Ok, enough teasing. The twitter followers got the inside scoop with the twitpics, but here’s the ultimate way to serve your favorite soft cookies, like our Chocolate Chunk Cookies 
If you are a virgin to this sweet tooth delicacy, let me introduce you to a pizookie. A pizookie is cookie dough baked directly in a dish (just like Chicago deep dish style pizzas) then while still warm out of the oven, it’s topped with ice cream and immediately devoured. A deep dish cookie. Absolutely brilliant.
Like many of us pizookie fanatics, we were first introduced to them at BJ’s Brewery and Restaurant. For me, it was when I moved down to Southern California for college. Staying in the dorms, the locals were well versed in the supreme pleasures of this dessert, and soon we all were making regular pizookie runs. We’d order one pizookie for every two people present, dig in our spoons, chat, laugh and successfully avoid another term paper or night of study. The pizookies alone inspired many calorie-burning workouts to avoid the onslaught of the freshman 40 (the phenomena of students suddenly gaining 40lbs their freshman year in college.)
There are an unlimited amount of possibilities to making deep dish cookies. You want to use a cookie dough that makes a soft chewy cookie. The chocolate chunk cookies in our previous post work beautifully. Other excellent cookie options are a good peanut butter cookie, oatmeal raisin cookies, chocolate cookies with peanut butter chips, etc… As I mentioned in the comments of the chocolate chunk cookie post, I’ll be sharing more of our baking recipes in the future and I guarantee there will be several cookie recipes that will satiate the most intense of cookie cravings and will also make perfect deep dish cookies.
Don’t forget the finishing touch, the ice cream. Classically, a nice vanilla ice cream it a perfect topping, but deviations can be exquisite as well. If you are feeling spunky, make your own ice cream, starting with David Lebovitz’s Vanilla Ice Cream recipe. As summer rolls closer we’ll start putting up more of our favorite and others’ great ice cream recipes and introducing you to additional deep dish cookie combinations. Until then, enjoy this sweet and simple delight, our chocolate chunk cookie topped with vanilla ice cream. When you top the deep dish cookies with the ice cream, the warmth from the cookies start to melt the ice cream. The beauty of cooking the cookies in a deep dish is that it preserves the melting ice cream, so each spoonful has the warm, chewy cookie contrasting against the cool creamy sweetness of the ice cream. Ice cream sandwiches are tasty, but deep dish cookies are in a league all their own.
The tips for baking the chocolate chunk cookies apply the same here, only you want to emphasize the under baking even a little bit more. The thickness of the cookies and the type of baking dish you use will ultimately determine your cooking time, so watch them closely at the end to determine the cookie’s doneness. We usually use 4″ ramekins filled about 1/2″ high to make a deep dish cookie to split between the two of us (although I’ve been know to make them a bit higher.) A 3″ ramekin is nice for a hearty 1 person serving. The big cookie rule applies to deep dish cookies as well, if you make bigger deep dish cookies, lower your oven temp about 25° F and extend your baking times. Enjoy.
-Todd.
Print This Recipe
Deep Dish Cookies – Chocolate Chunk w/ Vanilla Ice Cream
dough from Chocolate Chunk Cookies
4″ ramekins (or other small baking dish)
Vanilla Ice Cream
Preheat oven to 375° F (350° for convection ovens)
1. Fill ramekins 1/2″ deep with raw cookie dough. Place ramekins on sheet pan and put in middle rack of oven. Bake 12-18 min., or until top starts to turn golden brown. (remember you want them slightly undercooked, but not too doughy.)
2. Remove from oven and place each ramekin on a napkin (this allows you to hold the hot dish as you eat your dessert delight.) Top with a couple scoops of ice cream. Grab a spoon and enjoy.
As easy a baking cookies!
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{ 58 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for finally spilling the ‘cookie dough’ – though I think I am going to regret this
Adding this to the test kitchen & I know exactly when I am making it …… yum!
I’ve been craving these every since the Tweet. My mom used to make something like this, but it was actually pizza pie-sized! BTW, I love the new header. So elegant.
Oh MY. How did I get through childhood without knowing about pizookies? (Actually, now that I type that out, maybe it’s because my parents assumed it was more of an R-rated something or other?) Anyway, I am looking forward to introducing these my own kids. Love the flexible approach to the recipe, too!
“We usually use 4″ ramekins filled about 1/2″ high to make a deep dish cookie to split between the two of us”
I applaud you for that statment. If that baby was in my hands, there would be no sharing involved!
I’ve never heard of a “deep dish cookie” before. I think I’m in deep trouble! This looks awesome and I love how the dish also holds the melting ice cream- brilliant!
Just saw the tweet on the twitterstream and had to check these out.
