Patriotic Peanut M & M Cookie Cake

Patriotic Peanut M & M Cookie Cake

Sometimes I just need to bake cute, ya know?

Whenever I see a gorgeous woman, I might feel a twinge of envy. Okay, more than a twinge. But then I remember that being cute has a much longer shelf life than being pretty. Or at least, I hope it does.

Besides, people like cuteness everywhere. I saw a chocolate-covered Oreo shaped like a flower last week and I just had to have it. I mean, I always want a chocolate-covered Oreo, but when you put it into a flower chocolate mold that looks like a daisy, hot damn. That’s one adorable treat. So I figure I should bake cute whenever I can.

Patriotic Peanut M & M Cookie Cake

Holidays provide a fantastic excuse to head toward the more adorable treats. And why shouldn’t I try for an approximation of an American flag on a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie cake with frosting?

Patriotic Peanut M & M Cookie Cake

While decorating this, I ran out of blue M & Ms. You learn so much from emptying out a whole bag of something about color allocation. Is it an accident that only about a quarter of the bag was blue? I have no idea. We should ask some food psychologists or something.

Patriotic Peanut M & M Cookie Cake

Apparently, colors mean something.Β My house is decorated in yellow and red, my two favorite colors. I learned as an adult that fast food restaurants use those colors because they trigger appetite. So maybe I just wanted to decorate my house in shades of hunger without realizing it. It might also be why I can’t put the brownies down. Nah. Brownies are just that good.

Patriotic Peanut M & M Cookie Cake

So is this cookie cake. It’s quick cheat, and you know I’m fond of those. You take Nestle peanut butter chocolate chip cookie dough (it comes in a bag in the freezer section), thaw it, and use it as a base. The peanut butter frosting you make yourself, and then the peanut M & Ms on top just add extra joy.

If you can’t find the cookie dough I used, any peanut butter cookie dough will be fine. In that case, I’d recommend buying two packages (the equivalent of 32 oz.) to get that cookie cake nice and thick.

Patriotic Peanut M & M Cookie Cake

The frosting takes pretty much no time to whip up, and it’s my favorite. It all goes on there unless you want to reserve some and eat it with a spatula. Not that I did that. Surrounded by yellow and red walls.

Patriotic Peanut M & M Cookie Cake

Baking cute is the way to go for fun holidays like the 4th. You can save the serious baking for something that involves religion or some kind of suffering, or both. This recipe is purely for those of you who like to have fun and be adorable!

 

Patriotic Peanut M & M Cookie Cake

Ingredients

Cookie Cake
1 bag Nestle peanut butter chocolate chip cookie dough (in freezer section, see note in post above) at room temperature
Peanut Butter Frosting
2 tablespoons butter, softened
2 tablespoons shortening, softened
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup powdered sugar
1-2 teaspoons milk
Topping
1 bag July 4th peanut M & Ms (follow pics or do your own design)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350. Line a 9-inch round pan with parchment paper and coat with cooking spray.
  2. Press the cookie dough evenly into the pan, being sure to make one solid layer of dough.
  3. Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden and set. Cool completely. Invert carefully onto a plate, being sure to remove the parchment paper stuck to the bottom.
  4. While the cookie cake is cooling, make the frosting. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter, shortening and peanut butter until creamy and smooth. Add the powdered sugar and mix thoroughly. Slowly add the milk until the desired consistency for frosting is reached. Let the mixer run a little longer to whip up the frosting.
  5. Spread the frosting over the cooled cookie cake.
  6. Using the pattern above or your own design, decorate the cookie cake with peanut M & Ms.
  7. Cut into wedges and serve. Store covered.
http://justaboutbaked.com/patriotic-peanut-m-m-cookie-cake/

Mir

I fulfill many roles in life: wife, mother, teacher, everlasting learner. This site is dedicated to one role that expresses my creativity in ways that I find consistently challenging and rewarding: baker. Inventing new ways to enhance food, especially if that food involves chocolate or peanut butter (or both!), is a passion of mine. I look forward to sharing my ideas with you.

This Post Has 32 Comments

  1. Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust

    That happened to me once – I think I needed red? And there was, like, 2. It was maddening!! Also, I need this in my face STAT.
    Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust recently posted…Butterfinger Ice Cream PieMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Why isn’t there someone whose job it is to make sure everything is kinda sorta even, color-wise? I had to cut short my cute flag. Should’ve bought an extra bag, Dorothy!

  2. Trish - Mom On Timeout

    Seriously, sooo cute! And what is the deal with the M&Ms not being equal? They need to count those bad boys out for each bag!
    Trish – Mom On Timeout recently posted…Sriracha Almond Crusted Chicken StripsMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Yes. YES. They should. It’s so wrong that nobody does!

