Super Easy Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie {12-Inches!}
Nothing says I love you like a giant chocolate chip cookie! This 12-inch cookie is perfect for bake sales, neighbor gifts, or just because life deserves a giant chocolate chip cookie!
You don’t have to say giant cookie twice to get my attention.
Just look at this beauty! If you’ve ever wanted a soft and chew giant (12-inch!) chocolate chip cookie in your life, today’s the day.
And if you’ve never wanted a giant chocolate chip cookie in your life…um, what is wrong with you??
I’ve probably made this giant cookie recipe more than any other recipe on my site over the last 10 years. Seriously. It is a huge staple around here.
And…it’s so easy (one bowl, no electric mixer) my kids can whip it up and pop it in the oven in less time than I can (probably because I get sidetracked by the open bag of chocolate chips).
Perfect for bake sales, neighbor treats, for a friend in need – this large and in charge chocolate chip cookie is perfect for anything!
We often bring it to potlucks as our offering and sometimes decorate it with M&Ms and frosting for a “cookie cake.” It is definitely one of my go-to treats for take-in meals, and it goes without saying that it’s also a standby for after school enjoyment (super fun for the last day of school, maybe?).
And I know regular, ol’ chocolate chip cookies aren’t necessarily hard, but there’s something so endearingly quick and easy about this recipe that keeps us coming back day after day after day (I wish I were kidding – we make it ALL.THE.TIME!).
If you have lived your life thus far without a giant chocolate chip cookie, please rectify that situation immediately. You can have this deliciously soft cookie staring you in the face in less than 30 minutes.
Whether you choose to share is up to you (no judging!). 🙂
And for all my chocolate lovers, here’s a double chocolate version of this giant cookie!
I bake this cookie on a parchment-lined baking sheet (I lightly grease the parchment), and after cooling, the cookie slides off easily onto a tray. Although, who are we kidding, we usually just dig in while it’s still warm on the baking sheet.
If you are using the cookie for gift-giving or for a bake sale, it can be transferred to a 12-inch cardboard circle (found at most craft stores in the cake decorating aisle).
Not only is this cookie more than a little impressive, it is crazy delicious. Soft and a slightly chewy and full of chocolate chip cookie goodness!
One Year Ago: Best Italian Pasta Salad {With Quick Homemade Italian Dressing}
Two Years Ago: Double Chocolate Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
Three Years Ago: Whole Grain Pumpkin Blueberry Muffins
Four Years Ago: My Favorite Breakfast Smoothie
Five Years Ago: Chipotle Chicken Skewers with Creamy Dipping Sauce
Giant Cookie
Ingredients
- ½ cup (106 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (106 g) packed light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup (113 g) salted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups (213 g) flour, (add an extra 1/4 cup for a thicker cookie)
- ½ cup (85 g) chocolate chips, plus more to sprinkle on top, if desired
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet (12-inches by 17-inches or so) with parchment paper or foil and lightly grease with cooking spray (can also use a silicone baking liner; no need to grease).
- In a medium bowl, stir together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Add the butter, egg and vanilla and mix until thick and well-combined. Add the flour and chocolate chips and mix until no dry streaks remain.
- Press the cookie dough onto the center of the prepared pan into an evenly thick 9-inch circle. When it bakes, it spreads to about 11-12 inches (the cookie will fit perfectly onto a 12-inch round cardboard circle you can find at most craft stores).
- If desired, top the cookie with additional chocolate chips or M&Ms. Bake for 13-16 minutes until the cookie is set around the edges and slightly crackly on top. Let the cookie cool completely on the baking pan – this helps the cookie set up so it can be easily lifted off the pan. Once cool, gently use the foil or parchment to lift the cookie off the pan; slide a thin spatula underneath to transfer. Cut into slices and serve!
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Recipe Source: adapted from Aunt Marilyn’s friend, Elnora
Recipe originally posted May 2010; updated with new photos, recipe notes, commentary.
