I love entertaining. Themes, meal/menu planning, shopping, you name it…I love all things entertaining.
Except cleaning. Having people in my home requires ridding of every dog hair that drops from Lily’s body on an every second basis. I hate cleaning so much that truthfully, my parents and in-laws are the only few people I pull out the stops for….and that’s if I’m caught on a good day. I mostly hate cleaning outside of my kitchen because well, the kitchen should be clean. I run a hospital kitchen so things like this I know and abide by.
When my brother and his 7-person “crew” arrived last weekend, I was completely unprepared. I wasn’t expecting them to actually show and their arrival provided me with a great excuse to bake my latest What’s Cooking Recipe Swap recipe. I blow off cleaning to bake. Is anyone surprised by this?
Dawn raved about this recipe and obviously any swap recipe submission has received top reviews. Not surprisingly, this was a real treat. The dietitian in me was very thankful for the 8 extra mouths to share the calories. Nine including Mr. Prevention.
Lily offered her assistance, but chocolate isn’t good for dogs.
Think of the biggest, thickest, chewiest chocolate chip cookie you’ve ever had.
Now double that.
Close your eyes. Drool. Moan.
Open your eyes and…BAM!
Yep, there you have it. Thick and chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake.
This was so simple to make and the result was absolutely divine. There’s no going wrong with a chocolate chip cookie…ever. I even cut out a bunch of chocolate and swapped out whole wheat pastry flour. Even still…amazing.
I’ve been saying forever that I would love to entertain more if it weren’t for that whole cleaning routine. I am proud to say that after 3 years of contemplation and heated debates, I won the battle of the cleaning service. We hired a very kind woman to help us around the house so that between super long work days, cookbooking, and blogging, I don’t have to carve out nonexistent time to clean…and I can serve more Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake to guests!
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake adapted from Emeril Legasse and Simple Gourmet Cooking
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups bittersweet chocolate chips
Confectioners’ sugar, for garnish
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 F. Line a 9 x 13-inch pan with parchment paper.
In a large bowl or bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and sugars. Add the eggs, beating well after the addition of each. Beat in vanilla.
In a bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt and mix with a whisk. Add to the butter mixture, mixing to incorporate, scraping sides if needed.
Fold in the chocolate chips. Spread across the bottom of the prepared pan and bake until the edges are golden and the cookie is set but the center is still slightly soft, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
To serve, sift confectioners’ sugar over the top and cut into squares.
Yield: 24 pieces (about 2-in x 2-in each)
Nutrition Information (per piece): 214 calories; 11.4 g. fat; 15 mg. cholesterol; 104 mg. sodium; 27.3 g. carbohydrate; 2.0 g. fiber; 1.5 g. protein
Result: These were quick to make and so, so good! My brother and his friends INHALED these…Mr. Prevention, too. They are like the thickest chocolate chip cookie ever…in the shape of a square 🙂 Enjoy!
[/print_this]TGIF! My college roomie, Mary, is in town this weekend! I have no idea what we’ll be up to but I do know that Illini football and wine will be involved! 😀
Be sure to check out all the other desserts in the What’s Cooking Round-Up below!
Happy weekend!
Be well,
I am DEFINITELY making this but it’s gonna have to be for a gathering because I can totally see the Mr and I just splitting the pan and ending up twitching in a corner!
Author
I read this on my way to work and started CRACKING up at “twitching in a corner!” Happy weekend, Anele!
Ugggghhhhh – why do you do this to me?! 🙂
Author
Haha 🙂 I knowwww…I’m sorry!!! At least I don’t do it all that often, right? O:-)
I know it’s hard not to like these 🙂 They definitely require a group (or a freezer to put it away!). Now if only I can work on convincing my husband that we need a cleaning lady…
I’m the exact same. I love when people come to visit. But my cleaning skills and desires are lackluster. Luckily, I make up for it by planning massive meals each day. 🙂
Insulin worthy!! Have fun this weekend!
Looks yum! Trying this weekend! Is there a difference between semi sweet and bittersweet? Could I do some applesauce to replace the butter you think?
I made these last night and subbed half of the butter for natural, unsweetened applesauce (so 1/2 cup or 1 stick of butter and 1/2 cup of applesauce). I thought they turned out great and my guests all went back for seconds!
Author
I’m so glad it worked with applesauce! That cuts the calories and fat a lot from an already “acceptable” dessert (nutrition-wise) in my book! Something that decadent and big I would think 300+ calories 🙂 Thanks for reporting back…definitely going this route next time 🙂
These chocolate chip cookie cake bars look crazy good! I just ate some of Peter’s homemade chocolate bar, and I’m STILL craving this. I volunteer to be your tenth mouth/taste-tester next time! I’ll give you an honest opinion, I promise 😉
Happy Friday!
We need a cleaning service, but I don’t think I could handle the pre-cleaning for the cleaning service either!
Yay on the cleaning service! The only thing I dislike about ours is the name of the company, it’s just so awful. Wifesavers. I mean, really? I think they should be called MarriageSavers.
Oh gosh. These won’t last long in my house. YUMMILICIOUS! 😉
Girl, with your schedule, you deserve a cleaning lady! This chocolate chip cookie cake looks amazing! I think I will make this for my next family get together!
Pretty much our reason TO entertain is because it’s time to do a good cleaning. It doesn’t happen often.
Those look outrageously good!
Just discovered your blog recently. Enjoying it very much. P.S. Am also an Illini. Class of 1982, BS in Journalism. 🙂
Amazing, amazing, and AMAZING. I love adding whole wheat flour to my cookies and other baked goods, too. People usually never notice the difference and I like the nuttiness that it adds :).
Oh my gosh!! You get the best of both worlds..cookie and cake!
I am with you on cleaning. I love organizing and will often put off cleaning and do that instead. 🙂
Awwwesome! You know I’m totally trying this soon! 😀