I’ve never been a big party person, but I actually love throwing parties.
Maybe because I like to have control over the food served, the decorations hung, and the people coming. Hello, creepy teenager houseparties are like my worst nightmare. There’s never any cool decorations (or any at all, save for the strewn dirty socks on the floor), or really any food, except chips and dip which is SO not okay to serve at a party. Community dip with people I don’t know? That’s like a maaajor no-no.
Anyways, when I throw parties, though, I love getting really into it. Making sure the balloons are placed in appropriate areas away from vents where potential popping could occur. Ensuring there are several types of appetizers to choose from and spaced accordingly on the buffet table. Perfecting the ideal soundtrack that’s neither offensively loud or too elevator music-y. You know, the little deets.
And if I know anyone who’s totally a perf party planner, it’s my homie Martha Stewart. Lady is a one-woman party machine! From her elaborately hand-crafted decorations to her always-gorgeous display of edibles, Martha knows how to throw a mean party that’s both elegantly easy and totally memorable.
So when I got the chance to review her new Special Collector’s Edition Cakes & Cupcakes magazine, I jumped at the chance! Cakes and cupcakes? Yeaaaaah, I think I could manage to review a magazine specifically tailored to my favorite dessert 🙂
First of all, I should put out a disclaimer that I’m not a fancy cake baker or decorator. I have never even touched fondant. So if you’re like me and run away screaming from anything more than one tier, don’t be intimidated by the beyond-gorgeous front cover with the floral cupcakes. You can do this!
Instantly, I was drawn to the Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake which was one of the first recipes in the book. It sounded heavenly–I literally adore the sweet and salty combination and those huge flakes of sea salt sprinkled on top of that fluffy chocolate frosting.. I almost died. Thankfully I didn’t so I could continue to read on and discover Martha’s recipe for a Giant Cookie Cake.
A Cookie. Cake. Yes, it’s real life people.
When I saw it: a towering 5-layer cake of cookies with fluffy cream cheese frosting in between each chocolate chip cookie layer, I fell in love. I knew I wanted to make my own version of her cookie cake, reminiscent of my favorite cookie cakes from Mrs. Fields I’d have at birthday parties growing up. (Um, those were the coolest cakes. You weren’t cool unless you had a Mrs. Fields cookie cake, amiright??)
So I put a spin on Martha’s recipe by making personal-sized cookie cakes stuffed with bright mini M&M’s and layered among light and creamy cream cheese frosting. Toooootally perfect for birthday parties, work events, little just-because gifts for neighbors, or Tuesday afternoons, if you ask me.
I think Martha would approve!
Rainbow Chip Cookie Cakes *adapted from my Rainbow Chip Cookies and Martha’s Cookie Cake in her Cakes and Cupcakes Cookbook (on newsstands now through 5/6/13)
- ¾ cup butter, softened
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup miniature M&M's candies
- ¾ cup miniature chocolate chips
- Cream cheese frosting (either homemade or canned)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two cookie sheets with silicone liners, use Heirloom sheets, or mist sheets lightly with cooking spray and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together butter and sugars until creamy. Add in vanilla and egg and beat to combine. Lastly, beat in the flour, soda, cornstarch and salt until a soft dough forms. By hand, stir in the rainbow M&M's and miniature chips to incorporate.
- Drop rounded Tablespoonfuls of dough onto the baking sheets 1-2" apart. Bake for approx. 8-10 minutes, rotating pans halfway through baking time. Remove from the oven and gently press down on the cookie with a small icing spatula or a flat-bottomed glass. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets about 5 minutes before gently transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- To assemble the cakes: spoon the icing into a piping bag attached with an open star tip (I used Wilton tip #1M) and pipe the icing along the outer edge on the top of a cookie. Gently press a second cookie on top, frost the edges of the second cookie, and top with a third cookie. Repeat until you have all your cookie cakes completely (from this recipe, I got about 8 cookie cakes). Serve immediately. They can be eaten the next day, just store them airtight.
These cookie cakes are a super fun twist on a birthday cake or party treat. I love Martha’s idea of a giant cookie cake to appease the entire group, but miniature, individualized cookie cakes also make it easy for larger groups and look cute, too.
You really should pick up Martha’s Cakes & Cupcakes — it has some awesome ideas inside for any and every occasion, as well as some classic recipes for frostings and cakes and some valuable baking tips. It’ll quickly become a favorite, I promise!
Oh, and Martha? I’ll party with you anytime 😉
Also: stay tuned, because I recreated the Salted Caramel-Chocolate Cake, too!! I’ll post later this week!
Happy Tuesday!!
xo, Hayley
I was compensated with a free issue of Martha’s Special Edition Cookbook to review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.
Sue @ The Witch's Kitchen says
As someone who does decorate cakes, has touched fondant & actually makes the stuff, I’ll tell you that it’s really not that hard. Like everything else, the more you do it the easier it gets.
Very cute cookie cakes too!
Nicky @ Pink Recipe Box says
Yummmm! These look fab! Love that you opted for individual size cookie cakes.
