These brownie stuffed chocolate chip cookies prove that the only thing better than chocolate chip cookies, are chocolate chip cookies with a brownie inside!
There is a bakery in my area that sells Brownie Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies and I’ve always thought it was the most perfect, ultimate chocolate treat. I mean why decide between brownies and chocolate chip cookies when you can have both in one beautiful and delicious cookie?!
Sure, it’s a bit of extra work and certainly not something that I’d recommend for regular consumption, but for those times that you want something really indulgent, these cookies are pretty hard to beat. And they freeze well, so they can be tucked away for some chocolate therapy as needed :)
Ingredients and Substitutions
Unsweetened Chocolate – the brownie part of the recipe requires unsweetened chocolate. If you don’t have unsweetened chocolate, the best option is to seek out an alternate brownie recipe that uses the type of chocolate (or cocoa powder) that you have on hand. It really doesn’t matter which brownie recipe you use for these cookies.
Recipe Tips
You could actually use any brownie recipe or any chocolate chip cookie recipe to make these cookies. If you have a favourite of either or both, feel free to use that instead. When it comes to the brownies, be sure to cook them only until about 75%-80% cooked, before removing them from the oven and refrigerating.
The refrigeration period is necessary to firm up and cut the brownies, since they are being undercooked, so be sure to allow the extra time for cooling. I found making the brownies the night before worked really well as they come together quickly and have a short baking time. Then I can just grab them from the fridge when I’m ready to bake the cookies.
You can bake the cookies to the level of “done-ness” that you prefer for chocolate chip cookies. I like them on the softer, just barely cooked side, while my husband prefers golden and crispy. Simply leave in the oven a few more minutes, if you like.
Ingredients
Brownie Batter:
- 3 oz. unsweetened chocolate, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 1/3 cups granulated white sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, reduce to a pinch if using salted butter
- 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
Chocolate Chip Cookies Dough:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, reduce to 1/4 teaspoon if using salted butter
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 large egg
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 1/2 – 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips, depending on how chocolatey you’d like your cookies
Instructions
- Make the brownies: Heat oven to 350°F. and line an 8×8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper, extending it up the sides to use as handles to remove from the pan later.
- In a medium microwaveable bowl, melt chocolate and butter together in microwave until only a couple unmelted bits remain, about 1 minute. Alternately, place chocolate and butter in a bowl over simmering water to melt. Whisk in sugar, then eggs, one at a time. Add vanilla and salt. Stir in flour just until combined. Spoon batter into prepared pan and spread evenly. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool at room temperature for 15 minutes, then cover pan with foil and refrigerate until completely cool, about 2-3 hours, or try making the night before and refrigerating overnight.
- Once cooled completely, remove from fridge and lift brownies out of the pan and onto a cutting board. Cut into approximately 1-inch x 1-inch squares. Set aside while you make the chocolate chip cookie dough.
- Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- Make the chocolate chip cookie dough: Whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl and set aside. In another medium bowl with an electric mixer or the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the melted butter, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, egg, and egg yolk until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients just until blended.
- Stir in the chocolate chips with a spoon.
- To prepare the cookies: take a heaping tablespoon of chocolate chip cookie dough and flatten it into a round about 3-inches in diameter. Place a piece of cut brownie and place it in the middle of the round. Make a second round of cookie dough and place over-top, pressing down the edges to encase the brownie. Place on a baking sheet. Repeat with more cookies, leaving several inches in between to allow room for spreading as they cook.
- Bake in preheated 325F. oven until just set and the edges are just golden. Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes then transferring to cooling racks to cool completely. Repeat with additional batches.
Notes
Hi! I’m Jennifer, a home cook schooled by trial and error and almost 40 years of getting dinner on the table! I love to share my favourite recipes, both old and new, together with lots of tips and tricks to hopefully help make your home cooking enjoyable, stress free, rewarding and of course, delicious!
Could I use cocoa powder instead of 3 ounces of chocolate?
Hi Hallie, it is not always easy to replace the chocolate with cocoa powder. You’d be better off finding a cocoa powder based brownie recipe and use that instead. As the brownies are baked separately first, it won’t make a big difference. Then just proceed with the rest of the recipe.
Wow, satiating two chocolate desires at once. This is the jackpot! This definitely looks like pure indulgence.
Thanks so much, Cindy :)
Now these are my kind of cookie! Love that brownie surprise. :)
Thanks Laura!
These are terrifyingly good. You are a mad culinary genius! Thanks so much for another hit, and for making me look good in front of family, friends, neighbors, clients: my whole little world.
Lol! Yes, they are ;) So glad you enjoyed these! Thanks.
You genius!!!! Brownie stuffed cookies?! Best of both worlds! I’ll take a dozen ;)
Thanks Dawn :)
I sure hope you saved a few for me…these look epic, I love that little mound of mystery in the middle, such fun!
Thanks Sue!
Hi from Northern Ontario……I had one of these recently on a short field trip from home….and since then I’ve been dreaming about making them….thank you for the inspiration motivation and recipe!
Hi Carol! And I’m so glad to learn I’m not the only one who dreams about things like this ;) Stay safe in the North. The smoke from the Parry Sound fire moved over Muskoka last night and was such a reminder of the devastation taking place so close. Thinking of everyone affected!
Two incredibly delicious treats in one Jennifer! I’ll be trying these for sure!
Thanks Mary Ann :)
Goodness gracious, now these are some cookies worth drooling over!!! Brownie STUFFED chocolate chip cookies?! These look dangerously delicious! I’ll take a dozen and a tall glass of cold milk, please!
Thanks Cheyanne and yes, they are that :) I froze most of mine so I can spread them out over a longer period of time!
Such a fun idea Jennifer. And when you get two desserts in one. . .well that is definitely worth the extra effort in my opinion. Besides, can you imagine peoples surprise when they bit into the cookie & are met with an unexpected surprise?!!!
Thanks Lynn and I agree. Special treats take a little more time :)
This is the most perfect ultimate chocolate treat! I’ll take a dozen, please!
Thanks Annie :)
Well these look pretty fantastic! What a treat and I’m always up for a fun recipe. I bet these disappear in a flash :)
Thanks Tricia and yes, my husband was especially a fan of these ;)