Gluten Free Cookie Cake

This gluten free cookie cake bakes up crisp on the perimeters, chewy within the middle, and by no means will get caught within the pan—thanks to a couple good tips.

Simpler than a standard cake, simply as festive, and an entire lot extra transportable, that is your go-to dessert for birthdays, class events, or any day that requires a chocolate chip celebration. Bake it in any spherical pan, embellish it merely or extravagantly, and slice it like cake—however serve it simply like a cookie!

Elements defined

Every ingredient on this cookie cake performs a particular position in texture, taste, or construction—right here’s what to know earlier than you bake:

• Gluten free flour mix – The best mix provides the cake construction and that excellent crispy-chewy texture. I like to recommend Higher Batter’s unique mix or Nicole’s Finest multipurpose (with ¾ teaspoon xanthan gum). When you’re utilizing Bob’s Crimson Mill 1-to-1, add one other ¼ teaspoon xanthan gum for finest outcomes. Keep away from gritty blends—they’ll wreck the feel.
• Granulated sugar + gentle brown sugar – A mixture of each provides the very best stability: crisp edges from the white sugar, moisture, depth of taste, and chew from the brown.
• Butter – Provides taste and richness. Creaming it with the sugars builds construction to assist the cake rise within the oven, and retains the crumb tender.
• Pure vanilla extract – A full tablespoon provides depth and offers the cake that traditional cookie taste.
• Egg + egg yolks – The entire egg provides construction; the yolks add richness and a mushy, chewy middle.
• Baking soda – Helps the cake brown and offers a little bit of carry.
• Salt – Balances the sweetness and sharpens all the opposite flavors.
• Chocolate chips – Add the one chocolate taste, plus texture and a few bitterness in case you select darkish chocolate. Use your favourite kind.

Methods to make a gluten free cookie cake

1. Cream the butter and sugars.
Begin with room temperature butter and beat it with the brown and white sugars for about 2 minutes, till the combination is creamy however not fairly fluffy. This helps dissolve the sugar and incorporates simply sufficient air for a barely larger rise—with out turning it into a standard cake.

2. Add the egg, yolks, baking soda and salt.
Beat till the combination is clean and effectively mixed. This step helps construct construction and creates the signature crackly cookie high because the cake bakes.

3. Add the flour and chips.
Toss the chocolate chips with the flour mix, then add the whole lot to the blending bowl. Mixing the chips with flour first helps maintain them from sinking in order that they keep evenly distributed all through the cake.

4. Switch the dough to the pan.
Scrape the dough into the ready cake pan and unfold it into an excellent layer. A small, moistened offset spatula makes this simpler. For a properly outlined crust, press the dough barely larger across the edges.

5. Bake low and sluggish.
Bake at 325°F for about half-hour. That decrease temperature helps the cake bake evenly to the middle with out drying out. If the highest is browning an excessive amount of earlier than the middle is about, scale back the oven to 300°F, tent with foil, and bake for five to 10 extra minutes. A toothpick inserted within the middle ought to come out with moist crumbs however no uncooked batter.

6. Cool fully, then chill.
Let the cake cool within the pan at room temperature—don’t rush this half. As soon as it’s totally cool (after about an hour), place the entire pan within the fridge and chill till very agency. This helps the cake set totally so it doesn’t crack or break if you take away it.

7. Adorn the cake.
Switch the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a big open star tip—or use a sealed zip-top bag with the nook snipped off. Pipe frosting simply inside the sting of the cake, barely overlapping the crust. Add sprinkles or different decorations straight away, earlier than the frosting units.

You may also use the identical frosting, thinned with a bit extra milk, with a small piping tip to pipe a customized message within the middle. Let the frosting agency up at room temperature earlier than slicing and serving.

Suggestions for an ideal cookie cake

That is a simple, traditional recipe—simply cream the butter and sugars, add the eggs, then the dry substances. However just a few small particulars from my expertise within the kitchen could make the distinction between good and nice:

Watch the bake time

Too lengthy within the oven (or too excessive a temp), and also you’ll find yourself with crisp edges and a dry middle. Intention for a mild bake that puffs up within the middle after which settles barely right into a crackled high because it cools, much like my common gluten free chocolate chip cookies.

Cool, then chill the cake

Let the cake cool fully at room temperature within the pan, then chill it till very agency. That’s the important thing to eradicating it cleanly—both by lifting the parchment or inverting it onto your open hand and flipping once more onto a platter.

Selecting your pan

A 9-inch spherical cake pan makes a thick, traditional cookie cake that unmolds superbly. However you can too use:

• Springform pan: pringform pan – Best to launch after chilling. Line backside and sides with parchment.
• 9-inch sq. pan: Simpler to line, bakes thinner and a bit sooner. Test for doneness at 25 minutes.
• Specialty cookie cake pan: Normally 11 or 12 inches broad with low sides, for a thinner cake. Additionally bakes sooner.

Line the pan with wings

Hint your pan on parchment, lower out a spherical however go away two lengthy tabs or “wings” on reverse sides. Safe with binder clips. As soon as chilled, carry the cake out simply by the wings.

Ingredient swaps & mix-ins

Dairy free
Use 12 tablespoons (168 g) of block-style vegan butter (like Miyoko’s or Soften) or half (84 grams) vegan butter and half (84 grams) vegetable shortening for stability. Be sure you use dairy-free chocolate chips and nondairy milk within the frosting.

Egg free
Substitute the egg with 1 “chia egg” (1 tablespoon floor white chia + 1 to 2 tablespoons lukewarm water, blended and gelled). Use 2 tablespoons extra butter rather than the 2 yolks.

Combine-in concepts
As an alternative of normal chocolate chips, attempt mini chips, chopped semi-hard nuts (like pecans or walnuts), white chocolate, or any baking chips you’re keen on.

Storage directions

Room temperature: Retailer the totally frosted or unfrosted cookie cake, coated, at room temp for as much as 2 days. If frosted, maintain it in a container that protects the decorations.

Fridge: Wrap unfrosted cake tightly in plastic and refrigerate for as much as 1 week. For frosted cake, use a container that gained’t smudge the frosting.

Freezer: Freeze particular person slices or the entire cake, effectively wrapped, for as much as 2 months. Defrost within the fridge or at room temp. Keep away from microwaving any frosted cake—frosting will soften.

Make-ahead frosting: Put together the frosting forward and refrigerate. Deliver to room temp and beat once more till clean earlier than adorning.

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