Pizookie Pan Portions: Cookie Dough

A Pizookie is a giant, warm, gooey, chocolate chip cookie baked in a skillet or pan and served with ice cream. It's a cross between a pizza and a cookie, hence the name Pizookie. It's a simple dessert to make and can be customised with different types of chocolate, candies, and ice cream. The best part? You get to eat it straight out of the pan!

How to make the cookie dough

Making the cookie dough for a pizookie is simple and doesn't need to be time-consuming. You can use a hand mixer, but it's not necessary. In fact, you can even mix the ingredients straight into the pan!

Here's a recipe for the cookie dough for a pizookie, which you can easily make in a cast iron skillet:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon light brown sugar, lightly packed
• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 and 1/2 cups white all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 10-12 miniature Reese's cups, unwrapped and cut in half
• 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup peanut butter or regular M&M's candies (2 small packages)

Method:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9-inch cast iron skillet or 9-inch cake pan.
• In a medium-sized bowl, cream the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar for about 2-3 minutes. Then, add in the egg and vanilla and mix until combined.
• In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until a dough forms. Be careful not to overmix.
• Divide the dough in half. Press one half into the bottom of your skillet or cake pan.
• Layer the halved Reese's cups on top of the first layer of dough.
• To the remaining dough, add the milk chocolate chips and M&M's. Stir to combine, then press this dough on top of the Reese's cups, making sure the candies are covered with dough.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the edges are light golden brown and the center is slightly soft.
• Serve immediately with ice cream and hot fudge, if desired.

Tips:

• Make sure to use room temperature butter. If it's too soft or melted, the edges of your pizookie may burn before the center is done.
• Watch the bake time closely. You want the edges to be golden and the center to be slightly gooey for the perfect pizookie texture.
• Enjoy your pizookie fresh out of the oven! While leftovers will keep okay (without the ice cream and hot fudge), nothing beats that warm, gooey cookie straight from the oven.

How to prepare the pans

Preparing the pans for your pizookie is simple. You can use a cast-iron skillet or a cake pan, depending on what you have available. If you're making individual pizookies, you can use mini skillets, ramekins, or gratin pans. Grease your pan(s) with butter or non-stick cooking spray. If you're using a cast-iron skillet, make sure it's well-seasoned to prevent sticking. You can also line your pan with parchment paper for easy removal after baking.

For a 9-inch pan, you'll need about 5 tablespoons of butter. Melt the butter and pour it directly into the pan. Add the sugars and combine with a spatula or wooden spoon. Then, add the egg and vanilla extract, and mix until well-combined.

Next, add the dry ingredients to the pan and mix until incorporated. Be sure not to overmix the dough. For a gooey and soft centre, it is best to underbake the pizookie.

How to bake the pizookies

Ingredients

Firstly, you will need the following ingredients:

• Butter (salted or unsalted)
• Sugar (white and/or brown)
• Egg(s)
• Vanilla extract
• Flour
• Baking soda and/or baking powder
• Salt
• Chocolate chips and/or candies (such as M&M's, Rolos, Reese's, Kit-Kats, etc.)
• Ice cream and/or hot fudge (optional)

Preparing the Dough

Now, it's time to make the dough! Start by creaming the butter and sugars. Add the egg(s) and vanilla, and mix until combined.

In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, and mix until a dough forms. Be careful not to overmix. If you're feeling adventurous, you can also add chocolate chips and candies to the dough.

Baking the Pizookies

Grease your skillet(s) or pan(s) with butter or non-stick cooking spray. You can use a cast-iron skillet, cake pan, or even ramekins for individual servings.

Divide the dough between your pans, leaving some space for the cookie to rise. Smooth the tops with a spatula. For a professional look, press a few extra chocolate chips onto the surface before baking.

Bake at 350-375°F (175-190°C) for 18-25 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the center is almost set. The baking time will depend on the size and number of pans you're using, so keep an eye on your pizookies!

Serving

Allow the pizookie to cool slightly before topping with a scoop of ice cream. Feel free to add extra treats like hot fudge, caramel sauce, nuts, or different flavors of chips and candies.

Serve warm, but be cautious as the skillet handle may be hot. Wrapping a towel around the handle can help prevent accidents.

Enjoy your delicious, homemade pizookies!

How to serve the pizookies

Pizookies are best served straight from the oven, in the skillet they were baked in. They can be served with a scoop of ice cream on top, and enjoyed by a group with 4-5 forks, or eaten alone.

If you want to make individual pizookies, you can divide the cookie dough among four 6-inch mini cast iron dishes, gratin pans, or ramekins. Adjust the baking time down for smaller or shallower dishes, and add more time for deeper dishes.

You can also make a pizookie ahead of time. Prep the dough and spread it into the pan, cover, and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Bake as directed in the instructions. Or, you can bake it ahead of time, let it cool, and cover it for up to 8 hours. Reheat in a 325°F oven for 7-10 minutes before serving.

How to store leftover pizookies

Pizookies are best enjoyed fresh out of the oven, but if you have any leftovers, you can store them at room temperature, tightly covered in plastic wrap. Avoid storing any portions that had ice cream on them, as the melted ice cream can make the pizookie soggy.

If you want to reheat a pizookie, you can do so in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes, or in the microwave for 15 seconds if you're just heating up a portion.

Frequently asked questions