Cookie in a Skillet
The Proposal – Part 1
“Don’t forget about tonight.”
“Okay.”
“I picked up your suit at the dry cleaners, it’s in the closet.”
“Yup. Got it.” Everett raised an eyebrow as the front door shut and then flew open once more.
Vi flew back in, a tornado of Burberry and jasmine perfume. She hit the kitchen counter where he was sitting and waited until his blue eyes fixed on hers. “Don’t,” she said slowly, “wear the black shoes.”
Everett put down his coffee and his gaze back at her was equally serious. “I’m wearing the black shoes.”
“Ev-“
“Violet,” he replied calmly. He could see the frayed nerves in her eyes and dropped a hand on hers. It was cold, he could feel her pulse jumping. All of her stress traveled right down to her hands. “It’s going to be fine. The presentation will be fine. You’re prepared. And I won’t forget about tonight. But I’m wearing the black shoes.” When she opened her mouth to protest, he kissed it. “Vi. Pick your battles.”
After she was gone, Everett ducked back into their bedroom for his bag. On his way out, he stopped. He dropped down to the bottom drawer of their antique dresser and, after a moment to make sure she was really gone, he dug through his workout clothes to the bottom, not stopping until he hit velvet.
When he pulled the tiny velvet box from the drawer, however, there was a surprise attached. Everett frowned over the folded sticky note that was now adhered to the bottom of the box. He checked on the ring, still there, still perfect, and then he looked at the note on the bottom. The scrawl was familiar, as were the bullet points:
– No jumbo-trons.
– Don’t put it in food.
– Not at someone else’s wedding, that’s rude.
– Don’t tie it to the cat, you know how she hates her collar.
– No picnics. Ants.
– DO NOT ask my mother for ideas.
Everett stared at the list. She was impossible.
With a smile he couldn’t help, he tucked the list into his pocket. After a moment, he took the ring too.
When you look back on an old job, you’ll find that the places where you ate lunch regularly take on a peculiar sheen in your memory; all at once there’s nostalgia and a tinge of warmth for the old place and its walls, the menu you memorized, the familiar heft of the chairs. You went there with coworkers and friends. Sometimes, it was the only good part of your day and at the end of a particularly rough morning, the sight of it across the street made you feel better. An hour of peace. Refuge. The bell tower to your Quasimodo.
All those conflicting feelings. Many of the memories there were good ones. And yet if someone would suggest that you go back there for a meal, like on a weekend or just for kicks, most likely your response would be, “Oh, hell no.”
There’s a restaurant in the West Loop of Chicago where Nicole and I once worked. It’s a weird place, like the very confused child of a sports bar and The Standard hotel. Some of the food is very good though. Their brownie/cookie dessert made me cry on more than one occasion. It was served in a mini-skillet, warm, with a scoop of ice cream in the middle. On my last day of work, we went there as a group and I ordered three of them for the table. I said my own private, silent good-bye to it. “Good-bye Skillet. I love you.”
When we were discussing chocolate recipes for Valentine’s Day, it came up. (Okay, I brought it up. Okay, I was looking for a reason to bring it up.) And Nicole said, “Oh, hell yes.” She had a mini-skillet, just begging to be played with, and stuff for cookies and a new camera (!) and here we are.
Do what you want with this skillet baby- top it with coffee ice cream. Fill it with peanut butter and white chocolate chips. Fill half the skillet with brownie batter. Share it with your honey or with your gals. Just realize that it most likely will end in happy tears. Fair warning.
Cookie in a Skillet
Martha Stewart | 8 Servings (depending on skillet size) | Print Recipe
Ingredients
2 Cups of all-purpose flour
1 Teaspoon of baking soda
½ Teaspoon of salt
¾ Cup of unsalted butter, softened
½ Cup of sugar
¾ Cup of light brown sugar
1 large egg
2 Teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
1 and ½ Cups (9 ounces) of mixed milk and semi-sweet chocolate chips
To serve: 2 pints of vanilla ice cream
Prepare
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together your dry ingredients: flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
3. In a separate bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars until mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
4. Add eggs and vanilla to sugar mixture. Mix until they are full incorporated.
5. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture. Beat until just combined.
6. Stir in chocolate chips.
7. Transfer dough to a 10-inch ovenproof skillet (we used mini skillets which should make about 3 cookies). Press dough to cover bottom of pan.
8. Bake cookie until edges are brown and top is golden, about 40 to 45 minutes (less if you are using a smaller skillet, watch it carefully). Cookie will continue to cook a few minutes once it is out of the oven.
9. Transfer to a wire rack to cool, about 15 to 20 minutes.
10. Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream. Cry a little, with joy, as it melts.
36 Comments
Simply Tia
February 8, 2012Love your writing. These cookies in a skillet looks sinfully delicious!!! Such beautiful and inviting photos!
Pauline
February 8, 2012What a cute little story- and an awesome looking cookie! This whole post is beautiful.
Judi
February 8, 2012Thanks guys! It was a fun story to write- I kept envisioning Jennifer Garner for Violet. 😉
Monica @ The Yummy Life
February 8, 2012What a fabulous idea. Now I have a reason to shop for mini-skillets — so cute and novel served that way. Just pinned this.
Judi
February 8, 2012Thanks, Monica! I just saw your site for the first time- love it!!! That French Toast looks amazing!
Karen Cowell (Wales, UK)
February 8, 2012Absolutely fantastic! Saw these and had to make them quickly. Lovely, fudgey, chocolatey!
