There is something almost magical about the smell of a fresh cookie wafting through the kitchen. However, we have all been in that position where we crave a sweet treat but do not want to end up with three dozen cookies sitting on the counter tempting us for the rest of the week. That is exactly where the single serve deep dish chocolate chip cookie comes into play. It is the perfect solution for late-night cravings, a solo celebration, or just a Tuesday afternoon when you need a little bit of comfort.
This recipe is designed to be thick, gooey, and decadent. Unlike a standard flat cookie, the deep dish version provides a texture that is reminiscent of a molten lava cake crossed with a classic chewy cookie. It is rich, buttery, and incredibly satisfying. Because it is baked in a small dish, the edges get that perfect golden crisp while the center remains soft and indulgent.
What is a Single Serve Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie?
At its core, a single serve deep dish chocolate chip cookie is a scaled-down version of the classic American dessert, specifically engineered to be baked in a ramekin or a small oven-safe skillet. The term deep dish refers to the thickness of the dough. Instead of spreading out thin on a flat baking sheet, the dough is contained within the walls of a small vessel, forcing it to bake upward.
This method completely changes the moisture profile of the cookie. When you bake a regular batch, the air circulates around each individual mound of dough, crisping up the bottom and the top simultaneously. In a deep dish setting, the ceramic or cast iron walls insulate the dough, leading to a much softer, denser interior. It is essentially the “center piece” of a brownie tray but in cookie form. It is meant to be eaten with a spoon, perhaps while still warm, and ideally topped with a cold scoop of ice cream.
The Origin of the single serve deep dish chocolate chip cookie
The concept of the deep dish cookie, often called a pizookie in popular restaurant chains, gained massive popularity in the United States during the late twentieth century. It combined the love of deep dish pizza—a staple of Chicago culture—with the universal love for the chocolate chip cookie. While traditional cookies date back to the nineteen thirties when Ruth Wakefield famously invented the Toll House cookie, the deep dish variation is a more modern evolution focusing on texture and presentation.
The single-serve movement followed closely behind as kitchen culture shifted toward convenience and portion control. As people began living in smaller households or simply looking for ways to reduce food waste, the demand for “dessert for one” skyrocketed. The single serve deep dish chocolate chip cookie is the pinnacle of this movement, offering a gourmet experience without the need for a standing mixer or a massive cleanup.
Essential Ingredients for Your Deep Dish Masterpiece
To create the best single serve deep dish chocolate chip cookie, you need quality ingredients. Since this recipe is small, every single component stands out. Here is what you will need to gather:
Butter: Two tablespoons of unsalted butter, melted. Melted butter provides a chewier texture and a richer flavor compared to softened butter.
Brown Sugar: Two tablespoons. Brown sugar is essential for that molasses-like depth and the moisture that keeps the cookie soft.
White Sugar: One tablespoon. This helps create those slightly crisp, caramelized edges.
Vanilla Extract: One teaspoon. This might seem like a lot for one cookie, but it is the secret to that professional, bakery-style aroma.
Egg Yolk: Just one large egg yolk. By omitting the white, we remove the leavening that makes cookies cakey, ensuring our deep dish stays dense and fudgy.
All-Purpose Flour: One fourth cup. This provides the structure. Be careful not to pack it too tightly into your measuring cup.
Baking Soda: One eighth teaspoon. Just enough to give it a tiny bit of lift so it is not a literal brick.
Salt: A pinch. Salt is the most important ingredient for balancing the sweetness of the chocolate.
Chocolate Chips: Two to three tablespoons. You can use semi-sweet, dark, or milk chocolate. As many people say, you should measure this with your heart.
Step by Step Direction and Preparation Method
Creating this single serve deep dish chocolate chip cookie is a straightforward process that takes less than twenty minutes from start to finish. Follow these steps to ensure a perfect bake every time.
Preparing the Oven and Dish
The first thing you need to do is heat your oven to three hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit. While the oven is warming up, take a small ramekin or a mini oven-safe skillet and lightly grease it. You can use a tiny bit of butter or a light coating of cooking spray. This ensures that while the cookie is deep, it will not stick to the sides when you are trying to dig in with your spoon.
Mixing the Base
In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt your two tablespoons of butter. Once melted, add the two tablespoons of brown sugar and one tablespoon of white sugar. Use a spoon or a small whisk to stir these together until the mixture is smooth and the sugar has started to dissolve into the fat. This creates the flavor foundation of your cookie.
Adding the Aromatics and Binder
Next, stir in your teaspoon of vanilla extract and that single egg yolk. It is important to make sure your butter isn’t boiling hot when you add the yolk, or you might accidentally scramble it. The egg yolk acts as the primary emulsifier, giving the single serve deep dish chocolate chip cookie its signature richness. Stir until the mixture looks glossy and well-combined.
Incorporating Dry Ingredients
Now, add the one fourth cup of all-purpose flour, the one eighth teaspoon of baking soda, and the pinch of salt. When mixing the dry ingredients into the wet, the golden rule is to mix just until the white streaks of flour disappear. If you overmix, you develop the gluten in the flour, which can lead to a tough or bready cookie. We want soft and tender, so keep the mixing to a minimum.
The Chocolate and the Bake
Fold in your chocolate chips. Once they are evenly distributed, press the dough into your prepared ramekin. If you want a truly gooey center, press it down firmly so the dough is thick. Place the dish in the oven and bake for twelve to fifteen minutes.
