Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cake

Post updated 9/25/2020. Originally posted 9/6/2019.

This is the cake you’ve been waiting for since you were a child - Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cake! With layers of chocolate chip cookie-style cake and a deliciously simple cookie dough frosting, this cake is sure to please everyone of all ages. It's moist and fluffy with globs of cookie dough placed on top. Needless to say, it's the hit of all parties!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cake

I'm a huge cookie dough gal. It's been my go-to ice cream flavor since I was a kid. I mean what's not to love - globs of cookie dough in creamy ice cream with chocolate chips everywhere. A child's dream come true if you ask me! But guess what else is amazing - CAKE! So why not combine the two and create an epic cookie dough-style cake?!

Components of this cookie dough cake

Three heavenly components make up this layer cake:

1. Chocolate chip cookie cake layers - no, not a cookie cake like you had in school. This is actual cake that tastes just like a fluffy chocolate chip cookie!
2. Cookie dough icing - we use flavors like vanilla and a little nut butter to provide a cookie dough-style flavoring that tastes just like the real thing.
3. Edible vegan cookie dough on top — because every cake deserves to be extra. This edible cookie dough is simple and easy to make and elevates this homemade cake.

All components are made using paleo-friendly, gluten-free, and dairy-free ingredients. Each can also be made plant-based using an egg replacement like a flax egg. I haven’t tried it with an egg replacement so if you try it out, you’ll have to let me know how it turns out in the comments below.

Different ways to make this cake

I made this cake with three 6-inch layers, however, there are a few other ways you can make this cake:

• 2 layer 8-inch cake - the only thing you'll need to alter for a two-tier cake is the cooking time. Because the layers will be bigger the cake will require a little longer in the oven to bake. Start with 50 minutes and check the done-ness with a toothpick. Your cake is done when the toothpick comes out clean!
• Sheet cake - this recipe will make a 9 x 13 inch sheet cake as well. To make this into a sheet cake, it will need to bake for at least 50 minutes in the oven. Again, insert a toothpick in the middle of the cake to make sure it is done. I also highly suggest using a baking pan for this and not a glass pan as this significantly effects the baking time for the cake.

Cookie Dough Icing

Like many cakes, my favorite thing about this layer cake has to be the cookie dough icing. It's light and creamy with some serious cookie dough vibes! Here is what you need to make the icing:

• Grass fed butter - this functions as the base for this buttercream icing. Make sure your butter is softened to room temperature. If vegan, substitute vegan butter here.
• Coconut sugar - the coconut sugar adds a hint of caramel to the icing which further elevates the cookie dough flavor
• Nut butter - believe it or not, the nut butter adds a little "cookie dough" flavoring. The little specks of nuts also provide a nice color. I used a creamy cashew butter but any style nut butter will work in this recipe. However, make sure you don't use a chunky nut butter as you want your icing to be smooth and spreadable.
• Vanilla - vanilla extract and nut butter together create a delicious cookie dough feel.
• Powdered sugar - this adds a little sweetness to the icing as well as some volume. Sifted powdered sugar is best so you don't end up with lumps of sugar in your icing.

Vegan Cookie Dough

The globs of vegan cookie dough on top are a must for this cake. They're edible and fun and add a little something extra to the aesthetics of this cake. The dough can be made in one bowl with just a fork to mix it all together. These are the ingredients you'll need to make a delicious edible cookie dough!

Almond flour

Nut butter

Maple syrup

Coconut oil

Vanilla

Chocolate chips

The inspiration for this cake came from my husband’s love for all things cookie dough so I’ll give partial credit to him. I made this for his birthday and it was devoured way faster than I’d like to admit. What can I say, when you combine cake & cookie dough, nothing is safe.

More delicious paleo treats:

• Chocolate Paleo Cake
• Paleo Cookie Skillet
• Almond Butter Blondies

Life Changing Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Paleo Cake

• Author: Ansley Beutler
• Prep Time: 30
• Cook Time: 40
• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 1 Cake 1x
• Category: Cakes
• Method: Bake
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Gluten Free

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Description

This is the cake you’ve been waiting for since you were a child - Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cake! With layers of chocolate chip cookie-style cake and a deliciously simple cookie dough frosting, this cake is sure to please everyone of all ages. It's moist and fluffy with globs of cookie dough placed on top.  Needless to say, it's the hit of all parties!

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Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

For the Cake

• 1 ½ cup full-fat coconut milk
• 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 3 eggs
• 1 ½ cup coconut sugar
• ½ Tbsp vanilla
• 3 Tbsp cashew butter
• 3 cups almond flour
• ¼ cup coconut flour
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ Tbsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp sea salt
• 1 cup mini chocolate chips 

For the Cookie Dough Icing

• 1 cup grass-fed butter, softened (sub.vegan butter)
• ½ cup coconut sugar
• ⅓ cup creamy nut butter (I used cashew butter)
• ½ Tbsp vanilla
• 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted

For the Vegan Cookie Dough on Top

• 1 cups almond flour
• 2 Tbsps nut butter (I used cashew butter but almond, peanut, etc. will work too)
• 3 Tbsps maple syrup
• 1 Tbsp coconut oil (melted and cooled)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• ½ tsp sea salt
• ¼ cup mini chocolate chips

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Instructions

For the Cake

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.  In a small bowl whisk together the coconut milk and apple cider vinegar and set aside
2. In a large bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the eggs, coconut sugar, vanilla, and nut butter until creamy.  Add the coconut milk and apple cider mixture and continue to mix
3. Slowly fold in the almond flour, coconut flour, baking soda, baking powder, and sea salt until no flour clumps remain.  Stir in mini chocolate chips
4. Pour batter into three 6-inch round cake pans* lined with parchment paper or greased with oil.  Bake for 40 - 45 minutes until a toothpick can be inserted in the middle and come out clean
5. While the cake cools, prepare the cookie dough icing 

For the Cookie Dough Icing

1. In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the softened butter, coconut sugar, and nut butter together until creamy.  Add the vanilla and 1 cup sifted powdered sugar and continue to mix
2. Add the remaining powdered sugar 1 cup at a time until you reach your desired consistency.  If the icing it too thin, add more powdered sugar.  If it's too thick, add a Tbsp nut milk.  Set aside while you make the vegan cookie dough to go on top

For the Vegan Cookie Dough

1. In a small bowl, mix together all vegan cookie dough ingredients until no flour clumps remain.  Stir in the mini chocolate chips

To Assemble

1. To assemble, take 1 cake layer and place in the center of your cake stand.  Spoon a large dollop of icing on top and spread across the top to create a thick layer of icing.  Leave some icing hanging over the sides as this will be used to create a "crumb coat" before we ice the entire cake. 
2. Layer on the remaining 2 cake piece and repeat step 1.  Create a "crumb coat" around the sides and on top of the cake with an uneven spatula or cake knife.  This is simply a really thin layer of icing that is used to set the crumbs in place.  Place the cake in the fridge or freezer for about 20 minutes to set the crumb coat.
3. After the crumb coat is set, ice the cake with the remaining icing.  With a small cookie scoop, dollop the vegan cookie dough on top around the edges.
4. Slice and enjoy or store in an airtight container until ready to enjoy**

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Notes

*Note : This recipe can also be made in two 8-inch or 9-inch circular pans or in a sheet cake.  See section above labeled 'different ways to make this cake'

**Note : this cake will keep fresh in an airtight container sitting out on the counter for up to 4 days or in the fridge for up to a week 

Keywords: cookie dough cake, chocolate chip cookie dough cake, paleo cake, vegan cookie dough, paleo cookie dough