HRCK the Herald
February 8, 2012This looks DIVINE! Thanks for sharing the recipe, and I’m excited to read the rest of this story 🙂
Ella
February 8, 2012Wow! I had this at a restaurant and am delighted to have found this recipe! I am planning on making it for my family on Valentines Day. Thanks!
Judi
February 8, 2012Awesome! Let us know how it turns out!
Kathleen
February 8, 2012Absolutely adorable story and way delicious looking cookie!! One question about the cookie: do you grease the skillet before adding the cookie? Will it stick if you don’t? Thanks so much for the charming story! Have a great Valentines Day!
Judi
February 8, 2012We adapted this recipe from Martha Stewart and Martha does not mention greasing the skillet. If you’re using a non-stick or cast-iron skillet and you clean/treat it properly, it shouldn’t stick. But if you’re worried, a little butter on the bottom never hurt anybody. Just make sure it can go in the oven.
Also, if it DOES stick, I guarantee you that everyone will just gather around the thing with forks and go to town anyway. It’s not very classy but once that smell hits you, you can’t really help yourself.
Nicole
February 8, 2012I didn’t grease the skillet and it came out just fine 🙂 I think like Judi said, as long as the skillet is seasoned it won’t stick
rachelsdigestif
February 8, 2012I want to make this right NOW. Seriously. Looks so tasty!
Tristine
February 9, 2012OH MY! That looks like heaven on earth. My husband will love this! And I love looking with a skillet. (To bad my husband put mine in the dishwasher.)
Tristine
February 9, 2012whoops! cooking, not looking…although I apparently love looking at a skillet! 🙂
Josie Lee
February 10, 2012Must admit, I know that martha stewart skillet cookie all too well…but to put ice cream on top?! wow, wow, wow…perfect!
Lannie
February 10, 2012gosh, looks amazing!! such a pretty picture!!
Ella
February 14, 2012Ok, got a question. If I was to make this, let’s say, 2-3 hours before I planned to serve it, how would you suggest warming it up again? Thanx!
Judi
February 14, 2012Hmmm, good question. Cast iron skillets retain their heat well so I would use cast-iron. You could always toss it into a low oven.
My only other suggestion would be to make the whole thing ahead of time, safe for baking it, press it into the pan and let it sit in the fridge until you want to bake it. Then, bake it about an hour before you want to serve it.
Liz
February 15, 2012Oh wow, that looks so tasty. And I LOVE the story that goes with it. You guys are a great duo. Gorgeous photos, food, and a story. Neat!
Judi
February 15, 2012Thanks! We’re having a lot of fun. 🙂
Nicole
February 15, 2012Thanks! and yes, it’s tons of fun… and delicious!
Dina
February 15, 2012This looks amazing! Will for sure be making it.
The story is so cute and reminded me of my own engagement story. Luckily, my husband is a pretty good planner and did make it memorable.
Judi
February 15, 2012Sweet! How did he propose? Share!
10 Chocolate Desserts for Valentine’s Day
February 13, 2013[…] Cookie Skillet Sundae from Some Kitchen […]
BrendaRai Brooks-Perry
November 3, 2013I am smiling…both stories are wonderful!!! Can’t wait to make the cookie in my 10″ skillet to share with my hubby.
Thanks!
Stacy
November 8, 2013I am so pleased I have found your recipe, I shared this the other day in a cafe in Manchester with my daughter, it with oreos and marshmallows melted in with it…I thought I’d died and gone to Heaven…this is my ultimate new fave decadent pud of all time.
Some Kitchen Stories Beurre and Sel Jammers
January 22, 2014[…] Cookies | The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies | Snowball Cookies (Foodie.com) | Cookie in a Skillet | White Chocolate Peppermint M&M Cookies | Hot Cocoa Cookies | Shortbread Cookies Filled […]
Some Kitchen Stories Brown Butter Salted Caramel Snickerdoodles
January 22, 2014[…] Cookies | The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies | Snowball Cookies (Foodie.com) | Cookie in a Skillet | White Chocolate Peppermint M&M Cookies | Hot Cocoa Cookies | Shortbread Cookies Filled […]
Some Kitchen Stories Heart Pies
February 13, 2014[…] Patties | Homemade Peanut Butter Cups | The All-Time Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe | Cookie In a Skillet | Peanut Butter Truffle Brownies | Thin Mint Whoopie Pies| White Chocolate Peppermint M&M […]
21 Delicious Hot Fudge Sundaes To Stick Your Face In | Sharing Interesting Stuff, Updates News & Free Tips
July 25, 2014[…] somekitchenstories.com […]
あなたの顔を差し込む21のおいしい辛いファッジ・サンデー | 美味しい食事レシピ・最新メニュー（＾－＾）
August 12, 2014[…] somekitchenstories.com […]
あなたの顔を差し込む21のおいしい辛いファッジ・サンデー | 最新流行フード・北米版！最高に流行る予感！
August 13, 2014[…] somekitchenstories.com […]
Some Kitchen Stories World Peace Cookies
December 24, 2014[…] Cookies | The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies | Snowball Cookies (Foodie.com) | Cookie in a Skillet | White Chocolate Peppermint M&M Cookies | Hot Cocoa Cookies | Shortbread Cookies Filled […]
Brenda
December 21, 2015What size is your mini skillet?
Nicole
December 23, 2015I don’t remember the exact size, but this was a smaller one, maybe 8″?