Brownie Cookies

During my family’s annual holiday baking party one year, my younger brother mustered up a genius idea to mash the top two legendary desserts into a brownie cookie. The result was a chewy, fudgy center with caramelized edges. It’s been a few years, and now a celebration doesn’t feel complete without them. This dessert delivers on the fantasies of any chocolate lover. Did we mention they’re jumbo? We use a 1/4-cup measuring cup to scoop the dough, resulting in oversized confections.  

Brownie Cookie Ingredients

• Bittersweet chocolate chips: We melt 60% cacao bittersweet chocolate baking chips into the buttery base. 
• Butter: The unsalted butter in this recipe operates like an emulsifier—stabilizing the fat and the liquids—resulting in a tender cookie.
• Eggs: We rely on eggs to help leaven and form the shape of these chocolate brownie cookies. 
• Sugar: The sugar imparts sweet notes into these brownie cookies while caramelizing their edges.
• Vanilla extract: We add a splash of vanilla extract to help enhance the sweetness of the chocolate in these brownie cookies. 
• Instant espresso powder (optional): You can sprinkle espresso powder into the dough to add a depth of complexity and enhance the flavor of the chocolate.
• Flour: We suggest using all-purpose flour for the dough to help the cookies maintain their shape.
• Baking powder: This leavening agent helps the brownie cookies rise, giving them a subtle cakey texture.
• Semisweet chocolate chunks: Semisweet chocolate chunks get folded into the dough just before baking.

Directions

Step 1: Melt the chocolate and butter

Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large saucepan, melt the bittersweet chocolate chips and butter over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the chocolate mixture to cool down to a warm temperature.

Step 2: Make the cookie dough

In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, vanilla and espresso powder (if using) until blended. Mix that into the melted chocolate mixture. In another bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and salt, then add that to the chocolate batter and mix well. Fold the semisweet chocolate chunks into the dough. Let the dough sit for 10 minutes, until it thickens slightly, before scooping. 

Step 3: Bake the cookies

Using a 1/4-cup measuring cup, drop scoops of the dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them about 3 inches apart. Bake the cookies until they’re set, 12 to 14 minutes. Cool on the pans for one to two minutes, then remove to wire racks to finish cooling.

Brownie Cookie Variations

• Crumble in Oreos: Crush a few Oreo cookies and fold them into the dough for an extra crunchy and chocolaty flavor.
• Add a snow-like topping: For a fun take, dust these brownie cookies with confectioners’ sugar to mimic snowfall.
• Dust with sea salt: To balance the sweetness of these brownie cookies, sprinkle flaky sea salt on top.

How to Store Brownie Cookies

Once your brownie cookies have completely cooled, store them in an airtight container. If you’d like to prevent them from sticking together, you can add layers of wax or parchment paper between them. They’ll stay fresh for about a week. Pro tip: If they become hard, add a piece of bread to the container and they will become moist again.

Can you make this chocolate brownie cookie recipe ahead of time?

You can prepare the dough for this recipe in advance, store it in the fridge for two to four days, then bake and serve warm, soft cookies when you have guests.

Can you freeze this cookie brownie recipe?

We recommend freezing the brownie cookie dough. Follow the recipe, scoop the dough into balls and place them in an airtight container or freezer-friendly bag. The dough will last for up to two months in the freezer.

How long do brownie cookies last?

These brownie cookies taste so delicious that you will likely have no leftovers. However, if you end up with extras, you can store them in an airtight container for up to a week, or freeze the already-baked cookies for 8 to 12 months.

Brownie Cookie Tips

Can you add brown butter to this brownie cookie recipe?

Brown butter adds rich, nutty and caramelized notes to brownie cookies. When melting the butter in the recipe, brown it and let it cook a little longer. (Psst: If you’ve never done this before, check out this brown butter chocolate chip cookie recipe.)

Should I chill the brownie cookie dough before baking?

When you chill cookie dough before baking, you help the fat in the recipe solidify. This is good because when you bake it, the cookies won’t spread too much, resulting in loftier confections with caramelized edges.

How do I know the brownie cookies are finished baking?

Remember to use the toothpick test to check if your cookies are done baking. Simply insert a toothpick into the center of a cookie, and if it comes out with a few crumbs, they’re ready. If it comes out with wet batter, bake them a little longer.