A cookie a day~Layered Birthday Cookie :)

Well, mother nature, who has been toying with us Minnesotans all winter, decided to remind us exactly who she is and what she is capable of.  Brrr for cold, and it is supposed to get colder and colder as the day goes on - so this girl here is headed off to run to Target and the grocery store before the temps drop any more - then I can hole myself up here and bake.  I am making cookies today as well as this recipe of the day and homemade pizza for supper - all that oven time will keep me warm & toasty!

Layered Birthday Cookie
For the cookie:
1 c. butter, softened
2 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
3 c. all-purpose flour
6 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa
1 tsp. baking soda

Preheat your oven to 350.  Line 2 spring form pans with parchment paper.  (or grease 2 round cake pans well).    Beat together the butter, sugar.  Add the eggs, and vanilla.  Stir in your dry ingredients.  Divide the dough in two and press into your prepared pans.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Remove from oven, and allow to cool.  Remove from pans and place on wire racks. 

Topping:
1/2 c. butter, softened
2 c. powdered sugar
1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
8 oz. chocolate melted, either semisweet or bittersweet
1/2 c. m & m's (or reese's pieces!)
1/2 c. semisweet chocolate chips

To prepare the topping, beat the butter and powedered sugar together, beat in the cream cheese and melted chocolate.  Spread over the cooled cookies, place on on top of the other, decorate and top with chocolate chips and the candies!  In this picture we added peanut butter to the topping- instead of the melted chocolate for the top layer!