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This giant party cookie recipe transforms ordinary cookie time into a celebration with oversized, bakery-style treats packed with colorful sprinkles and gooey chocolate chips. Each enormous cookie delivers a perfect balance of crisp edges and soft centers that will make any gathering feel special.
My kids' eyes practically double in size whenever I pull these cookies from the oven. I started making them for my daughter's birthday parties, but they quickly became our go to special occasion treat that everyone requests by name.
Ingredients
- All purpose flour: creates the perfect structure while keeping cookies tender
- Unsalted butter: provides rich flavor. Be sure it's fully softened but not melty
- Light brown sugar: adds moisture and caramel notes that make these irresistible
- Egg plus extra yolk: creates chewier texture and richer flavor
- White and semisweet chocolate chips: create flavor contrast in every bite
- Rainbow sprinkles: add festive color and slight crunch. Jimmies work better than nonpareils
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cream the butter and sugars:
- Beat butter with both sugars for a full 2 minutes until noticeably lighter in color and fluffy. This step incorporates air that helps create the right texture, so do not rush it.
- Build the wet mixture:
- Add the egg, extra yolk, vanilla and salt and mix thoroughly. The extra yolk adds richness and helps create that chewy center that makes these cookies special.
- Prepare dry ingredients:
- Whisk flour, baking soda, and baking powder in a separate bowl. This ensures even distribution of leavening agents for uniform cookies.
- Combine wet and dry:
- Add the flour mixture to wet ingredients gradually, mixing until just combined. Overmixing develops gluten which makes tough cookies, so stop when no dry flour remains visible.
- Add mix ins:
- Gently fold in chocolate chips and sprinkles with a spatula until evenly distributed. This gentle approach preserves the air you worked to incorporate earlier.
- Portion and chill:
- Form eight large dough balls using about 100g of dough each. The chilling time is non negotiable as it prevents excessive spreading and develops flavor.
- Bake strategically:
- Space cookies well apart as they will spread considerably. The perfect cookie looks slightly underdone in the center when you remove it from the oven.
- Cool properly:
- Let cookies cool on the pan first to allow the centers to set without overbaking, then transfer to a rack to prevent soggy bottoms.
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I discovered the power of the extra egg yolk by accident when I ran short on eggs one day. That happy mistake created the perfect chewy center that makes these cookies truly special. Now my daughter insists we make a batch every time her friends come over.
Make Ahead Options
These giant party cookies are perfect for planning ahead. You can make the dough up to three days before baking and keep it refrigerated. For longer storage, portion the dough into balls, freeze them solid on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag. The frozen dough balls will keep for two months and can be baked directly from frozen, adding about 2 minutes to the baking time. Having cookie dough ready to go has saved countless last minute celebrations at our house.
Customizing Your Cookies
While the classic rainbow sprinkle and chocolate chip combination is festive, these cookies welcome creative variations. Swap in seasonal sprinkles for holidays red and green for Christmas, orange and black for Halloween. Replace half the chocolate chips with chopped nuts, toffee bits, or candy pieces. My personal favorite variation includes dried cranberries and white chocolate for winter gatherings. The cookie base is forgiving and adaptable, making it perfect for using whatever festive ingredients you have on hand.
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Serving Suggestions
Transform these giant cookies into spectacular desserts with minimal effort. Serve them warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a crowd pleasing cookie sundae. For birthdays, place candles in a warm cookie instead of cake for a memorable alternative. At parties, I sometimes arrange them on a tiered stand and let guests help themselves. For gifting, wrap individual cookies in cellophane with colorful ribbon they make impressive presents that transport easily and always delight recipients.
Common Questions
- → Can I make these cookies smaller?
Yes! You can divide the dough into 16-20 smaller cookies instead of 8 giant ones. Reduce the baking time to 9-11 minutes and watch carefully for golden edges.
- → Why do I need to chill the dough?
Chilling the dough prevents excessive spreading during baking, resulting in thicker cookies with better texture. It also allows the flavors to develop more fully. Don't skip this step!
- → Can I use different mix-ins?
Absolutely! While the sprinkles and chocolate chips create the classic party cookie look, you can substitute with M&Ms, chopped nuts, different chocolate varieties, or seasonal sprinkles to customize for any occasion.
- → How do I store these cookies?
Store completely cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. You can also freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months or freeze the portioned dough for fresh-baked cookies anytime.
- → How do I know when they're done baking?
Look for golden edges while the centers still appear slightly underdone. They'll continue cooking from residual heat after removing from the oven. For gooier centers, err on the side of underbaking slightly.
- → What type of sprinkles work best?
Jimmies-style sprinkles (the longer cylindrical ones) work best as they hold their shape and color during baking. Avoid nonpareils (tiny round sprinkles) as they tend to bleed color throughout the dough.