This giant ice cream cookie sandwich, aka giant chipwhich is made from two cookies that are over 12" in diameter and contains a gallon of ice cream - that's big enough to be a delicious ice cream cake at your next birthday party, or to be eaten alone in compulsive shame giving you one mondo belly ache!

While bigger is rarely better when it comes to food, I think that in this instance, it actually is. The ratio of cookie to ice cream seems to be better balanced then the small cookie sandwiches, the cookies are thick and chewy with just a bit of crisp, and you get to choose your own ice cream flavor for the filling...all big improvements over the store bought conventional ice cream cookie sandwiches.

I'm using a slightly modified Toll House chocolate chip cookie recipe that's been optimized for structural reinforcement for the giant top and bottom cookies, and mint chocolate chip ice cream for the filling. Use whatever type of ice cream you like of course and make this cake a hit at your next party!

Step 1: Ingredients

The ingredients list is pretty much the straight up Toll House chocolate chip cookie recipe off of the back of the bag of chips with one modification - the addition of some quick cook oats to absorb some of the extra moisture of the thick cookie and add some structural reinforcement to the cookie instead of simply adding more white flour. Having made these giant cookies both with oats and without them, I think they're a valuable addition.

In order to have enough cookie dough to make two of these behemoths, you've got to multiple the normal recipe by 1.5.

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup quick cook oats
1.5 teaspoon baking soda
1.5 teaspoon salt
1.5 cup (3 sticks) butter, softened
1 1/8 cup granulated sugar
1 1/8 cup packed brown sugar
1.5 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large eggs
3 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

Step 2: Combine Ingredients

Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Soften the butter in the microwave or in a pot for a few seconds and combine it with the wet ingredients. Mix the ingredients each in their respective bowls, then pour the wet ingredients into the dry.

Step 3: Mix Thoroughly

Using an electric mixer or some enthusiastic hand gyration, mix the cookie dough thoroughly until all of the ingredients are evenly incorporated.

Step 4: Make Two Giant Cookies

Scoop out the cookie dough onto two pre-greased cookie sheets. Grease those cookie sheets seriously folks - with a cookie this big, you don't want any stickage! Don't go to the edge of the cookie sheets either, as the dough will expand significantly when baked.

Step 5: Bake at 350F

Take the two oven racks and place them as close to each other as possible, centered in the middle of the oven.

Bake the two cookies for approximately 20 minutes or, until the edges of the cookie are turning golden brown.

Rotate the cookie sheets between the upper and lower racks a few times over the cook time so they both get even browning.

Step 6: Chill and Then Carefully Remove From Pans

Place both cookie sheets into the refrigerator to chill for half an hour after the cookies are done baking.

When you remove the cookies from the oven you'll probably notice that the center of the cookies will still be relatively molten. Don't worry, this is par for the course when baking gigantic cookies. Putting it in the fridge will take care of the molten bits. The fat will solidify, and when you take it out, it will be right as rain.

After chilling is complete and the cookies have firmed up, carefully remove the cookies from the cookie sheets with a spatula, trying not to cause any cracks or breakage.

Step 7: Spread on the Ice Cream

This is the best part - spread on the ice cream!

I took a serrated edge knife and literally cut the rectangular ice cream container down the middle the long ways. This gave me two nice size ice cream patties to spread onto the cookies, rather than having to scoop out all of the ice cream with a spoon.

Use a rubber tipped spatula to spread the ice cream evenly around the cookie - work fast - the clock's ticking, the ice cream is melting, and things are just getting hotter each day due to global warming!

Step 8: Finish and Serve

I've finished these giant ice cream cookie sandwiches with all kinds of toppers from cookie crumbles, to whip cream to strawberries to chocolate fudge. Choose what you like best and serve it up.

*Note the regular ice cream cookie sandwiches in the background of the picture below - they're actually made with some pretty big cookies, but they look tiny compared to the whopper in the foreground. Now that's a giant ice cream sandwich!