Made this for the FathersDay treat at church. It was a huge hit!
I made 4, one was a peanut butter cookie for anyone who would like the variation!
Add 1/2 peanut butter with your melted butter.
Add a couple extra tablespoons of flour
1/4 Choc. Chips
1/4 Reeses Pieces
And Reeses Pieces for the topping/ decorations
This came out to be a large, soft and scrumptious cookie!
Thanks Mel!
Yay for a PB version!
Love this recipe!!Could you use m&ms instead of chocolate chips? Thanks!
Sure!
Dangerious. So easy and quick. Kids LOVED it! Thanks Mel
This cookie is WAY too easy to make! I’ve made 4 of them in the last 4 days. They are such a good gift with holiday M & Ms and wrapped up on the cake boards. My kids think it’s so cool to see such a big cookie. Thanks so much for the great idea!
Hello, this cookie was great the first time I made it as a trial run to make for an upcoming co-workers birthday and easy peasy as well. My friend introduced me to your website and we make a lot of your recipes. I have one question, when I print the recipes the picture doesn’t print with it. Is there something that I’m doing wrong or doesn’t the picture print? I usually copy the picture into another document then print and attach to the recipe – ha!
Hi Marlene – right now, my print functionality doesn’t print the picture. I’m working on getting more options so you can select whether you want the picture to print or not, but that may be a few months down the road.
Delicious! We sure enjoyed the big cookie.
This didn’t work so well for me. I may have done something wrong because my cookie came out significantly thicker than the one pictured (like double the thickness). I did add the extra 1/4 cup of flour but didn’t think it’d be extremely thicker. The flavor wasn’t all there for me either. Considering it was thicker than expected, I felt like it was almost cake like in consistency which wasn’t what I expected/wanted/hoped for. All negativity aside…the wife did think it would work well pazookie style with some ice cream. I had it with a bowl and enjoyed it that way. Thanks for the recipe Mel, maybe I’ll give it one more try (with less flour this time).
Darn it, David – sorry to hear that! Do you mind me asking how you measure your flour? If more was packed into the measuring cup than I used to test the recipe, it would definitely make the cookie thicker as well (especially if adding 1/4 cup extra flour). Thanks for your review despite it not working out super well!
David, I bet you used self rising flour. I assume Mel’s recipe calls for plain flour since it requires salt and baking powder.
This was so very good. Thank you for sharing!
It was amazing and eaten in just a few hours. My mom made me a similar ” cookie cake” from Martha Stewart with cream cheese frosting slathered in between 3 giant cookies. Totally recommend you make it as a birthday cake Yum!
Oh yum!
Mel….this cookie is fabulous! So easy and absolutely delicious. I made it this afternoon because I just had a craving and this fit the bill. Only trouble….I really don’t want to share! Is it wrong to hide my slices in individual baggies all over the kitchen so the hubs doesn’t get them all? Just asking. Thanks for the recipe. It is a keeper.
Haha! Not wrong AT ALL!
Hi Mel, I loved making this recipe! We have a family party for my nephew, who just became a marine, this weekend. I want to make a couple variations of this cookie. Have you ever tried making a peanut butter one? If so I’d love the recipe, we have some big peanut butter fans in our family. Thank you!!
Hey Courtney – I haven’t tried a peanut butter version, but if it were me, I’d probably just throw 1/2 cup peanut butter into the dough with the butter and sugars and see how it goes!
Fantastic recipe- my new go-to for choc chip cookies. Not too sweet, little crunch on outside, little soft on inside. I made them as regular cookies (about 21, large walnut-size balls, 10 min bake) which my son brought to school as BD treats. Can’t wait to make the 12 inch cookie pizza!!
This is amazing! Makes the perfect cookie cake for a birthday party (just decorate with whatever frosting you’d like). So perfect – I will definitely be making this to give with meals, to teachers, or just something fun – comes together in less than 10 minutes.
