It’s difficult to conceive of how one of the most perfect treats ever, the chocolate chip cookie, can be improved, but making one in a skillet is a surefire way to do it. A cast iron skillet packed with cookie dough transforms this iconic treat into a crispy-edged, chewy-centered center-of-plate dessert.

A skillet cookie is a great way to make the most of your oven as it cools down at the end of your pizza party. In a cast iron skillet pan, the chocolate-loaded batter absorbs the residual heat from the oven as it bakes, infusing your backyard with irresistible sweet aromas. Give it a light lick of flame to melt the chocolate chips and gently caramelise the crust, and after 15 minutes of cooking, you’ll be rewarded with a perfect balance of gooey, salty chocolate and soft-baked cookie.

Fresh out of the oven, there’s nothing quite like spooning a serving of vanilla bean ice cream onto a warm slice, the refreshing chill of the ice cream mingling with the salty, rich, flavours of the cookie. For an indulgent teatime treat, or packed away for a gameday tailgate, let the cookie cool in the refrigerator first. The hardened texture will resemble that of a traditional soft chocolate chip cookie, but with a slightly gooey interior and crisp crust. Best of both worlds? We think so.