Get ready to cast a delicious spell this Halloween season with our incredible Spiderweb Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake! Forget store-bought sweets; this gigantic, homemade chocolate chip cookie masterpiece is guaranteed to be the star of your Halloween gathering. My family, devout lovers of all things chocolate chip cookie, unanimously declared this festive treat a stroke of genius, and we’re certain it will become a cherished holiday tradition in your home too. Imagine a warm, chewy, chocolate-packed cookie that’s big enough to share, yet so irresistible, everyone will want their own generous slice. This isn’t just a dessert; it’s a centerpiece of spooky delight!
Crafting this enchanting Halloween Treat is surprisingly simple. A luscious batch of homemade chocolate chip cookie dough is pressed into a deep-dish pizza pan, then baked to golden perfection. The result is a scrumptiously sweet, delightfully chewy, and generously chocolate-laden cookie cake that’s ready for its festive transformation. With just a touch of black icing and a simple piping technique, the top of this Easy Halloween Dessert is magically transformed into a creepy, crawly spiderweb, setting the perfect spooky mood without being too scary for the little ones.
Why This Spiderweb Cookie Cake is a Must-Make for Halloween
When it comes to Halloween desserts, you want something that’s both festive and fuss-free. This Halloween Cookie Cake ticks all the boxes and more. Here’s why you absolutely need to add this recipe to your holiday baking list:
- Adorably Spooky, Not Scary: This delightful dessert strikes the perfect balance between cute and spooky. Its charming spiderweb design is sure to delight children and adults alike, creating a fun, festive atmosphere without being overly frightening for your youngest trick-or-treaters.
- Effortless to Create and Decorate: Don’t be intimidated by the impressive appearance! This cookie cake is remarkably easy to bake and decorate. With simple steps and a tube of black frosting, you can achieve a professional-looking spiderweb with minimal artistic skill. Just remember to give a friendly warning that any plastic spiders are for decoration only!
- Unbeatable Homemade Flavor: While grocery store bakeries offer convenience, nothing compares to the rich, warm, and deeply satisfying taste of a homemade cookie cake. Our recipe yields a buttery, chewy cookie base that’s far superior to any pre-made version, making every bite a truly indulgent experience.
- Everyone Loves a Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie: At its heart, this spiderweb masterpiece is simply a giant, gloriously oversized chocolate chip cookie! Who could ever say no to that? It’s a universally loved treat, elevated for the holiday season, ensuring it will be a crowd-pleaser at any Halloween party or family gathering.
- A Festive Family Activity: Baking this cookie cake can be a wonderful activity for the whole family. Kids will love helping to press the dough into the pan, adding colorful M&Ms, and especially watching the spiderweb design come to life. It’s a delicious way to make lasting Halloween memories.
Gather Your Ingredients for the Perfect Halloween Cookie Cake
Creating this irresistible Halloween Cookie Cake relies on a few simple ingredients, most of which you probably already have in your pantry. Quality ingredients make a noticeable difference in the final taste and texture, so choose wisely!
- Kitchen Staples: You’ll need essential baking ingredients like brown sugar and granulated sugar for sweetness and chewiness, all-purpose flour for structure, baking soda to help it rise beautifully, and a pinch of salt to balance the flavors.
- Butter: Use two sticks (one cup) of unsalted butter, softened to room temperature. This ensures it creams smoothly with the sugars, creating a light and airy dough. If using salted butter, reduce the added salt in the recipe.
- Eggs: Two large eggs, also at room temperature, are crucial for binding the ingredients and adding moisture. Room temperature eggs emulsify better with the butter and sugar, resulting in a more uniform dough.
- Vanilla Extract: Opt for two teaspoons of high-quality, pure vanilla extract. Real vanilla provides a depth of flavor that artificial vanilla simply cannot replicate, enhancing the overall deliciousness of your cookie cake.
- Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips: Two cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips are the classic choice, offering a perfect balance of sweetness. If you prefer a richer, less sweet profile, feel free to substitute with bittersweet chocolate chips. Chocolate chunks also work wonderfully for varied texture.
- M&M’s: One cup (or more!) of M&M’s, divided for mixing into the dough and garnishing the top. For a truly festive touch, seek out fall-colored M&M’s to complement the Halloween theme. These add a delightful crunch and extra pop of color.
- Black Frosting: A tube of black frosting with a thin piping tip is your secret weapon for the spiderweb design. Pre-made tubes offer convenience and a consistently dark color. Alternatively, you can use homemade buttercream tinted black, but be mindful that achieving a deep black can sometimes require a good amount of food coloring.
Step-by-Step Baking Guide for Your Spiderweb Cookie Cake
For those who frequent this blog, it’s no secret that my family has an unwavering adoration for chocolate chip cookies in all their glorious forms—bars, cakes, and especially classic cookies (always sans nuts, of course!). This Spiderweb Cookie Cake recipe follows the familiar comfort of a classic chocolate chip cookie, scaled up for a dramatic and delicious Halloween presentation. Here’s how to bring this giant treat to life:
- Preheat Your Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 375ºF (190ºC). This ensures the oven is at the correct temperature for even baking as soon as your dough is ready.
- Prepare the Pan: Line a 14-inch deep round pizza pan with parchment paper. This step is crucial for easy removal of the baked cookie cake. Lightly grease the entire pan, including the parchment paper, to prevent sticking. Set the prepared pan aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This can take 2-3 minutes with an electric mixer.
- Incorporate Eggs and Vanilla: Add the two room-temperature eggs to the creamed mixture, mixing until just combined. Then, stir in the pure vanilla extract until it’s well incorporated. Avoid overmixing at this stage.
- Add Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to a tough cookie cake.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips and M&Ms: Gently fold in 2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips and ½ cup of M&M’s into the dough. Reserve the remaining ½ cup of M&M’s for garnishing the top later.
- Spread the Dough: Press the prepared cookie dough evenly into the parchment-lined pizza pan. Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to smooth the surface for an even bake and a flat canvas for your spiderweb design.
- Bake to Perfection: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center appears set and lightly browned. The exact baking time may vary based on your oven.
- Garnish While Warm: As soon as you pull the cookie cake out of the oven, carefully press the reserved M&M’s onto the warm surface to create a beautiful, colorful garnish. The warmth of the cookie will help them adhere. (PRO-Tip: Use an oven mitt or hot pad to stabilize the hot pan while pressing M&Ms.)
- Cool Completely: Allow the cookie cake to cool completely in the pan before attempting to decorate or remove it. This usually takes at least 1-2 hours. Cooling thoroughly ensures the cake is firm enough for piping and won’t crumble.
- Pipe the Spiderweb Design: Once cooled, use the tube of black frosting (or homemade frosting with a thin tip) to pipe a simple spiderweb pattern. Start at the center of the cake and draw radiating lines outwards, like the spokes of a bicycle wheel. Then, connect these lines with slightly curved lines to mimic the concentric circles of a web.
- Slice and Serve: If desired, add plastic spiders for extra effect (but remember to remove them before serving!). Slice your magnificent Spiderweb Cookie Cake into wedges and serve to your eager Halloween crowd.
Pro Tips for a Perfect Spiderweb Cookie Cake
This grand cookie cake rivals those eye-catching creations found in gourmet bakeries, but it has one undeniable advantage: it tastes infinitely better because it’s made with love in your own kitchen! To ensure your Halloween Cookie Cake is an absolute triumph, keep these expert tips in mind:
- Choose the Right Pan: This recipe is specifically designed for a 14-inch deep-dish pizza pan. It’s crucial that your pan has a solid bottom. Some pizza pans feature perforations designed to crisp pizza crusts, but these will unfortunately allow your cookie dough to leak out, creating a messy situation in your oven. A solid bottom pan is a must!