Mel, ever since making my first giant cookie for a birthday present for a friend a few years ago, these have become my “thing!” I love to give them out as birthday and teacher gifts. The look of joy when someone opens the box (especially a little kid) is priceless! I ordered 100 pastry/pizza boxes online to put the cookies in, to make them even more exciting and special upon opening. I made one today for my Kindergartner’s teacher, and realized I am almost out of boxes. That’s how much I make these! I love how simple and quick it is to make, and I love that there is no temptation for me to eat any cookies when I make it for someone else :).
Can I ask where you purchased the boxes?
Amazon 🙂
Thanks Julie!
Love the idea of putting this giant cookie in a special box, Julie!
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I made this last night and my husband and I have already eaten half of it. This thing is dangerous!
I’m going to follow the lead of one of your other commenters and make slightly smaller versions for end of school gifts! Thanks for all you do Mel!
Thanks, Jessica!
This was so yummy! It was quick and easy! I used soft white wheat that I ground as well. Thanks Mel for another winner!
Thanks, Lachelle!
Mel,
This recipe has saved me countless times. I have made it to take to school for my kids’ birthdays to share. I have made a few of them, stacked them like a ‘cake’ for a cake auction and it was a big hit. Also, so easy when we just want a treat. I love your dark chocolate version of this also. Thanks for all your great recipes. This is the one I picked as my favorite of yours when you had that giveaway. 🙂
Ann in Indy
Glad this is such a favorite, Ann! Love the idea of stacking them for a cake – so clever!
I so want to make this for my daughters teacher, but she is gluten free ugh! Anyone know of a good gf flour to use for yummy cookies??
I think people have good success making recipes gluten free using either the Bob’s Red Mill GF flour substitute or the cup for cup King Arthur GF mix. It’s worth a try. I have celiac but I’m super tempted to try and figure out how to make this yummy looking recipe work at our house.
Thank you! I will give it a go!
I was going to save this as a last day of school treat, but couldn’t hold off. I made this today and it was fantastic. I added quite a few more chips than what the recipe said (mixed in, not sprinkled on top) and thought it was perfect. Crispy on the edges and chewy in the middle. I had to cook it a while longer than the stated time (but that is typical of my oven), but kept watching it and checking it until it was golden brown. So delicious and such a great way to present a dessert. I love this so much.
Thanks for the report back, Teresa! Happy you loved it!
Thanks so much for posting these now! I wasn’t sure what to take the teachers and secretaries and lunch ladies etc for the last day of school and these are perfect!! I split each batch into 3 instead of 1, making them each about 8 inches across when baked. (Baking about 13 min). These are so easy and fun! The 16th, 17th and 18th are just coming out of the oven! I love love love this recipe!! Thanks again!
Holy moly, that’s a lot of giant cookies, but how fun!!
Yes! This showed up in my inbox and I immediately printed it out. It was perfect. I think I’ll go have another slice.
Glad you loved it!
I had to make this one right away!!!! WONDERFUL!!! Thank you so much!
Thanks, LeAnna!
I can see why this gets made at your house constantly–super yummy and super fast to throw together! Your posting of it was perfectly timed too–I was looking for a dessert to make yesterday but I only had one egg and this fit the bill! I made it in a bit of a mad dash before Bible study, but everyone’s reactions when they opened the container and saw one giant cookie were great (including the two people who went to sneak bites while we were in the car–can’t blame them!). Thanks for another winner, Mel!
Haha, that person trying to sneak a bite would totally be me!
Update: this is still a favorite at our house, and I had to comment again to tell you that my husband officially refers to this cookie as a “danger cookie” because it is so easy to make and devour. “Hey, can you make a danger cookie tonight?” is now a common refrain in our house 🙂
Haha, this is the best!
Mel – we now grind our wheat (partially thanks to your tutorials and posts on wheat!). Would you substitute 1 for 1 with hard white? And would you make any other changes?
