Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie & Family Game Night


Not sure about your house but in our house my kiddos love to play board games. They love it so much that at times I catch Carson playing monopoly or operation all by himself LOL he just plays multiple players.

We had so much fun with our last game night, "Fudge Puddles & Family Game Night" that we have now combined baking and family game night as a special new tradition in our house.

What we do it designate one night a week for a family game night. If you can't do once a week then do every other week to start. You can always work your way up to once a week. First you will need to designate a night that works best for your family.

Maybe it's Friday night at your house or every Sunday might works out better. Really it's all up to you and what night works best for your family.

For us it is usually Saturday night that way the kids don't have school the next day. On the day of family game night we all try and decide on what game we will play and what sweet treat we will be baking to go along with our game.

Some of our favorite games are Disney Scene It, Twister, Disney DVD Bingo and Wii Bowling. We try to pick a game everyone can agree on, sometimes that's the hardest part of the whole thing.

Once we have a game picked out then we move onto what special treat we want to have to go along with it. Once all that is decided then the fun begins. On Family Game Night its all about being together and having fun doing a family activity.Last weekend we chose a Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie. 

I saw this recipe at Ezra's Pound Cake and I have been itching to try it out ever since. Usually on game night we try to pick something that isn't to complicated or time consuming. Because it's all about having fun, playing games together and enjoying your yummy creations. 

We don't want to be stuck in the kitchen the whole night so, try and pick a simple treat. The kids love helping out and baking up whatever sweet treat we make. They have so much fun sharing it with the whole family and letting them know that they helped bake it. Mom this is the perfect way to get your kiddos cooking in the kitchen with you. 


My kids, look so forward to Family Game Night that the excitement of the big night usually builds throughout the whole day. The kids love going to the store together and buying everything we need to bake our goodies. Then going home and getting the game set up and preparing our sweet treat together.

Family game night is all about spending time together as a family, baking, laughing and just having fun.  So that's how we do game night at our house. From time to time I will be bringing y'all posts from our family game night adventures and spotlighting what goodies we bake up together. So be on a look out.

What activity do you do to spend time together as a family? if you don't have one, starting a "Family Game Night" might just be the answer.


little hands mean little helpers. The kiddos added all the ingredients and mixed everything up. Mackenzie is becoming quite the pro at running the kitchen aid mixer.


um mm cookie dough, be still my heart.


Um so easy you just spread the ingredients in your favorite skillet that you can use in the oven and that's it. I used my 11 - 12  inch cast iron skillet.


Carson wanted to show me how strong he was. He told me he could hold the whole pan by himself. I guess he can!!


Right out of the oven and cooling.


Time for Twister fun.



Even I joined in. All I can say is, its not as easy as it used to be to play twister. Sometimes mom just doesn't bend that way LOL.



We served our yummy skillet cookie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Next time I might scale back on the chocolate chips just a bit. In the end it made a big fudgy center perfect for vanilla ice cream (I think 3/4 cup would be perfect). This dessert received a thumbs up from everyone.





Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 - teaspoon baking soda
1/2 - teaspoon salt
1 - cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 - cup granulated sugar
3/4 - cup packed light brown sugar
1 - teaspoon vanilla extract
2 - eggs
3/4 - 1 cup chocolate chips
1 - cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:
Pre heat oven to 375°F. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until creamy.

Add eggs; beat well. Gradually add flour mixture, beating well. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts, if desired.

Press cookie dough mixture into a large oven proof skillet. (I used a 12 inch cast iron skillet) Any large oven proof skillet will work.

Press to flatten, covering the bottom of the pan. Bake until the edges are brown and top is golden, 40 to 45 minutes.

 If the cookie starts to brown to quickly cover with a sheet of aluminum foil sprayed with a bit of baking spray and continue cooking.

Transfer to a wire rack to cool, 15 to 20 minutes. Cut into 8 wedges. Serve each with a scoop of ice cream or all by itself. Ice cream is best.

If you have a favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe just use that one. Any cookie recipe will do.


32 comments

what a wonderful idea! I hope to start a tradition like that when I start a family.
Barbara Bakes said…
What a fun idea! Love that you can just dump it in a skillet. Definitely a time saver.
Michele said…
What a fun night! I can't wait until my girls are a little bit older. I LOVE that skillet cookie. We just went through a batch of cookies the other day and I've been itching for more. I just might have to try this today. It's snowing and we don't have anywhere to go. Thanks for posting!
Denise said…
This looks soo yummy!! And you served it exactly like I would...ice cream on top. We love family game night, but haven't done it much lately. Time to get back to it...it is always fun!!
Just noticed that you are featured on the Tasty Kitchen blog post for today...congrats! :-)
Oh, what fun! And that skillet cookie looks sinfully delicious...