- Smooth Operator: PRO-Tip: After pressing the dough into the pan, take an extra moment to pat it down evenly. Then, use an offset spatula to smooth the entire surface. A level, smooth surface is much easier to pipe your intricate spiderweb design onto, resulting in a cleaner, more professional finish.
- Reserve Those M&M’s: PRO-Tip: I highly recommend reserving a portion of your M&M’s (about half a cup) to press into the cookie cake immediately after it comes out of the oven. The vibrant colors will pop beautifully against the golden cookie, and the warmth will help them adhere perfectly. While autumn-colored M&M’s are ideal for Halloween, don’t hesitate to use different colors for other occasions like birthdays or Christmas!
- Mind the Spiders: If you’re using plastic spiders for decoration (like the ones I used, affiliate link), make absolutely sure to remove them before serving any wedges, especially if children will be enjoying the treat. My dear dad was notorious for accidentally eating birthday candles, so depending on your audience, caution is key! Safety first, laughs later, LOL.
- Frosting Choice for Precision: I experimented with both homemade frosting and store-bought tubes of pre-made frosting. For achieving a truly dark black color and a thin, precise web, I found that the pre-made black frosting tubes with a fine tip worked best. They offer convenience and consistent color without the struggle of tinting homemade frosting perfectly black.
- Embrace Imperfection (and Easy Fixes!): If you, like me, aren’t naturally “artsy-craftsy,” don’t fret! A fantastic advantage of using store-bought tube frosting is how easy it is to correct mistakes. If a line goes awry or your web looks a bit wonky, you can gently lift off the wet frosting with a knife or toothpick and simply start that section over. This forgiving nature makes decorating enjoyable, not stressful.
- Storage and Freshness: Once cooled and decorated, store your cookie cake covered at room temperature for up to 2-3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For longer storage, slices can be individually wrapped and frozen for up to a month. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Remember, those cute creepy crawlers are just for show; remove any plastic spiders before serving each slice!
Frequently Asked Questions About Cookie Cakes
At its core, a cookie cake is simply a wonderfully oversized, single-layer cookie baked in a flat, round pan, much like a deep-dish pizza pan. Instead of individual cookies, the dough is pressed into the pan, baked until chewy and golden, and then typically decorated with frosting or other toppings. It’s then served in wedges, offering a fun, shareable dessert that combines the best qualities of a cake with the beloved texture of a cookie. They’re a fantastic alternative to traditional birthday cakes and, as you can see, perfect for holiday themes!
The baking time for a cookie cake can vary depending on several factors: the temperature of your oven, the specific type and thickness of your cookie dough, and the size of the pan you’re using. For this particular Spiderweb Cookie Cake recipe, using a 14-inch pan, it typically bakes for 20-25 minutes at 375ºF. Always use the recipe as your primary guide, but also rely on visual cues. Look for the edges to be lightly golden brown and the center to appear set and slightly puffed. A slightly underbaked center will lead to a gloriously chewy cake, but ensure it’s not raw. Oven temperatures can fluctuate, so keep an eye on it!
Decorating a cookie cake offers endless possibilities to match any occasion! For a professional, bakery-style presentation, gently press extra chocolate chips or any candies used in the dough onto the top of the cookie cake immediately after it comes out of the oven, while it’s still warm. Once the cake has completely cooled, the fun truly begins! You can pipe stars or rosettes around the perimeter using a pastry bag and tip, write a festive message, or create a simple border. For Halloween, our spiderweb design is a fantastic, easy option. But don’t stop there – consider using various frosting colors, sprinkles, candy corn, or even mini chocolate candies to create different holiday themes like Christmas trees, Valentine’s hearts, or even abstract art for a birthday celebration. Let your imagination guide you!