OOOOHHH… this is such a fantastic idea. Pizookies! Can’t wait to try this with my favorite ooey-gooey-chewy chocolate cookies. Thanks for sharing! …Susan
Nom Nom nom… I’m having evil thoughts about making chocolate chip cookies just to melt ice cream on top!!
OMG! Pizookies are now on my list for dessert this week! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Oh, that is brilliant! I’m definitely going to try that… they look fantastic. Thanks so much for sharing with those of us not fortunate to have experienced BJ’s Brewery.
This looks absolutely mouthwatering with the melting ice cream and the chocolatey interior. I have one of the coupons to try a pizookie at BJ’s for free, but I never had gotten the chance to try it. Now, I need to! And I need to make them at home
.
This is simply amazing and a fabulous idea! This I am gonna try! And I agree that vanilla (or coffee) is definitely THE flavor choice to go with those chocolate chunk cookies!
your last post was lip-smacking, mouth-watering good! and i couldn’t agree more – there is nothing at all as deliciously exciting as a perfectly baked, warm, soft chocolate chip cookie. that is… until i read THIS post !! might have to revise that statement and add “deep dish” in there! if it weren’t Passover, my oven would have already been preheating ! this is going to be the first thing i make/eat once the holiday is over !
THANKS for sharing the recipes !!
Easy & so delicious!! great idea!
What a GREAT idea–this would be fun at a kid’s party!! Or any party, really. Thanks!
Uh oh! Deep dish cookies? This could be very dangerous for me. Very dangerous indeed! They look incredible!
I love this! I’ll definitely keep this one in mind for our next dinner party – takes good ol’ cookies and ice cream up an extra notch.
What a treat! These pizookies simply has to go to my to-do list!
yum! these look fantastic and i am sure they are better than bj’s pizookies.
i don’t think there are words that could do justice to how i feel about this post. THIS is BRILLIANT. one day i will do this and my friends will both love and hate me…
Sweet Jesus. Like I need a reason to make these. What I NEED is a reason NOT to make these.
Brilliant idea, gorgeous photos as usual. I especially love Todd’s (no-you-didn’t) oh-yes-I-did look on his face in the first picture. He soooo knows how in trouble we all are.
xoxoxo,
B
oh sweet jesus! forget it. stick a fork in me… i’m done. i would eat every single serving… crack in a ramekin is what you should call this…
Oh, that looks so good…..I made a skillet cookie once, but never thought of deep dish cookie before….Todd you look happy on the photo….no kidding, with something like that, who wouldn’t?
Holy crap, this has sparked a feeding frenzy. I have to be quick because I’m still at work and tonight we’ll be prepping for tomorrow. Looks like everyone is loving this uber-indulgence as much as we do. Krysta – does this make me a cookie pimp? I could live with that. Hope everyone has a great Easter! Thanks for the love & drool. Todd.
Oh wow that is so outta control. Straight on the next to make list.
oh hell yeah! that makes you a pimp! diane is a lucky gal!!!
can you imagine a stable of girls working for you? all wanting to be paid in pizookie? i guess we’d have more cushion for the pushin’… so to speak.
Hailing from Chi-town, I do love this deep-dish idea!
Happy Easter Todd & Diane!
Lori Lynn
BRILLIANT! And thank you for the promise of more pizookies to come!
I actually ate at BJ’s last year, but would you believe that I wasn’t able to when I went to San Francisco this year because they had an hour-long wait for a table? Insane!
Brilliant! My family is going to love these!
On a side note now I am craving deep dish pizza. Been so long since I have had one and this just reminded me of the joy and joyness that is deep dish pizza.
Interesting take and I like the fact I would not be stuck with 4 dozen cookies that I have to unload.
OMG guys. Wonderful looking stuff. Never heard of a deep dish cookie before, but now I want to make one.
And, er, HELLO AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHS!!! so clean and simple, but just amazingly elegant. Just loving this post.
oh my. what a tremendous creation. i’m ruined for life–no regular cookie will ever satisfy me again.
This is simply amazing! I love it! Great post with amazing photography.
Great job!
zesty
It’s the first time I see this original dish. I’m already all crazy about it. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve never heard of pizookie. I’m sure they will be a hit a my next party. Brillant!
Kim – As crazy as an insane asylum!
krysta – Nah! I’m the lucky one. She’s a salt girl so that leaves more cookies for me to eat. A couple bites and she’s done. Red Dough District soon open for business!
Lori Lynn – Yeah, most Chicaga-ans I know love these dear to the heart. Happy now post-Easter to you!
Manggy – I’ll come up with something extra tasty just for you.
The Italian Dish – Oh yeah. DDC (deep dish cookie) addicts in the making!
