Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie Recipe (2024)

Why It Works

  • A lower proportion of white sugar makes this skillet cookie super chewy compared with its drop-cookie counterpart.
  • Malted milk powder improves browning and adds an extra layer of flavor.
  • Baking in cast iron at a slightly higher temperature ensures the cookie is crisp along the edges.

If I learned anything about food growing up down south, it's that acast iron skilletcan work wonders for any recipe—even chocolate chip cookies. Slap a chocolate chip cookie dough in a cast iron skillet, and it'll bake up crunchy around the edges, but soft and fudgy in the middle, like some outrageous brownie/cookie hybrid.*

*I will not stoop to calling these "brookies"; get off my lawn.

This transformation largely reflects the loss of surface area that accompanies the switch from a cookie to a brownie-like format, but a cast iron skillet is crucial in helping the cookie dough crisp up around the edges without drying out in the middle. In the sort ofaluminum cake pan I recommend for layer cakes, the cookie dough would bake evenly from edge to center, with none of those delicious textural extremes.

While it's true that almost any recipe is up for the cast iron challenge, a few tweaks can make the results even better.

Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie Recipe (1)

Mix and Match Your Chocolate for Depth of Flavor

As with myold-fashioned chocolate chip cookies, grabbing a few different chocolates will go a long way toward creating some depth of flavor in the skillet cookie, with bites of creamy vanilla from white chocolate to contrast the bitter intensity of dark. Beyond that, using chopped chocolate rather than commercial chips will give the skillet cookie a brownie-like consistency, as chopping creates more than chunks—it also produces a powdery blend of chocolate flecks and shards that melt into the dough.

Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie Recipe (2)

Cut Back on Sugar for a Chewy Cookie

When baking my chocolate chip cookies in skillet form, I cut the white sugar by 40%. This allows for a bit more gluten development, creating a chewier consistency. (In a drop cookie, which has a higher proportion of surface area for moisture loss, that would only make the finished product tough and dry.) This reduction brings out more of the brown sugar flavor while reducing sweetness overall, making a skillet cookie better for serving à la mode—and trust me, you should take a page from the Tony Roma's playbook and serve it à la mode.

Malted Milk Powder for More Flavor Boost

Since the skillet format reduces the total surface area of the cookie dough as it bakes, there's less Maillard browning overall. To make up for that loss of flavor, I like to add a scoop of malted milk powder for an infusion of toasty depth (if you've read myode to malted milk powder, you probably saw that coming). If you don't have some already, you can pick it up at any supermarket—look for plain, not chocolate, Carnation or Ovaltine, which is usually sold alongside hot cocoa mix—or pick up a specialty brand, like Hoosier Hill Farm, online.

Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie Recipe (3)

Butter That Skillet

It's not that the cookie dough will stick in awell-seasoned cast iron skillet; it's that a generous coating of butter will really help give those edges an amazingly rich, crispy-fried texture. Just be sure to use soft rather than melted butter, and don't be shy.

Instead of scooping the dough into individual portions, scrape the full batch into a 10-inch cast iron skillet, then spread it into an even layer and bake at 400°F (200°C) until puffed and golden brown around the edges but still a touch wobbly in the middle, about 35 minutes.

Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie Recipe (4)

Because cast iron retains heat so well, carryover cooking will continue to "bake" the cookie long after you pull it from the oven. For that reason, it's important to let it cool at least 45 minutes before serving; prior to that, the giant cookie may seem molten and raw in the very center. But with a little time for the crumb to set up and cool, all will be well.

It's a great way to whip up dessert for a crowd when you're in a hurry, since getting rid of the scooping step saves substantial time—or whenever you're craving something warm, gooey, crisp, chewy, and smothered in ice cream. Which is me, basically all the time.

Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie Recipe (5)

January 2018

This recipe was cross-tested in 2022 and updated to reduce the oven temperature to 350°F, increase the baking time, add an internal temperature to confirm doneness, and extend the cooling time.

Recipe Details

Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie Recipe

Prep35 mins

Cook45 mins

Active35 mins

Resting Time60 mins

Total2 hrs 20 mins

Serves16 servings

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces unsalted butter(2 sticks; 225g), soft but cool, about 65°F (18°C), plus more for greasing skillet

  • 4 1/2 ounces granulated sugar(2/3 cup; 125g)

  • 8 ounces light brown sugar (1 cup, gently packed; 225g)

  • 1 ounce malted milk powder (about 1/4 cup; 25g); see notes

  • 1/2 ounce vanilla extract(1 tablespoon; 15g)

  • 2 1/2 teaspoons (8g) Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for table salt, use about half as much by volume or the same weight

  • 1 teaspoon (5g) baking soda

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1/8 teaspoon gratednutmeg

  • 1 large egg (about 1 3/4 ounces; 50g), straight from the fridge

  • 12 1/2 ounces all-purpose flour(2 3/4 cups, spooned; 355g), such as Gold Medal

  • 12 ounces assorted dark, milk, or white chocolate (not commercial chips), roughly chopped (about 2 cups; 340g)

  • Vanilla ice cream, to serve (optional)

Directions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat to 350°F (180°C). Combine butter, white sugar, brown sugar, malted milk powder, vanilla, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and nutmeg in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on low to moisten, then increase to medium and beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With mixer running, add egg and continue beating only until smooth. Stop mixer and add flour all at once; quickly and carefully switch mixer speed between off setting and stir setting just until flour mixture is nearly combined into butter mixture. Add chopped chocolate, then mix on low speed to form a stiff dough.

    Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie Recipe (6)

  2. Generously butter a 10-inch cast iron skillet, then fill with cookie dough and press into an even layer. Bake until slightly puffed, edges are set and golden brown, and center is just set but still feels soft underneath when touched, about 45 minutes, loosely covering cookie with aluminum foil after 20 to 25 minutes to prevent excess browning if needed. (An instant-read thermometer inserted in center should register 180°F [82°C] to 185°F [85°C].) Cool until crumb is set, about 1 hour, before serving. (Center may sink slightly as cookie cools.) Enjoy warm or cover with foil when cool and store up to 3 days at room temperature. Serve with vanilla ice cream, if desired.

    Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie Recipe (7)

Special Equipment

Stand mixer, flexible spatula, 10-inch cast iron skillet

Notes

Look for malted milk powder from brands like Carnation and Ovaltine next to hot cocoa at the supermarket, or buy it in bulk online; my favorite brand is Hoosier Hill Farm.

Read More

  • Quick and Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Malted Chocolate Chip-Pecan Cookies
  • The Serious Eats Guide to Cookie Styles
Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the crumbl skillet cookie? ›

Skillet Cookie

A warm and gooey semi-sweet chocolate chip cookie topped with a scoop of vanilla bean mousse and a drizzle of semi-sweet chocolate.

What makes cookies fluffy and not flat? ›

Flour adds fluff and texture to the cookies. Adding too little flour can cause cookies to be flat, greasy, and crispy. Most recipes assume you'll use all-purpose, but if you want a lighter, crumblier cookie texture, choose one with a lower protein content such as cake-and-pastry flour.

How do you tell if a cookie is baked enough? ›

If it feels set and springs back slightly, it is likely done. Avoid pressing too hard, as this can deflate the cookie. Light Cracking – Look for light cracks on the surface of the cookies. If you see them, the cookies have been baked long enough and are ready to be taken out of the oven.

Can you pan fry cookie dough? ›

Start with a cool pan (preferably one with a lid), and grease with butter or baking spray. Place 2-3 scoops of cookie dough in the pan and pat down slightly with a spoon. Cover the pan. Cook over medium-low heat for 8-10 minutes, then flip and cook for an additional 5 minutes.

Why are Crumbl cookies so special? ›

From day one, it was important to them that Crumbl customers see their cookies being mixed, balled, baked and dressed in real-time. Equally as important were the high-quality ingredients used in each unique batch.

Does Crumbl under cook their cookies? ›

Our cookies are meant to be crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside but not undercooked. If your cookies seem undercooked, please contact Customer Assist using the chat bubble 💬 at crumblcookies.com/contact. We want to make a report with your feedback!

Should I use baking soda or baking powder in cookies? ›

Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

What is the secret to thick cookies? ›

Cover the baking tray with clingfilm and freeze the cookie dough balls for at least 90 minutes or up to 48 hours for best results. The longer you leave them, the thicker your cookies will be.

What happens if too much butter is in cookies? ›

Too much butter makes cookies turn out just as you'd expect: very buttery. This batch of cookies was cakey in the middle, but also airy throughout, with crispy edges. They were yellow and slightly puffy in the middle, and brown and super thin around the perimeter.

Is it better to bake cookies at high or low temp? ›

Low temperatures give a cookie time to spread and flatten before it sets, making a crisper cookie. High temperatures make a thick cookie, but the center of the cookie may not cook before the outside browns.

What does an underbaked cookie look like? ›

Colour: Raw or undercooked cookies tend to have a pale appearance, lacking that golden or slightly browned hue that indicates they're fully baked.

How high should the oven be for cookies? ›

Cookie temperatures fluctuate, with some recipes as low as 300 degrees Fahrenheit, and a few as high as 425 degrees Fahrenheit, but most recipes land on 375 or 350 to evenly bake the entirety of the cookie.

Should I squish cookie dough before baking? ›

This is really up to you. If you're short on time, try and squeeze in at least half an hour if you can. 30 minutes will do the trick if you're simply looking to avoid your cookies spreading all over the place. If you have the luxury of chilling the dough overnight to develop flavor, go for it.

Should I grease my pan before baking cookies? ›

It turns out MOST cookies turn out far more reliably when baked on parchment and without grease on the pan.

Should you press cookie dough before baking? ›

If the dough is chilled before baking then the cookies will be slightly more rounded, so if you want slightly flatter cookies then bake them as soon as you have mixed up the dough. But we would not recommend flattening the cookies completely as this will affect the texture.

What is the top Crumbl cookie? ›

The 28 Best Cookies on the Crumbl Cookie Menu, Ranked
  1. Cookie Dough.
  2. Brownie Batter. ...
  3. Sea Salt Toffee. ...
  4. Milk Chocolate Chip. ...
  5. Blueberry Crumb Cake. ...
  6. Chocolate Peanut Butter Oreo. ...
  7. Maple Bacon. ...
  8. Honey Cake With Teddy Grahams. ...
Mar 20, 2024

How many calories in a skillet cookie? ›

Chili's Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie (1 Serving) contains 176g total carbs, 172g net carbs, 50g fat, 15g protein, and 1180 calories.

What is the pink Crumbl cookie called? ›

Pink sugar cookies have appeared at other stores since their reported invention at Dutchman's. Sodalicious sells one, so does Ruby Snap and so does Crumbl. The Crumbl Classic Pink Sugar was inspired by a community group known as the Pink Ladies, who sold pink sugar cookies at the local hospital, according to Hemsley.

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