More Spooky & Sweet Treats You’ll Love
Even if my artistic endeavors occasionally resemble the scribblings of a physics professor (my dad, bless his heart, could only draw rudimentary cats from capital Qs!), this super-easy Halloween dessert proves that impressive doesn’t have to mean complicated. My beloved husband’s high praise, a definitive “you could make this again anytime,” confirms this Spiderweb Cookie Cake is a universal hit! If you’re eager for more spooky and sweet ideas to celebrate Halloween, explore these fantastic recipes:
- Liquid Ghost Halloween Cocktail from Pineapple and Coconut
- Spiderweb Cupcakes
- Spider Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Witches Fingers Cookies
- Easy Mummy Cupcakes
- Halloween Creme Brulee
- 20+ Halloween Treats
- Plus More of the Best Holiday Recipes
Stay in touch and share your culinary creations with me through social media! Find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Don’t forget to tag me when you whip up one of my recipes! If you adore the results as much as we do, please consider leaving a 5-star rating and a comment below.
The Ultimate Recipe:
Spiderweb Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
30 minutes
25 minutes
55 minutes
16 servings
An incredibly easy and festive Halloween dessert that will delight both young and old with its delicious flavor and fun spiderweb design!
Ingredients
- 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1+ cup M&M’s, divided (fall-colored M&M’s recommended for Halloween)
- 1 tube black frosting (with a thin piping tip, or homemade black buttercream)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375ºF (190ºC).
- Line a 14-inch deep round pizza pan with parchment paper, ensuring it covers the bottom and sides. Lightly grease the entire pan, including the parchment. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract until fully combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just incorporated. Be careful not to overmix the dough.
- Fold in 2 cups of the semi-sweet chocolate chips and ½ cup of the M&M’s. Reserve the remaining M&M’s for garnishing the top after baking.
- Evenly spread the cookie dough into the prepared pizza pan. Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to create a smooth, level surface.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center is set and lightly browned.
- Immediately after removing the cookie cake from the oven, carefully press the reserved M&M’s onto the warm surface to garnish. (Use an oven mitt to stabilize the hot pan).
- Allow the cookie cake to cool completely in the pan before attempting to decorate or remove it. This ensures it sets properly.
- Once cooled, use the black frosting to pipe a spiderweb design. Start with radiating lines from the center, then connect them with curved lines to form the web.
- Add plastic spiders for decorative effect if desired, but remember to remove them before slicing and serving. Enjoy your spooky and sweet treat!
Notes
Be extra careful when pressing the leftover M&M’s into the hot cookie cake. Always use a hot pad or oven mitts to stabilize the pan to prevent burns.
Recommended Products
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- Small Offset Spatula
- KitchenAid 9-Speed Digital Hand Mixer
- 14-Inch Pizza Pan
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 servings
Serving Size: 1 wedge
Amount Per Serving (estimated):
Calories: 260
Total Fat: 10g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Trans Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 4g
Cholesterol: 25mg
Sodium: 172mg
Carbohydrates: 43g
Fiber: 2g
Sugar: 39g
Protein: 2g
Growing up, I often felt like the odd one out in my family’s creative clan. I have two sisters, both accomplished painters (one with a Master’s in Painting!), and a mother who also holds an MFA in fine art and is a gifted calligrapher. Unfortunately, I inherited my dad’s artistic sensibilities. He was the quintessential physics professor, complete with the disheveled Einstein hair, and he’d entertain us by drawing cats from capital Qs with rudimentary triangle ears. His true talent lay in the precise lines, angles, and arrows needed for college exams.
Truth be told, I’d much rather unravel an algebraic equation or conquer a geometry proof than attempt to draw anything complex. So, when my Holiday Food Blog friends decided on a Halloween theme, I instinctively gravitated towards the easiest route possible: this delightful Spiderweb Cookie Cake. Even with its simplicity, it offered a fun, achievable challenge, proving that anyone, regardless of artistic flair, can create a show-stopping Halloween dessert!