Skillet Cookie โ This cast iron skillet cookie combines three of my favorite cookies into one! Chocolate chips, peanut butter, and oatmeal are combined to make the best cookie I’ve eaten in a long time!
3-in-1 Skillet Cookie Recipe
I’ve been wanting to make a skillet cookie for oh, about 3 years, and finally did it. And boy, did I do it. This goes down as one of the best cookies I’ve ever made.
It’s definitely the biggest cookie I’ve ever made. Ten and one-quarter inches in diameter and about 2 inches thick.
But bigger doesn’t always mean better when it comes to taste.
I’ve made cookies from various cookbooks that were big but they didn’t wow me. Fine, but nothing earth-shattering. This cast iron skillet cookie cookie, however, knocked my socks off.
I couldn’t decide if I wanted to break in my Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 10-1/4-Inch Skillet with a skillet chocolate chip cookie, a peanut butter cookie, or an oatmeal cookie. I love all three and when each is done perfectly in their own right, they each have respective selling points that can’t be beat.
Since I couldn’t decide which type of cookie to make, I made a 3-in-1-cookie. Necessity is the mother of invention.
If you like chewy edges, this cookie has your name on it. It has 32.185 inches of them to be exact.
Circumference = Pi x Diameter
32.185″ = 3.14 x 10.25″
Determining the amount of chewy cookie edge is the only redeeming value of 9th grade math class. Math finally clicked for me. It just took cookies and twenty years time later.
After eating my way around the skillet chocolate chip cookie, I ate my way right into the middle, which is my panacea. The soft, warm, squishy, gooey, happy place that my dreams are made of. Scott can have all the crispy edge he wants, but give me the barely done, super gooey, melty, middle.
While baking, the peanut butter and the sweetened condensed milk mixture thickens slightly and the creaminess of the sweetened condensed milk is intensified, and it takes on a caramel-cream quality. Combined with the slightly salty nature of the peanut butter, the soupy mixture is a creamy, caramely, hot wonderful mess. And of course, warm and melted chocolate chips make everything that’s good just that much better.
Both texturally-speaking and from a flavor perspective, I couldn’t ask for more. My three favorite kinds of cookies in one, complete with chewiness, density, and creaminess. Dense walls of oatmeal cookie hunks, a smooth peanut butter and milky caramel center, and the satisfying quality of melted chocolate woven throughout each bite of this jumbo cookie pie makes it a new favorite.
Although this skillet cookie was best hot and fresh from the oven, the leftovers weren’t too shabby. What we didn’t eat immediately, I slid out of the skillet onto a cutting board (and the whole thing released like a charm) and I chopped it into two-inch bar-sized pieces, and stored them in an airtight container, which we happily nibbled on over the next few days.
What’s in a Skillet Cookie?
To make this cast iron skillet chocolate chip cookie, you’ll need:
- Unsalted butter
- Light brown sugar
- Egg
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Old-fashioned oats
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Creamy peanut butter
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips
How to Make a Skillet Cookie
The bulk of the cookie dough is largely that of an oatmeal cookie, with all its texture-filled chewy glory. I made the dough by hand, using melted butter, and stirred in the brown sugar, flour, and oats. I didn’t use any granulated sugar because exclusively using brown sugar keeps cookies softer, which is what I wanted. I also wanted to avoid dirtying my mixer and I succeeded.
After mixing up the oatmeal cookie dough and pressing just shy of three-quarters of it into the base of the skillet, I mixed up the Elixir of the Gods, also known as one can of sweetened condensed milk and one half cup of creamy peanut butter that are stirred together. I poured the glistening, tan, creamy sauce over the oatmeal dough.
I normally don’t do pour shots because frankly it’s challenging to steady a five-pound camera and lens setup in one hand and pour with the other, while not missing the action, and obtaining an image that’s remotely in focus.
Evidently though I became inspired in the presence of cookie dough, sweetened condensed milk, and peanut butter. I was tempted to save a little and pour it into my coffee but didn’t. Next time.