Hi Jen, yes, I think you could sub in white whole wheat flour. If you are using a scale, I’d probably reduce the amount by about 1 ounce.
Mel, you are a serious answer to prayers today. I’ve been trying to come up with a gift that my 6-year old can make for her teacher. As much as I love a pretty gift basket, and while I will be giving her teacher a gift card from ME, I think that gifts from kids should be homemade, heartfelt & somewhat functional. This giant cookie checks off the those boxes and adds a dash of WOW! I’m also thinking Father’s Day – my husband can’t resist treats. Thank you!!!
Glad this fit the bill for what you were needing, Amber! It has been a lifesaver so many times in similar situations for me, too! (And it is always met with rave reviews!).
Oh my goodness. I LOVE the giant cookies with frosting that grocery stores sell around Valentine’s Day (and other holidays but mostly that one) but my husband thinks they are gross and won’t buy them for me. Now I can just make my own!!
This is the recipe that first hooked me! I’ve been a loyal reader ever since. I often tell my family that I’m powerless when it comes to MKC recipe suggestions- I have to try them all! This cookie is such a fun treat- my kids love it! Thank you for 8 years- you’ve turned me me into a rockstar in the kitchen!
Thanks so much, Mel! Your comment made my day. 🙂
Thanks once again for saving me. I needed a dessert for this weekend but didn’t want to spend all day in the kitchen. THIS is what I’m making.
Do you think it would work to bake two of these, put ice cream between them and freeze like a giant ice cream sandwich and then cut and serve?
Oh my goodness. What a fabulous idea!
Um, YES. And also, why haven’t I thought of that??
Brilliant!!!
I’ve done this with Mel’s Perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe too. I just made them on the small side and made enough for my kids entire class at the end of the year. Wrapped each one and added a now saying “you at one smart cookie.”
Hi, Mel. I am a long time lover of your blog. I love all of your recipes; however, over the past few years, the ads on your webpage have become overbearing. So much so, I hardly ever visit your page from my cell phone and when I view your webpage on my Mac I get a notification saying “this webpage is using significant energy.” Just thought I’d let you know because I am a loyal follower, but the ads are taking the joy away from viewing your page.
It’s so true. Overwhelming number of ads. We love you Mel!!
This will be an awesome end of school year great. Love the ice cream sandwich idea as well
Depending on your browser can you click on the Reader View? It will be on the upper right of the address bar. It looks like a sheet of paper with lines on it (Firefox) or an open book for Microsoft Edge. That will just get the bare minimum of the page with no ads. Hope it helps!
Thanks for the tip. I mainly use my cell phone so I don’t know if that would help.
So on the mobile phone, I have found, at least with Google Chrome, you can go to Settings -> Accessibility -> Check Simplified View. It should help.
Oh my gosh, I never realized there is such a thing as a reader view. This is fabulous, thank you so much. Mel, this cookie is amazing. I don’t know why I don’t remember the post. I will definitely be making this over the summer. Great idea for last day of school like you said!!!
Wow! I did not know this existed! Thank you!
Nina, I did not know about reader view either! Thank you so much for this tip!
Hey Jess, thanks for the feedback! I’m sorry your experience has been less than great on my blog over the last few years. I’ve actually decreased the ads on my site (particularly on mobile) over the last couple months (I’m running quite a few less ads than the industry standard), but I’ll take a look again, because feedback like this is important to me. Thank you!
No problem, Mel. I have not viewed the blog on my cellphone in awhile, so I’ll give it another go! Thanks for taking the time to respond and care! You are my go-to recipe blogger!
