The cookie skillet is a mash-up of two of America’s most classic and popular desserts.
Any flavor will do, but more often than not, it’s vanilla.
Chocolate syrup or other garnishes may get added, and voila!
Photo: BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse. Design: Eat This, Not That!
That’s the way the cookie crumbles.
Not every popular restaurant chain serves this straightforward dessert.
Confections such asbrownieswith ice cream andcheesecakeare more common.
Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
But, at the places that do, the cookie skillet is a singular sensation.
I tried every one to see which chain makes the tastiest version.
Despite this flub, I ordered the cookie sans its better half and made the most of it.
Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
Without the ice cream, it cost me $5.29.
The look:Like a chocolate chip muffin turned over on its top.
A bubbling puddle of caramel sauce surrounds the thick cookie.
Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
The taste:The sweet smell of the caramel made me want to dig in immediately.
I regretted that hasty decision as the dessert was boiling and burned my tongue on impact.
The base is dense, cake-like, and not much like a cookie.
Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
It also wasn’t moist.
The sauce helped in this department, but not as much as a scoop of vanilla would have.
One highlight was the surprise chocolatey center, which was warm and oozing.
Megan Hageman, Eat This, Not That!
This was a feature that no other cookie skillet offered.
But, it wasn’t enough to yank this cookie calamity up from last place.
The theme doesn’t carry over into the dessert section.
Hot fudge adds some extra razzle-dazzle, and the whole thing costs $8.49.
The look:Dry, dry, dry.
The ratio of ice cream to cookie is off.
Another half scoop would have sufficed.
The hot fudge looked thin, more like chocolate syrup, but it added to the overall presentation.
It was drizzled carefully over the ice cream and pooled on the cookie below.
The taste:Thankfully, it is less parched than it looks.
Once you break past the outer shell, the inside cookie layer is forgiving and soft.
My only real critique is that it didn’t taste homemade.
The eclectic menu highlights flavors inspired by cuisines from all over the world.
For dessert, why not try theReese’s ice cream cookiefor $12.99?
The look:Extra chocolaty with standard chips, Reese’s cups, and sauce swirled on top.
Eight Reese’s cupsthe mini varietyare visible on the cookie’s surface.
The ice cream comes in one simple white scoop.
The taste:More firm than gooey, and some spoonfuls tasted burnt.
Otherwise, this skillet is agreeable.
The peanut butter from the Reese’s adds a nice change of pace.
Plus, chocolate and peanut butter make for the best combo.
The ice cream reminds me of sweet cream and levels out the rich pairing.
If brownies and loads of chocolate aren’t your thing, try the non-Aussie-themedSalted Caramel Cookie Skillet.
The warm, salted caramel cookie comes topped with a vanilla scoop.
A few surprise ingredients are thrown in, including white chocolate pieces, pretzels, and almond toffee.
The confection cost me $8.79 at the casual dining chain.
The look:One of the smaller options.
But, the dish extends deeper than you’d think.
Outback delivered the ideal cookie skillet proportions in my book.
Caramel sauce stripes decorate the top.
The taste:A lot is going on herein a good way.
It tastes like a fusion of an extra salty sugar cookie and a white chocolate macadamia nut cookie.
That creamy sweetness helps to offset that added sodium.
Outback could simplify this dish by removing these two ingredients and still have a winning dessert.
The menu item was created shortly after the chain opened in 1978 and became a sweet sensation nationwide.
At any given time, the restaurant offers around10 different Pizookie flavors.
Mini skillets are available for kids and as part of a tasting trio.
I ordered the Chocolate Chunk, which is topped with vanilla ice cream and costs $7.95.
The taste:BJ’s is clearly in the right business.
The dough tastes homemade and gives off buttery notes and a smooth chocolate flavor.