I'll have to keep that in mind for our next game night :)


Any bowl luck yet????
Heidi said…
What a cool idea! Never heard of cookies in a skillet... well now I have :)
Kerri said…
We do a family game night about once a month on a Saturday when neither I or the hubby has to work. It is a lot of fun and we have been building our game collection by getting a new game for each game night.

I will have to remember to add a sweet treat to the mix for our next game night.
That is a delicious-looking recipe, and a very cute idea :)
Rebekah said…
Looks yummy! And so easy! I can't wait to give it a try. Definitley with the icecream.
Michelle said…
I actually made that cookie tonight. Well, the dough. I'm baking it tomorrow at my mom's so we can have it still warm.
Laura said…
at pie looks fabulous, now if I only has a cast iron skillet
Jessie said…
What a great idea and so easy!! My kids love game night as well. Twister is one of their favorites and it was sure easier to play it as a little kid.
Kirstin said…
That sounds so yummy. I need to get a cast iron skillet
I'm always happy to hear that other families find fun ways to spend time together. We do "Family Game Night" as well. We like dominos, Wii bowling, Yatzee and others. Love your skillet cookie. We've always baked ours on a pizza pan. I'll have to try the skillet as everything taste better in cast iron.
Lara said…
We have family night each week too and I love the fun memories it creates. It looks like you have a great family!
DailyChef said…
Love it. Reminds me of the pizookie at BJs (Restaurant and Brewhouse). I don't know why I never thought of making this myself.
I passed along your great blog to my most favorite daughter-in-law in all the land. She loved your blog and ran right out to buy "Twister" and the cookie ingredients. Check her out at: http://www.momoftwogirlies.blogspot.com.
Holly said…
That skillet cookie looks SO easy and delicious. I have 3 teen boys and they would gobble that up. I swear I could hang out on your blog looking at your recipes and beautiful food photos all day (the Twister pics are great, too!). So wonderful to follow your blog.

Holly (BlogFrog)
Debbie said…
Love games, love food! It's a great tradition.
Live.Love.Eat said…
This looks awesome! Love how its unique. And I see I missed a birthday. Happy Belated!!!! And your trip to Napa looked wonderful!!!!
Taylor H. said…
I can't wait to try this!!! it looks so good!! You can't go wrong with chocolate chip cookies no matter how they are baked!
Gina said…
I just found your blog! Loving all of it!

I have tried two of your recipes so far, the Goulash and the Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie! They were both beyond excellent!

I made the cookie in the iron skillet last night and served it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It was like being at a party! Plus, the "presentation" was off the charts!

I also make deep dish pizza (with lots of olive oil in the skillet before I put the dough in) in my iron skillet. Its beyond delicious!

I'm finding more uses for my iron skillets (2) as baking vessels than I ever did in frying things in them. I'm thinking its too bad I don't have more than one oven.

Keep posting the great menu plans and recipes. I grew up with my mom making big meals every night and your recipes are very inspiring to me!

Thank you!
Karen said…
I will be trying this. I discovered I can use my scone pan when I find skillet cookie recipes to bake. They turn out perfect and are already portioned!
Anonymous said…
What size pan do you use? I used 9-1/2 inch and it was too small. The dough took awhile to bake through the center and the edge got very brown. It was still good, just a bit too crunchy at the edges.
Tina Butler said…
9 1/2 would be to small. I just added the size to the post. Any large oven proof skillet would work. The crispy edges are the best part.
Holly said…
Do you think you could sub in some whole wheat flour and get the same great results?
Mommy's Kitchen said…
It would have to be the same type of flour (whole wheat all-purpose flour) if you have whole wheat all purpose then it would be equal parts You need to sift the whole wheat flour first before adding it to the recipe.
jengd said…
Just made this- excellent!! Thank you!
Anonymous said…
Hate to be the downer in view of such a yummy looking dessert.....but,
How can one comfortably feed themselves, let alone their children a dessert that contains 2 sticks of butter and a cup and a half of sugar?
How about some fresh fruit instead? There are other things kids enjoy if they haven't been raised eating this type of food.
It is no wonder we have such childhood obesity and more and more children being diagnosed with Diabetes. Please seek out more healthy recipes so we can all improve.
Tina Butler said…
Not a downer, but you gotta love the anonymous posters at never leaving their name, but do leave their uncalled for opinions. My children are not obese. They do eat fruits, so therefor there's nothing wrong with the occasional treat of "Skillet Cookies". It isn't like we are smacking down chocolate chip cookie cakes every day. I don't need improvement, but possibly you do or you wouldn't feel the need to lash out your opinions on others. I can honestly say that I alone am not the cause of childhood obesity. That falls under the parents responsibilities and what they choose to feed their children.
Anonymous said…
I agree with you. If we teach our kids to eat healthy and still have that occasional treat, obesity will not be a problem. I have a nephew who goes crazy over sweets when he isn't around his parents, since they allow it at home to teach moderation. Some just love to criticize others to make themselves feel happy... Keep up the great work with your family. I love your page.