Jeff – Gotta start freezing that dough so you can make just enough every time. It’s been a while since we’ve had deep dish pizzas, too. We’ve only been making thin crust ones lately. A soft deep dish pizza does sound very tasty right now.
matt – Thank you and thank you. You gotta makes these for those lovelies in you life. They’ll love you even more!
grace – It’s nice being spoiled, isn’t it!
zestycook – Thank you very much.
Jackie – Be careful. They are highly addicting.
Hélène – Your next party will not be forgotten. Thanks.
Wow–that sounds really wonderful!
I’d never heard of this. My thighs may not thank you, but I certainly do!
holy cow, yum!
Wow, these look good. I’m wondering why this isn’t more prevalent. What a decadent dessert, and a fun way to surprise guests with the ramekins.
I love this idea. It totally makes any ol’ cookie much fancier and fun. You could use your fave cookie recipe and turn it into a scrumptious dessert fit for company. It takes a lot of stress out of hosting a dinner party.
i agree with Carolyn! how did we survive w/out these. love em. will be making for sure.. u guys rock…
This is another weird coincidence….my good friend Megan just returned from a family trip to Chicago and she was raving about the cookie-pizza dessert they ate – 3 nights in a row! So I asked her about it and she said she’d try to come up with a recipe…she sent me one and it’s a big vague so I did a little search on Google and YOUR recipe popped up!!! I should have just checked with you first! I’m going to make this tonight! I want to see/taste what all the fuss is about! xo, Nan
Asianmommy – They are quite tasty.
Madam Chow – We’re sorry and your welcome.
justcooknyc – hell yeah!
Giff – These are always a hit. Not sure why they aren’t more widely known, but it is a delicious secret.
Carolyn – Quite so. Little tweaks in presentation can make all of the difference.
Bren – Thanks chica!
Nan – We’d love to hear how they turn out. You may become addicted.
Thanks for visiting everyone! We’d love to hear the of the different cookie doughs everyone uses and ice cream combos. To those about to indulge, we raise our spoons to you! Todd.
What a great idea!! We love cookies/cakes with vanilla ice cream
Enjoy your day and don’t forget to send your entry for chocolate-making kit giveaway on my site
Margot
This is the most amazing idea. Ever. I love how you can pretty much use any cookie dough. Have you tried snickerdoodle? I have small ramekins (egg shaped for Easter – what? They were cheap!) so I won’t be able to eat as much cookie in one ramekin. Maybe that’s a good thing haha
How did I ever miss this post? Thank heavens I found the link through Baking Bites—this deep dish cookie idea looks sinfully delicious, can’t wait to try it out! (Warm from the oven, with cold ice cream melting all over it? I think I’ve died and gone to cookie heaven!)
I did this, too, a few months back and “hid” extra chocolate goo in the middle, called them molten lava cookies. SOOOO good.
http://kevnkoi.blogspot.com/2008/12/mint-chocolate-chip-truffles-molten.html
http://kevnkoi.blogspot.com/2008/12/white-chocolate-gingerbread-blondies.html
Absolute heaven! I want to try your ccc recipe!
Deep dish cookies sound great! With melting vanilla ice cream to boot!
HOLY CRAP.
…..
i wish i could eat these…
Coffee & Vanilla – Thanks. We’re just passing on the brilliance.
Carla – We haven’t tried snickerdoodles deep-dish style, but that could be super tasty. Add a little sauteed apples with the ice cream… Have mercy!
Sandie – It is cookie heaven!
Katrina – Ahhh, sounds so good. Love the lava.
Kevin – Mmmm, hmmm!
rachel -We’ll have two for you!
Thanks for visiting and sharing the sweetness, everyone. Todd.
I love BJ’s pizookies! Thank you for posting this recipe. I have my first ice cream maker on the way to my house, too! I will be making both as soon as the maker arrives on the 27th from Amazon! Thanks!
Memoria – Have fun with the ice cream maker! Make sure you try some of David Lebovitz’s recipes. The man knows his cream! T.
You can’t make just 4 of those. You just can’t! It’s not right. At least a dozen!
Wow!! I’ve never heard of this idea before and I obviously have been deprived. I love it! We’re ramping up the ice cream making (also faithfully devoted to DL’s Perfect Scoop) and this gives me new inspiration. Thanks for a wonderful idea!
GOOD LOOOOOORD!!!!!!! This recipe looks TO DIE FOR!!!!!! I am going to make this TONIGHT!
I’ve made these twice and they were a hit! Mine took a bit longer to bake… 20 minutes or so — can’t exactly remember because I checked on them a couple of times. The hot cookie and the cold ice cream made my teeth hurt, but it was worth it!
Awesome. So glad they were a success. Baking time will vary a bit depending on how thick the dough it, the type of dish you are baking, etc. Always going by personal judgment is the best. Diane’s teeth are sensitive to the temperatures as well, but lucky for me mine are like marble. Yay for pizookies!