Fa’zookies — sometimes called Pa’zookies — are a warm, partially baked cookie topped with ice cream, hot fudge, and caramel. They’re simple, flexible, and endlessly customizable, which is why my family loves them. I first fell for this dessert at a local restaurant called Firehouse Pizza, and ever since I’ve enjoyed making my own versions at home.
The basic idea is easy: bake a cookie base only until it’s partially cooked, so the center stays soft and slightly doughy, then top it with your favorite ice cream and warm sauces. Any cookie dough works well; chocolate chip is a classic favorite, while my personal pick is an English toffee cookie. Below is the English Toffee Cookie recipe I use, but feel free to swap in your preferred cookie dough flavor.
FA’ZOOKIE
English Toffee Cookie Base (or use any favorite cookie dough)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup soft shortening
- 2 eggs
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 6–8 Heath candy bars, chopped (or other toffee bits or mix-ins)
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cream together the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and shortening until light and smooth.
- Add the eggs and beat until fully incorporated.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture and mix until combined.
- Fold in the chopped Heath bars (or chosen mix-ins) until evenly distributed.
- Press a thin, even layer of the cookie dough into the bottom of a baking pan. The layer should be fairly thin so the center will remain slightly doughy after baking.
- Bake at 350°F for about 15 minutes, or until the cookie looks partially cooked around the edges but still soft in the center. Do not overbake—keeping the center a little underdone is what creates the gooey Fa’zookie texture.
Assembly:
- Allow the partially baked cookie to cool for a few minutes so it holds together, but keep it warm.
- Scoop generous portions of your favorite ice cream onto the warm cookie base.
- Drizzle with hot fudge and caramel sauce while the cookie and ice cream create a delicious contrast of temperatures and textures.
- Slice into portions and serve immediately so the ice cream begins to melt into the warm cookie.
Tips and variations:
- Swap the toffee pieces for chocolate chips, M&M’s, nuts, or dried fruit to create different flavor combinations.
- Use store-bought cookie dough for a quick version—simply press it into the pan and bake partially as directed.
- For individual servings, press dough into small ovenproof dishes and bake the same way, topping each with a scoop of ice cream and sauces.
- Experiment with different ice cream flavors—vanilla, salted caramel, coffee, or butter pecan all pair well with a warm cookie base.
What makes a Fa’zookie special is the contrast: a warm, slightly underbaked cookie base with cold, creamy ice cream and rich sauces. It’s an indulgent, crowd-pleasing dessert that’s easy to adapt to your taste. Enjoy creating your own versions and sharing them with family and friends.
