&M's of choice I used peanut!
Instructions
Christmas Cookie Cake
- Preheat your oven to 325°F and line an 18" x 13" baking sheet with parchment paper or a reusable oven mat.
- In a large mixing bowl, add softened butter and both sugars and beat with a hand mixer on high to aerate.¾ cup unsalted butter, softened, 1 cup light brown sugar, ½ cup granulated sugar
- Next, add the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and salt and combine with your hand mixer. At this point, your dough will be dry and crumbly.2 cups all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon cornstarch, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt
- Add your eggs and vanilla extract last, using your hand mixer once again to combine until smooth.2 large eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Fold in your chocolate chips and use a spatula to spread the dough onto your cookie sheet. It will spread some during baking, so don't worry about getting it perfectly even.1 cup chocolate chips
- Bake for 45-50 minutes until the top is golden brown. Allow it to cool completely before cutting longways into a triangle shape.
White Chocolate Ganache and Christmas Tree Decor
- Heat heavy cream in a double boiler until it just starts to simmer. If you don't have a double boiler, just add the cream to a large, heat-safe bowl and place it on top of a large pot with boiling water.8 ounces heavy whipping cream
- Once the cream starts to simmer, remove it from heat and add white chocolate chips. Use a hand mixer or whisk to combine until the chocolate chips are completely melted.12 ounces white chocolate chips
- Add anywhere from 5-10 drops of food coloring and mix to achieve your desired color. Bear in mind that the ganache will lighten slightly in color once it is whipped.5 drops green food coloring
- Place the ganache in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to cool completely. Then whip with your hand mixer on high until it aerates and thickens.
- Once your cookie cake is cooled and your ganache has thickened, spread a generous amount of ganache onto the Christmas cookie cake. Use a spatula to spread it back and forth, leaving you with a "leafy" texture.
- Grab your black writing gel and start at the top and draw swooping, diagonal lines, back and forth from side to side, moving down to the bottom of the tree.⅔ ounce black writing gel
- Place your M&Ms just under the black lines you drew, about 1 mm apart, alternating colors of your choice to resemble hanging Christmas lights.¼ cup M&M's of choice
Notes
- If the food coloring starts to separate from the fat in the ganache, don't fret. Just place your bowl of ganache in a larger bowl filled with ice to keep it cool while you continue to whip.
- If you're having trouble following along with the decorating directions, scroll up for more detailed directions with images to help you replicate that cute Christmas tree!
- Whether you’re hosting a party, it’s someone’s birthday—or it’s just a rainy Tuesday!—this selection of my best cake recipes has a great cake for every occasion.