A cooling plate for refractory-lined shaft furnaces includes a first cooling plate element facing the inside of the furnace and a second, rear cooling plate element, where in the cooling plate elements are welded together. A cooling channel is formed between the first and second elements of the cooling plate. Pipe elements are connected to the coolant inlet and coolant outlet. The first cooling plate element is a bloom with a plane front side facing the inside of the furnace, and the cross-sectional area of the cooling channel is larger in the end regions thereof than in the center region, as viewed along the longitudinal extent of the cross-section.