This Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie is the ultimate shortcut to dessert bliss. By pressing the dough into a cast-iron skillet instead of rolling out individual cookies, you save time and skip the hassle perfect for busy days or impromptu gatherings. It delivers the warm, gooey center and crispy golden edges of a classic chocolate chip cookie, but in an easy, sliceable form that everyone can enjoy straight from the pan.
Perfectly balanced with semisweet chocolate chips and a light sprinkle of flaky sea salt, this crowd-pleaser is only made better when served warm and topped with vanilla ice cream, caramel drizzle, or a decadent swirl of chocolate syrup. It’s a nostalgic treat elevated to new heights familiar comfort with a gourmet twist.
Full Recipe
Ingredients:
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1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
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1/2 cup granulated sugar
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3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
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1 large egg
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1 tsp pure vanilla extract
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1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
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3/4 tsp baking soda
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1/2 tsp kosher salt
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1 1/4 cups semisweet chocolate chips, divided
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Flaky sea salt, to finish
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Optional toppings: Vanilla ice cream, warm caramel sauce, chocolate syrup
Directions:
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 10-inch cast-iron skillet with cooking spray.
Step 2: In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to cream the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla, and beat until combined.
Step 3: Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt until just mixed. Fold in 1 cup of chocolate chips.
Step 4: Spread the dough evenly in the skillet. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips on top and finish with a light sprinkle of flaky sea salt.
Step 5: Bake for 20–24 minutes or until the edges are golden.
Step 6: Serve warm, optionally topped with vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, and chocolate syrup.
Prep Time: 10 mins | Cooking Time: 24 mins
Total Time: 34 mins | Kcal: Not specified on source (estimate: ~400–500 kcal per serving depending on toppings) | Servings: 8
The Ultimate Comfort Dessert: Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie
There’s something incredibly comforting about a warm, gooey chocolate chip cookie fresh out of the oven but what if we told you there’s an even better way to enjoy it? Enter the chocolate chip skillet cookie, a decadent, family-style twist on the classic treat that’s as much about the experience as it is about the flavor.
Baked in a single cast-iron skillet and served straight from the pan, this dessert has quickly become a favorite in kitchens around the world. It’s simple, unfussy, and undeniably indulgent. With a crisp, golden edge and a chewy, melt-in-your-mouth center, the skillet cookie is a love letter to the chocolate chip cookie only bigger, bolder, and easier to make.
A Modern Take on a Classic
Chocolate chip cookies have long been an icon of home baking. Their origin can be traced back to the 1930s, when Ruth Wakefield of the Toll House Inn in Massachusetts inadvertently created the first batch. Since then, the chocolate chip cookie has evolved into hundreds of variations, each tweaking the formula ever so slightly to suit preferences for texture, sweetness, or richness.
The skillet version elevates the experience by offering a more dramatic presentation and a shareable format. Instead of rolling out individual cookies, this recipe calls for spreading the dough into a cast-iron skillet, which is then baked until the edges are crisp and the center remains soft and gooey. It’s a simpler process that results in a rustic, charming dessert that feels both nostalgic and novel.
Why Use a Skillet?
You might be wondering what’s the point of using a skillet over a regular baking sheet? The answer lies in both convenience and flavor.
A cast-iron skillet distributes heat evenly and retains it well, allowing the cookie to bake uniformly with a delightfully caramelized edge. The center stays soft and slightly underbaked, creating a texture contrast that’s hard to achieve with standard cookies.
Beyond the technical benefits, there’s also the joy of presentation. A skillet cookie is meant to be served straight from the pan preferably warm, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream slowly melting on top. It’s dramatic, homey, and perfect for sharing, making it ideal for gatherings, holidays, or even a cozy night in.
Customization and Creativity
One of the best things about this skillet cookie recipe is its adaptability. While the base version uses semisweet chocolate chips for a balanced flavor, there’s no shortage of ways to make it your own.
Want something a little more grown-up? Swap the chocolate chips for chopped dark chocolate chunks or add a splash of espresso powder to intensify the cocoa flavor. Looking for a festive twist? Stir in crushed peppermint candies during the holidays or swirl in peanut butter or Nutella for an extra layer of indulgence.
You can even make it extra indulgent with toppings. A sprinkle of flaky sea salt adds an elegant finish and enhances the sweetness, while caramel drizzle, chocolate syrup, or a handful of spiced candied pecans can bring even more texture and complexity. The only limit is your imagination and your pantry.
Simplicity Meets Sophistication
While the end result is impressive enough to serve at a dinner party, the actual process is incredibly simple. This is a dessert that doesn’t require expert skills or fancy tools. Most home bakers already have the ingredients on hand, and the steps are so straightforward that even novice bakers can feel confident making it.
The skillet cookie is also a fantastic make-ahead dessert. You can prepare the dough in advance and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours, or even freeze it for longer storage. When you’re ready to bake, just press the dough into the skillet and pop it in the oven. The smell alone will have everyone gathering in the kitchen.
Crowd-Pleasing Potential
What makes this dish truly special is how universally loved it is. Whether you’re serving kids or adults, this dessert hits the sweet spot literally and figuratively. It combines the universal appeal of chocolate chip cookies with the wow factor of a giant, pan-sized treat that feels like an occasion all on its own.
It’s also endlessly scalable. Use a larger skillet for a big group, or split the dough into mini cast-iron pans for individual servings. Hosting a casual gathering? Bring the skillet right to the table and let guests dig in with spoons. Planning a more formal dinner? Slice it like a pie and serve each wedge with a perfect scoop of ice cream.
The Ice Cream Factor
While this cookie is delicious on its own, it becomes something magical when topped with vanilla ice cream. The contrast between warm and cold, crisp and creamy, takes the experience to another level. As the ice cream begins to melt into the cookie, it creates a luscious sauce that soaks into the chewy center, adding richness and moisture with every bite.
You can also experiment with different ice cream flavors salted caramel, coffee, or peanut butter ripple would all work beautifully. For a dramatic flair, try topping it with a homemade whipped cream, fresh berries, or even a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg.
A Dessert for All Seasons
One of the reasons this dish has become such a favorite is its year-round appeal. In the winter, it’s the ultimate fireside treat comforting, gooey, and warming. In the summer, it pairs beautifully with cold ice cream and fresh fruit. It’s easy enough to make on a weeknight but special enough for birthdays, holidays, and celebrations of all kinds.
It also works beautifully for themed variations. Add orange zest and white chocolate chips in the spring for a citrusy twist. Incorporate pumpkin spice and chopped pecans in the fall for a cozy, autumnal feel. The flexibility of this dessert ensures it never gets boring.
Conclusion:
The Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie is more than just a recipe it’s an experience. From the ease of preparation to the richness of flavor and the joy of sharing it straight from the pan, it offers everything we love about dessert in one rustic, irresistible package.
Whether you’re a seasoned baker looking for something low-effort but high-impact, or a novice searching for a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, this recipe fits the bill. It’s cozy, nostalgic, customizable, and endlessly satisfying.
So the next time you’re craving something sweet or planning a gathering that needs a little dessert magic skip the cookie sheet. Grab your skillet, whip up a batch of this gooey goodness, and prepare to wow everyone at the table.
Because sometimes, the simplest ideas really are the best and few things beat a warm, melty chocolate chip cookie served with love, straight from the pan.