Today is π day; a really sort of silly day to recognize a mathematical constant. It is the ratio of a circle's circumference to it's diameter which is approximated as 3.14159. Represented by the Greek symbol " π" since the mid-18th century, it is more often spelled out as 'pi' and somehow it has became feasible to ignore the last 3 digits of the numeric representation and honor this symbol with it's own day in the 3 rd month on the 14 th day or March 14 of each year. In food bloggerland that has translated to 'PIE' day and I'm betting you'll see a bazillion pies posted today as a result. Not me! I decided instead to go big cookie or go home and made this Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie with Pecans, Bourbon Caramel Sauce and Sea Salt.
Not that I'm THAT independent or rebellious (OK, well, maybe I might be) but I just happen to have made this big round skillet cookie last week that I thought would work equally well with the emphasis on round. It's really a great combination of textures of both a cookie and a pie; maybe I should call it a pookie? The outside edge bakes a bit more and results in a more crispy texture but the center of this pie cookie is anything but. It's definitely got an ooey gooey texture. Such a perfect result for me. Love raw dough? The center comes close. Like your cookies crispier? Got that too. Some amazing homemade caramel sauce on top that even has bourbon in it? Really how much more do you need?
I've become especially enamored lately with chopping up my own chocolate instead of using chocolate chips. There is something in those little chocolate domes that help them keep their shape and once I started using my favorite chocolate bars from Trader Joe's I realized I prefer the texture of random chunks of chocolate that melt and then firm up but not as a identifiable shape. It's not a big deal; just a personal preference so chopped chocolate chunks or chocolate chips? Either one is fine. What I have found that I think you do need to try though is mixing up semisweet and milk chocolate. I love both but I REALLY love them together; sort of my own personal nirvana. Again, if you have a preference...go for it. Cooking and baking are great vehicles for self expression and if you stick with the basics it's perfect if you make the end result your own.
I'm not sure why I've never done a skillet cookie before but I know this. I loved it. I loved everything about it. Maybe an issue that the majority of my readers don't have to identify with but in Colorado, it's so dry that cookies can become hard little rocks overnight. I left this pie cookie on the counter for several days as it was slowly eaten and given away and the quality never degraded to rock hard. Of course this Bourbon Caramel I had made to top it with did not hurt one bit. Was it necessary? Well...YES! Maybe the ice cream was an over the top indulgence but the caramel is not!
By the way? A reader has already made the caramel and left a comment yesterday that it was the BEST caramel she had ever had. A little bourbon elevates an already fantastic dessert topper. A friend came visiting today too so of course she had to sample this decadent dessert. All I know is that she was on her way to the grocery after she left my house; excited to make both. Mine is gone; would it be wrong if I just dropped in?
Yields 16 Servings
15 minPrep Time
30 minCook Time
45 minTotal Time
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Ingredients
Instructions
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