If you take it out at twelve minutes, it will be very gooey and almost like a thick pudding in the center. If you wait until fourteen or fifteen minutes, the edges will be set and firm, while the middle remains soft. Once you pull it out, you must let it cool for at least five minutes. This is the hardest part of the entire process, but it allows the internal structure to set so you don’t just have a puddle of hot dough.
Creative Variations of the Single Serve Cookie
While the classic version is hard to beat, the single serve deep dish chocolate chip cookie is a fantastic canvas for experimentation. You can easily swap out ingredients to match your personal preferences or whatever you happen to have in your pantry.
The Nutty Indulgence
If you are a fan of the chocolate and peanut butter combination, try adding a tablespoon of creamy peanut butter into the center of the dough before baking. Simply put half the dough in the ramekin, add the peanut butter, and then cover it with the remaining dough. This creates a hidden molten core that is absolutely divine. You can also swap the chocolate chips for peanut butter chips or add crushed walnuts for an added crunch.
White Chocolate and Raspberry
For a more sophisticated twist, use white chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet. If you have some fresh or freeze-dried raspberries, fold them in gently. The tartness of the berries cuts through the sweetness of the white chocolate perfectly, making for a very balanced dessert.
The Double Chocolate Version
If you are a true chocoholic, replace one tablespoon of the flour with a tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder. This will turn the dough itself into a deep, dark chocolate base. Pair this with white chocolate chips or even chunks of a dark chocolate bar for a multi-layered chocolate experience.
Frequently Asked Questions: Single Serve Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie
Can I make this in the microwave instead of the oven?
While you can technically make a mug cookie in the microwave, the texture will be significantly different. A microwave cooks by heating water molecules, which often results in a more spongy, cake-like texture. To get the crispy edges and the dense, fudgy center that defines a single serve deep dish chocolate chip cookie, the dry heat of an oven is highly recommended.
What if I do not have a ramekin?
No problem at all. You can use any small oven-safe dish. A mini cast iron skillet works beautifully, as does a small ceramic muffin top pan or even a very small glass oven-safe bowl. Just ensure that whatever you use is rated for oven temperatures of three hundred and fifty degrees.
Can I use a whole egg instead of just the yolk?
If you use the whole egg, the cookie will rise much more and become very cakey. The egg white contains proteins that create a structured, airy foam. Since we are aiming for a dense, deep dish style, the yolk alone is the secret to that fudgy consistency. If you only have a whole egg, you might want to increase the flour slightly, but the result will be more like a small cake than a traditional cookie.
Is it possible to make this vegan?
Yes, you can adapt this recipe for a vegan diet. Use a vegan butter substitute or coconut oil (solidified) and replace the egg yolk with a tablespoon of applesauce or a flax egg. Ensure your chocolate chips are dairy-free. The texture will be slightly different, but it will still be a delicious warm treat.
Conclusion: Single Serve Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie
The beauty of the single serve deep dish chocolate chip cookie lies in its simplicity and its ability to provide instant gratification. In a world where we are often overwhelmed by choice and excess, there is something deeply grounding about making exactly one perfect thing. It encourages mindful eating and allows you to enjoy a high-quality dessert without the guilt of a lingering batch of leftovers.
Furthermore, this recipe is a great way to practice your baking skills. Because the quantities are so small, you can see exactly how the ingredients interact. You learn the importance of the ratio between fat and flour, and you see firsthand how bake time affects the final texture. It is a low-stakes way to become a better baker while rewarding yourself with a chocolatey, buttery prize at the end.
In conclusion, the single serve deep dish chocolate chip cookie is more than just a quick snack; it is a specialized culinary experience tailored for the individual. Whether you are winding down after a long day or looking for a quick way to impress a guest without spending hours in the kitchen, this recipe is a reliable staple. It is cozy, it is quick, and as mentioned before, it is dangerous in the best way possible because once you know how easy it is to make, you will want to make it every single night. The combination of the warm, melty chocolate and the rich, buttery dough creates a sensory experience that is hard to match. So, grab your ramekin, preheat your oven, and treat yourself to the best single-serve dessert you have ever had.
Print
The Ultimate Single Serve Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
- Total Time: 17–20 minutes
- Yield: 1 serving 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
At its core, a single serve deep dish chocolate chip cookie is a scaled-down version of the classic American dessert, specifically engineered to be baked in a ramekin or a small oven-safe skillet. The term deep dish refers to the thickness of the dough. Instead of spreading out thin on a flat baking sheet, the dough is contained within the walls of a small vessel, forcing it to bake upward.
Ingredients
2 tbsp butter, melted
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp white sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg yolk (just the yolk!)
¼ cup all-purpose flour
⅛ tsp baking soda
Pinch of salt
2–3 tbsp chocolate chips (measure with your heart)
Instructions
Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a small ramekin or mini skillet.
In a bowl, mix melted butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth.
Stir in vanilla and egg yolk.
Add flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix just until combined.
Fold in chocolate chips.
Press dough into your dish (thicker = gooier center).
Bake 12–15 minutes
12 min = very gooey
14–15 min = set edges, soft middle
Let cool for 5 minutes (hardest step).
Notes
Best enjoyed warm, straight from the dish. This cookie is meant to be soft in the center and crisp around the edges—don’t overbake it! Add a scoop of ice cream or a pinch of flaky sea salt if you’re feeling extra indulgent. 🍪✨
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12–15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ramekin cookie
- Calories: ~450 kcal
Keywords: individual deep dish cookie, ramekin chocolate chip cookie, small batch deep dish dessert, giant single cookie recipe, mini skillet chocolate chip cookie