Heather @ Sugar Dish Me says
These are so super cute. It’s my little guy’s birthday and I think he would be pretty pleased to come home to these…Super excited about the cake recipe later this week!
Back for Seconds says
These are too cute!! I have been wanting to do little cookie cakes for awhile now but never really had a reason to make them. Not that you need a reason. I guess Tuesday is reason enough, right???
Also, I’m totally making salted caramel chocolate cupcakes today for a birthday. I can’t wait to see yours!! What a fun book! Have a good day, sweets!
Regina says
I love these cookie cakes. They would have been my perfect birthday cake when I was little, since I didn’t really like cake back then 😉
Ellen@Bake It With Booze says
Almost picked that up last weekend, but it looked to fancy. Great idea to make mini version!
Kelly @ Hidden Fruits and Veggies says
These are so adorable! I wonder how Martha does all she does, secretly a set of twins or triplets?? I do like these individual sized ones– then I can eat multiple cookies but *really* only be eating one personal cake 😉
iwashyoudry says
I love these, they are too stinking cute! And any excuse to eat three cookies at once is all right with me!
iwashyoudry says
I love these, they are too stinkin cute! And any excuse to eat three cookies at once is all right by me!
cookingactress says
OMG so cute! I’m totally scared of tiered cakes and fondant too! (Although I’ve been debating trying to make a tiered cake to show on the blog for it’s birthday, maybe we can conquer this fear together while you’re here?)
Erin Penor (@whollydelicious) says
Love these! I think my Gingy would be totally impressed if I served these at his Birthday party. Martha is amazing and I love her, I am jealous of your new mag so I better go pick one up:)
Nicole @ youngbrokeandhungry says
I always begged my mom to get me a Mrs. Fields cookie cake for my birthday but I always ended up with a homemade cake instead. With my birthday in three months, I’ll have to make these rainbow chip cookie cakes for myself. Cream cheese frosting is my weakness!
Ikhlas says
oh my these look delightful, Hayley!
crazyforcrust says
So cute Hayley! What a great idea! And you and I are party-planning twins. People look at me weird because I love all the details!
Jess @ On Sugar Mountain says
Do you know what I approve of? The crazy awesome amounts of colors you use on your blog/in your desserts. They make me smile everytime I pop over here 😀 I wish I had one of these little cakes today ! Would’ve brightened my otherwise crazy hectic day for sure.
Heather @French Press says
what cute little cakes Hayley – and since I’m not BIG on actual cake – these are my favorite way to do “cake” you gotta love MS
Chandra@The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen says
I bought that! I bought that! I am in love with it! I have a ton of things bookmarked for future posts! I want one of those rainbow chip cookie cakes right now! Yum-O!!!
alyssa @ cogs and cupcakes says
I plan parties the same way and it drives my husband nuts! Although, he doesn’t seem to mind when there are leftovers of all the snacks 🙂 these cookie cakes are adorable, as anything with sprinkles should be!
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes says
Oh I wanna come to one of your parties!! Sound like a good time..and even better food 🙂 I am a bad party planner…it’s kinda stressful to me, but I wish it wasn’t. Love how cute these little cakes are!!
Dinnersdishesdessert (@Dinnersdishes) says
I love your spin – these are so great, because you get a whole one to yourself! What a fun and cute idea!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips says
These are too cute, Hayley. I’ll have to Pin this for my moms birthday. She loves M&Ms.
Diane {Created by Diane} says
oh I just LOVE cookie cakes and these are so cute! I just love them 🙂
createdbydiane says
Love these, they are so cute! I love cookie cakes, maybe they will be the next big thing 🙂
Aimee @ ShugarySweets says
totally digging these cookie cakes! And if it makes you feel better…I’ve never touched fondant before either (well, I’ve tasted it, but never bought or made it)!!
Kim @ Soliloquy Of Food & Such says
I love your take on the original recipe…these little cookie cakes are adorable!
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl says
I need to get my hands on that magazine! And one of these little cookie-cakes! What an awesome idea!
noyomoco says
What a fun idea! I love planning parties too – a friend of mine enlisted me to plan her Hunger Games/Catching Fire 30th birthday party in November and I am beyond excited! I also planned a zombie birthday party for the hubby 🙂
Angela says
Very nice recipe. To bad i didn’t see it yesterday to make it for my b’day. ;))
On another note, can you help me with the ingredients in grams, not cup?
Have a nice day.
brownie says
Greetings from California! I’m bored at work so I decided to browse
your site on my iphone during lunch break. I enjoy the info you present
here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m amazed at how fast your blog loaded on my phone ..
I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, very good blog!
thedomesticrebel says
Yay! Glad to hear it’s super speedy! It’s the little gremlins I hired to go into your phone and pedal really, really fast. Just kidding, that sounds creepy. Nice to meet you, and thanks for commenting! xo.
http://www.gamezebo.com/ says
You could certainly see your expertise within the
article you write. The sector hopes for more passionate writers like
you who are not afraid to say how they believe.
All the time go after your heart.