I don’t get this. Not really. I mean, I understand ads can be annoying, but I’m just glad that there are still an handful of blogs that haven’t sold out to every other post being a sponsored post schilling some product they are paid to love and gush about (thanks Mel for not doing that). I’m sure those kind of posts pay a fortune so I guess I don’t really blame bloggers ofr doing them, but it’s annoying. I’d rather put up with a few ads than deal with that nonsense. I skim over them – there aren’t any pop ups. No biggie. I don’t have a blog but I’m almost positive that if any of us did and we were as successful as Mel, we’d have just as many ads on our site. It’s a small price to pay for great recipes tha are tested and amazing. Thanks for all the work you put into this site, Mel. I can’t imagine how much time it takes and the hard decisions you have to make about it. I’ll be around no matter if there are ads or not.
We love this recipe so much too! We have been baking them for a quick gift with a BIG WOW factor. Perfect for end of school year this and that. We keep a stack of cardboard cake circles on hand for easy delivery. We have also split the recipe into two cookies. Still makes two very impressively large cookies. Like ALL of Mel’s COOKIES, these do not disappoint!
So happy you love this stellar little recipe, Melisa! Love the idea of splitting it in half…
Just thought I’d let ya know… we used this in scouts. I had the complete attention of the scouts as I brought in this giant cookie. We talked to the boys about camping and packing appropriate gear for different kinds of weather. (I brought in a lot of visual aids, gloves, hats, scarves, coats, etc.) Once we finished the discussion, then we played a game where they got to stand in a circle around the cookie and see who could roll a six on the dice. Once they rolled a six, they had to put on all of the “gear” (gloves, hat, scarf, coat), and then they had a fork and knife and they could start eating the cookie. They got to eat as much as they could until the next player rolled a six. Then the player that rolled the six had to get all geared up and eat. It was a hit. This was a couple of years ago and some of the boys still tell me, “Remember that one time with the giant cookie????”
That is the best activity! Love it!
Love this! Everyone always wants the recipe! Making it again today.
Made this today. Loved it!! So easy and delicious! The butter taste really comes through, and of course, the chocolate. Crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Yum!!
hi! I’m thinking of making this giant cookie for my nephew’s first birthday. I’m planning on spelling out his name on the cookie using m&ms..do you think the “letters” would get messed up once the cookie spreads? i’m a newbie baker and haven’t tried using m&ms on cookies nor decorated cookies of any sort…thank you very much!
PS i found your blog while searching for the best cookie recipe! it’s a treasure!♥♥
I’d probably add the M&Ms after the cookie bakes – you could lightly press them in right after it comes out of the oven or use a little frosting but I don’t think they’d stay in place while baking. Good luck – sounds fun!
Have you ever made a larger cookie? Just curious if doubling the recipe and spreading onto a bigger pan would work.
I’ve never made it bigger than this, Michele – sorry!
Hi! I was wondering if there is a trick to getting the whole cookie to cook evenly? We tried it for my husband’s birthday and the middle was still gooey and the edges were rock hard! Oops! My three-year-old still thought it was awesome because now she wants one for her birthday party next week 🙂 Thought I better work out the kinks first though!
And thanks for all the recipes Mel! You are the first place I come to when I am drawing a blank for dinner!
Hi Jessie – you could try spreading the dough more thinly or maybe decreasing the oven temperature a bit? That might help!
Hi Mel,
Do you mix all dry ingredients together before you add to the mix?
Not usually but you can.
Hi Mel,
I always make my husband (and now my kids too!) a special treat for Valentine’s Day. This year he requested cookies and I thought this might be a fun surprise! Have you ever tried making this into a heart? Or would it spread out too much and just look deformed? Thanks!
Great minds think alike, Angela! I was JUST wondering about this same thing today (to possibly make for my kids’ teachers). The batter is pretty soft but I think if you made the heart shape (particularly the V-part) exaggerated so that when it bakes, it can spread and still look like a heart, it would work great. Let me know how it goes!
Hi Mel,
I am planning on making this cookie for my daughter’s birthday and writing on it with icing. I am wondering if you ever do this and if you do if you have a favorite icing recipe that you use?
Thanks! Darcy
Yes, I do that a lot and it works great. I use the Quick Vanilla Buttercream Frosting.