After the tan flood, I turned the oatmeal-peanut butter cookie into a chocolate chip cookie by adding one cup of semi-sweet morsels on top of the floodwaters.
Then, I took the reserved portion of the dough, a little over one-cup’s worth, and dropped it by the tablespoon over the top of the chocolate chip-laced flood. While baking, the oatmeal dough meshes with the creamy mixture, and forms a smooth wall, which was especially satisfying to puncture with my fork, knowing the sweet creaminess that awaited beneath.
Do I Have to Use a Cast Iron Skillet?
No, if you don’t have a cast iron skillet, you can bake this giant peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookie in an oven-safe skillet or in a 9-by-9-inch square baking pan. Don’t use a 9-inch round cake pan because it will likely be too small and the bottom of your oven may be wearing cookie dough.
Can I Use Instant Oats Instead of Old-Fashioned?
No, instant or quick cook oats are too powdery to use in this skillet cookie recipe and would result in a dry cookie.
Can I Use Another Nut Butter?
If you can’t have peanut butter or don’t have any on hand, I’m sure you could use another nut butter, like almond butter. I haven’t tested this recipe with another nut butter before though, so let me know if you make your skillet cookie this way!
How to Store Leftover Skillet Cookie
Leftovers will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. You can also slice and freeze this skillet cookie and reheat individual servings whenever a cookie craving strikes.
Tips for Making a Skillet Cookie
You’re welcome to switch up the type of chocolate chips you use in this skillet cookie recipe. White or milk chocolate would make for a richer cookie, and I bet chocolate chunks could be substituted as well.
I’ve never added other mix-ins to the cookie dough, but I want to try this recipe with chopped nuts. You may be able to add dried fruit as well to make this skillet cookie a fun twist on classic oatmeal raisin cookies.
A few readers have asked about using oil instead of butter in this skillet chocolate chip cookie, but having never tried it myself I can’t say for sure if oil will work in place of the butter. I worry that using oil would make this skillet cookie greasy, but if you give it a go let me know how it turns out!
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Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Oatmeal Skillet Cookie
Ingredients
- ยฝ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ยพ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ยพ cup all-purpose flour
- ยฝ teaspoon baking soda
- ยฝ teaspoon salt, optional and to taste
- 1 ยฝ cups old-fashioned whole rolled oats, not quick cook or instant
- one 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- ยฝ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ice cream, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F, spray oven-safe skillet with cooking spray (mine is a Le Creuset enameled cast iron and I sprayed liberally with Pam for Baking and it released like a charm; if skillet is well-seasoned cast iron, you may wish to butter or grease it slightly); set skillet aside.
- In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter, about 1 minute on high power (you may microwave butter to a browned-butter state, which makes this cookie especially delicious, by cooking butter for about 3 to 4 minutes; watch it closely so it doesn't burn.
- To the melted butter, add sugar, egg, vanilla, and whisk or stir vigorously to combine, for about 1 minute, slightly fluffing up the batter.
- Add the flour, baking soda, salt, and stir until just incorporated. Add the oats and stir to combine.
- Pour slightly less than three-quarters of the dough into the skillet, reserving about 1ยผ cups (just eyeball it) to be crumbled on at the end; set skillet and large mixing bowl with reserved dough aside.
- In a small bowl, combine sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter and stir until smooth. Pour mixture over the dough in the skillet.
- Evenly sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top.
- Drop tablespoon-sized chunks of the reserved dough into the skillet, dispersing then as uniformly as possible over the surface, which forms the crumble topping.
- Bake for about 25 minutes, or until edges begin to barely crisp up and most of the top surface of the cookie has set. The center may not be completely set; this is okay because cookie will continue to cook in the skillet after it's been pulled from the oven, noting that there is a fairly significant carryover cooking effect with cast iron; so don't overbake in the oven because cookie is meant to be very gooey.
- Cookie may be served immediately; optionally serve it with ice cream.
Notes
- Alternatively, cookie may be baked in a 9-by-9 inch square baking pan that has been lined with foil or sprayed with cooking spray; do not use a 9-inch circular pie dish because it will be too shallow.
