1. Prepare the Dough:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease or line a heart-shaped cake pan with parchment paper. If you don’t have a heart-shaped pan, draw a heart template on parchment paper and place it on a baking sheet.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture until just combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.

2. Bake the Cookie Cake:

1. Press the dough evenly into the prepared heart-shaped pan or spread it onto your parchment paper template, leaving about 1 inch of space around the edges for spreading.
2. Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center is set. Be careful not to overbake for a softer cookie texture.
3. Allow the cookie cake to cool completely in the pan before decorating.

3. Prepare the Frosting:

1. In a medium bowl, beat the butter until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition.
2. Stir in the vanilla or almond extract and enough milk to reach your desired consistency. Add food coloring if desired.

4. Decorate the Cookie Cake:

1. Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a star tip or use a zip-top bag with the corner snipped off.
2. Pipe frosting around the edges or create designs on the cookie. Decorate with sprinkles, candy hearts, or extra chocolate chips as desired.

5. Serve:

• Slice the cookie cake into wedges and serve with milk or coffee for a festive treat!