Great! Thanks!
I made this cookie for the first time about a month and a half ago, and now I’m addicted! I start craving one every couple weeks. I made a few to take to a party and I have tried the chocolate version. Everyone loved them! And I’m going to see if I can find a box for one so I can send it to my nephew who is in the MTC right now.
We loved this one. Added orange zest. I love the short ingredient list! 🙂 we made it for grandpas birthday. I felt like a professional baker when my 8 year old nephew pulled me aside and asked if he could please have one just like this for his birthday next April. 🙂 thanks!!
Check out these Giant Cookie designs!
http://www.giantcookiecompany.wordpress.com
Great ideas! Thanks!
I just made 12 of these and I wanted to pass along a few tips. I made 4 at a time by quadrupling the recipe and then I weighed the dough to make sure they were even. I also brown the butter since you’re using melted anyway and it adds a depth of flavor. Delicious. I pulled the first one off the cookie sheet to a rack to cool and it cracked. The recipe says and I agree. Let them harden on the pan. The rest turned out beautifully and were plenty solid to transfer after cooling. I also froze them for a few days so I could make them in advance and they turned out great!
Thanks for your comment about making 4 at a time and also freezing. I’m making a bunch for a party next week, and I’ve got plenty else to do that day!
My daughter made this cookie yesterday and it turned out great! We made a couple changes for altitude (9,000 feet does make a difference in baking!) and were so glad the middle baked just fine. I think I overbaked it a bit, so next time I’ll take it own when it just starts to brown.
Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Mel, I just wanted to take a sec and thank you!! I came across this recipe a couple of years ago while I was following your blog and my kids decided they didn’t like birthday cake for their birthdays anymore. That year they asked for a cookie from the American Cookie Co. I looked into them and there was NO WAY I was paying that much for a giant cookie! Your recipe came just in time to save me!!! I have been making them ever since! Actually, I have made it at least a hundred times! All my friends and neighbors have requested them for birthdays. The only thing I do different is that I double the recipe and I bake it in a 16 inch pizza pan. I even purchased a case of plain brown pizza boxes from Sam’s and every giant cookie gets delivered in one! So, thank you! It has been a delicious addition to my recipe box!!
I wanted to make my boys cookies but only had 1/2 cup of chocolate chips. So glad I came across this recipe and your site! It turned out perfect!
Hi Mel- I don’t know if you see these comments on older posts, but i have enjoyed using this giant cookie numerous times as a thank you. so much better than a paper note. I write thank you or happy whatever on the cookie, wilton style. This Christmas, it will be the go-to gift when I need something spur of the moment. I use a pizza pan, 12 inch, but don”t spread it all the way to the edge. So it ends up fitting on a 12 in cake circle. And I discovered that I can buy plain white pizza boxes as Gordon Food Service, and that makes a delightful and fun presentation. The box could be decorated to match the event.
So many ideas I have– if I ever get my daydream of having my own bake shop….
someday……..
Hi. Thanks so much for the cookie recipe. My husband told me that for his birthday this year, he wanted a giant cookie. So, I hit the internet and came across this cookie. I did a trial run the other day to test it out. While it wasn’t bad, it lacked that oomph I was looking for. I made it again and increased both the white and brown sugar to 3/4 cup, the 1 cup chocolate chips to a whole bag, and the vanilla to 1 TLBS. AWESOME!! I like the versatility of this recipe. You can change it up everytime you make it. I will be using this recipe for years to come. 🙂
Soda? I’m guessing and hoping that means baking soda? I will be trying this tonight!
Jennifer – yes, baking soda.
just wondering,do you havea recipe for a hard/firm giant cookie? im needing one to make a topper for neices graduation cap. i have rounded cake hat but i would like to use a giant cookie as the flat top part(nothing that will droop). any ideas?
Hi Marla – this is the only giant cookie recipe I have. You could bake it longer for a crispier cookie.