Giant Birthday Cookie - Perfect Cake Alternative

A giant cookie is the birthday celebration solution to someone who does not enjoy desserts (cakes included) but LOVES cookies! And what better recipe to use than the one from the back of Nestle Toll House chocolate chip packets? NONE! It's easy, straight forward and delicious as agreed by everyone who has had a bite. It is also quite fun to look at the person's face when he receives a giant M&M adorned cookie at his birthday party. It's a gift that no one would see coming~!

How to get this 11 x 15 x 1 inch monstrosity to the party? NO PROBLEM! Simply transfer the cooled cookie to a disposable aluminum baking tray and cover with aluminum foil. Gift wrap the whole thing so it doesn't move around too much. Slip it in a giant gift bag and no one would be the wiser that it's a cookie. Lay it right side up in the car and it should make it to the party in one piece.

Giant Birthday Cookie
Adapted from the Nestle Toll House Cookie recipe

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk
2 eggs
2 cups dark chocolate chips
1 cup quick oats

1. Melt the butter and allow for it to cool.
2. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.
3. Whisk together the butter, sugars, vanilla extract, and milk in a large bowl. Beat in eggs. 
4. Gradually stir in the flour mixture to the liquid mixture.
5. Fold in chocolate chips and quick oats.
6. Flatten the dough into a 15 x 11 x 1 inch pan. Decorate with M&Ms.
7. Preheat the oven to 375F. Chill the prepared cookie in the fridge while the oven preheats.
8. Bake until golden brown (20-30 minutes). Let the cookie cool in pan for 15 minutes so it's hard enough to be transferred on to a wired rack to cool completely.

Quick note: I have a non-stick bake pan and it worked wonderfully un-greased. Please remember to grease your pan or line it with parchment paper if you are not using a non-stick one.