Chocolate Chip Cookie Pizza Cake

This is a fun recipe that I have made several times in the past.  It is a chocolate chip cookie base with a thin layer of peanut butter frosting, topped with a chocolate cake layer, topped with chocolate frosting and sprinkled with chopped peanut butter cups and other assorted candy of your choice.  I takes a bit more effort, but it is worth it.  You get a nice combination of textures and flavors all wrapped up in one dessert.  My Hungry Puppies love this dessert, and that makes it well worth any extra effort.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Pizza Cake

18 ounces chocolate chip cookie dough (use your favorite or store-bought)
1 box chocolate cake mix, plus ingredients to prepare

Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 to 4 Tablespoons milk
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 Tablespoons cocoa powder
Chopped Peanut Butter Cups (or other candy of your choice)

Preheat the oven to 350F.  Spray 2 12-inch pizza pans with cooking spray (or if they have holes like mine do, line with tin foil and then spray).  If you do not have 2 same size pizza pans (like I don't), simply bake the cookie layer first, then re-line and re-spray the pan for the cake layer.

Press the cookie dough evenly into the pizza pan and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden at the edges and set in the center.  Remove the cookie from the pan and let cool completely on a cooling rack.

For the cake layer, prepared the mix according to the package instructions, then pour 1/2 of the prepared batter into the second (or reused) pizza pan.  Bake for about 10 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Carefully remove the cake from the pan and let cool completely on a cooling rack.

While the cookie and cake layers are cooling, prepare the frosting.  Beat the butter until smooth, then gradually beat in the powdered sugar.  Beat in the vanilla extract and enough milk to reach the desired consistency.  Transfer 1 cup of frosting to a smaller bowl and add the peanut butter to it.  Beat until combined.  Set aside.  Add the  cocoa powder to the remaining vanilla frosting and beat until well blended.

To assemble the cake, place the cooled cookie on a serving plate, or back on the pizza pan.  Spread the peanut butter frosting evenly over the cookie.  Place the chocolate cake layer on top, trimming the cookie to match the size of the cake if necessary.  Frost the top and sides of the cake with chocolate frosting.  Sprinkle the chopped peanut butter cups on top.  Makes 12 to 14 servings.

Enjoy!  -Cardamommy