- Cookie is best eaten fresh from the oven but due to its size, extra cookie may be sliced and stored in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, reheating gently in the microwave before serving leftovers if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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I need that right now- looks amazing!
Dam I need this, and i need it now! I think I could eat the whole skillet topped with ice cream! Yummy!!
Never tried a skillet cookie, but this looks amazing! Very decadent and simple!
Wait, 3 years? Are you crazy! Why did it take you so long. Skillet cookies are heaven. This one looks like it doesnt disappoint.
It’s like cookie pie heaven
I remember you wondering what you would do with the skillet you bought…. well there ya go! Mine is caked with a bit too much bacon grease to make a cookie in it at this point ;)
Lol. I dont have the problem but have heard people who cooks lots of savory/animal fat have one for that and one for their sweeter stuff. Then again, some people like bacon in cookies these days!
So, since it’s one big cookie, it’s all for me, right?
OH MY.. this cookie looks like heaven!
I love skillet cookies! I eat those all the time at Oregano’s Restaurant. Thanks for reminding that I can make those at home, too. :) Beautiful photos.
Never heard of Oregano’s but I’m all about making at home whenever I can! Your choc bundt cake on your recent post a week ago or so is gorgeous!
Oh my Averie! I’ve never made a skillet cookie before because I don’t have a cast iron skillet – when I say my kitchen is SMALL, I mean… it’s small! Hardly room for anythinggggg – I keep sugar and flour in my coat closet lol! I digress. This skillet cookie is gorgeous! I love skillet cookies, but have only ever had them in restaurants – never made in the goodness of my own home. Look at all of those melty chocolate chips! While you KNOW I’m an oatmeal/peanut butter fanatic, it was those melty chocolate chips that grabbed my attention! The nearly undone center, full of goo, melted chocolate, and soft dough… I think I would be in heaven. I like Scott’s thinking… pass me the cold melty creamy ice cream. :) I don’t think I’d be able to stop breaking and spooning off little pieces of this glorious monster!
Beautiful pour shot too – I agree, those are hard! Even with a tripod, I have trouble. Yours looks perfect though – I even said to myself scrolling through.. Averie doesn’t usually do those! Came out wonderfully my dear. I’m in awe of this recipe!
You too with the spices and dry goods in the coat closets? ME TOO! I have pots and pans in the kitchen and bulk items I dont need much in various hall closets and there’s a closet for my water heater in my living room, I have random wood planks and photography stuff jimmy’ed in there. It’s a hot mess. Thank god we don’t actually need too many coats in San Diego :)
This recipe is every.single.thing that I know you would love. I was thinking of you the entire time I was making it. Chewy oats, all brown sugar, sweet ‘n gooey PB + sweet cond milk, then the choc chips, girl, it’s SO EASY. And b/c it’s okay that it spreads, don’t need to chill any dough and can use melted butter. Easiest cookie ever :)
I’m speechless…….it’s just heavenly :)
wow, this is massive and like my dream come true :)
this looks SO decadent! the skillet cookie brings back memories of the pub down the street from the house where I grew up – it was their signature dessert, and they knew us so well that they always brought us one for free! No matter how full I was from dinner, I always found room for a warm, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate chip cookie :-)
The local pubs & restaurants where I grew up served like…soggy grilled cheese sandwiches. Lol
Oh my god! My mouth literally started watering as I scrolled down the page. This is certainly my new favorite food blog, and this cookie…! I don’t even know what to say, except your description is pretty much perfect (do you write for a living?) and I’m completely envious of your photos.
Also, so glad I finally have a cast iron skillet, because this cookie NEEDS to be in my life :)
I don’t write for a living other than write my blog, which is my living. I made a decision about 6 mos ago to start talking about the food like a food writer would and glad you like it. I know for some, it’s probably a bit much, but glad you like it and my blog!
I LOOOOVE Skillet Cookies!! I bet this was so yummy-good! How can it not be? PB, Chocolate, Oatmeal… oh, yes, I’ll have it all!
It’s my little trifecta of heaven, yes!