  3. Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy

    Peanut butter chocolate chip cookie dough? Why have I never heard of this awesomeness before. I am not sure I would ever get round to making this, as I would just eat that stuff out of the packaging.
    Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy recently posted…Comment on Honey and Chipotle Salmon with Chunky Avocado Salsa by DanniiMy Profile

    1. Mir

      I would too, but it’s got raw egg in it. So don’t do it, Dannii! πŸ™‚

  4. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice

    So much for having equal amounts of M&Ms! This cookie cake looks fantastic, Mir! I especially love that peanut butter frosting. This would definitely be a treat that I would not want to share!
    Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…Sweet and Spicy Trail MixMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Seriously, Gayle. I want to form some kind of conspiracy theory about it!

  5. Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom

    hahaha!! yes, agreed. . being cute has a longer shelf life! πŸ™‚ and what’s up with only about a quarter of the bag being blue? you should write a letter to the Mars company. . they might send you a box full of m&ms!!! πŸ™‚ love love your patriotic peanut cookie cake! I don’t even want to think about dessert for this weekend b/c there’s so much to do. . we’re hosting a BBQ . . and the pressure is on. . to come up with a fabulous spread and cute dessert like this! πŸ™‚
    Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom recently posted…Grilled Eggplant Bun Burger + A Giveaway!My Profile

    1. Mir

      OMG, free M & Ms? You are brilliant, Alice. BRILLIANT. I am going to try that! And I thought you were doing a July 4th parade to take the pressure off. I gather it’s back on? Not cool. Buy a cake! πŸ™‚

      1. Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom

        yes, it’s back on. . UGH. How do I get myself into these things?!
        Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom recently posted…Grilled Eggplant Bun Burger + A Giveaway!My Profile

        1. Mir

          We all do, Alice. Womanhood is a joy. Good luck, sister.

  6. Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg

    Mir – This cake is adorable! I think it’d go over really well at a 4th of July party. I love the last photograph…that cookie cake is calling my name. πŸ™‚
    Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg recently posted…Lemon S’mores BarsMy Profile

    1. Mir

      I hope it would go over well! I gotta admit, am already eating it. And it’s not July 4th yet. So much for freezing it!

  7. Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen

    Peanut butter chocolate chip cookie dough? WOW! I love the sound of this delicosus looking cake. I bet it tastes awesome!

    1. Mir

      Can I brag, Anu? Because it does. Thanks! πŸ™‚

  8. annie@ciaochowbambina

    I say YES to adorable desserts and definitely YES to this one! It’s a winner!

    1. Mir

      Thanks, Annie! I like to do it up cute!

  9. Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks

    I’ll take cute and adorable any day of the week. Especially if it involves this cookie cake and peanut M&M’s!
    Rachelle @ Beer Girl Cooks recently posted…Breakfast PizzaMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Pretty much yes to everything you said, Rachelle!

  10. Manali @ CookWithManali

    Perfect cake to celebrate 4th July! and yes very cute too! πŸ™‚
    Manali @ CookWithManali recently posted…Healthy Snacking with Yoplait PlentiMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Thanks, Manali!

  11. Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness

    This is SO cute!! I love the idea of a cookie cake!
    Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness recently posted…Healthy Peanut Butter and Raisin Oatmeal BarsMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Thanks, Cathleen!

  12. Danielle

    I think cookie cakes are the best thing ever! I love the decorative little flag on top, so cute and perfect for this weekend too!
    Danielle recently posted…Mango GuacamoleMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Thanks, Danielle! I love using holidays for inspiration!

  13. Jocelyn (Grandbaby cakes)

    This is seriously such a fantastic idea for the holiday!!
    Jocelyn (Grandbaby cakes) recently posted…Baked Chicken Parmesan with Spaghetti SquashMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Thanks, Jocelyn! It’s easy, for sure!

  14. Michele @ Two Raspberries

    this cake is so fun and festive! πŸ˜‰ and that cookie crust omgeee ahhhmazing!
    Michele @ Two Raspberries recently posted…Baked Sweet Potato HashMy Profile

    1. Mir

      I do love cookie on the bottom! Giant cookies. It’s the best, Michele!

  15. Renee@Two in the Kitchen

    This IS super cute. And I can’t believe you ran out of blue M+M’s, You barely have any on the cake. Crazy!! Oh well, I would gobble this up all the same!!
    Renee@Two in the Kitchen recently posted…Ham and Cheese CrescentsMy Profile

    1. Mir

      Thanks, Renee! The fine people at M & M have to count that stuff out…

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