Brownie Cookies

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With a gooey center and signature crackly top like a brownie and a crisp exterior like a cookie, this brownie cookie is the best of both dessert worlds!

aerial photo of brownie cookie broken in half

Sometimes when you try to replicate a recipe and have nothing to start with except your memory… You don’t end up with what you wanted. And other times, what you do end up with actually turns out to be a great result anyway.

That’s what this recipe is: the end result of my attempt to replicate a very specific treat we had while we were on our western road trip back in 2014.

pile of brownie cookies

When we visited Venice Beach for the day on our stop in Los Angeles, we wanted to eat as much really good food as we could. Since we had so much luck asking a local where to get the best key lime pie when we were in Key West a few years ago, we thought that would be the best route again.

We found ourselves eating our way down Abbott-Kinney Avenue, a slightly “hipster” street with not only lots of trendy shopping but tons of bakeries, coffee shops, and restaurants… There was no shortage of food!

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As I was stuffing my face with a pretzel roll while walking from one bakery to the next destination, our noses couldn’t believe the amazing smells coming out of the eatery next door.

aerial photo of brownie cookies

The overwhelming smell of meat pulled us in immediately, and we found ourselves staring at a menu full of gorgeous, hearty sandwiches bursting with fresh meats and cheeses.

It all looked so incredible, but once I spotted the treats on the counter, I knew where I was headed.

pile of brownie cookies

We purchased 2 cookies: one super crunchy, nearly flat, buttery chocolate chip cookie and then this very intriguing brownie cookie.

The girl at the register must have thought us slightly strange to leave a sandwich place with 2 cookies, but we mostly just said “we’re from Pennsylvania” and I’m sure she thought we were Amish.

aerial photo of brownie cookies

The first bite of each of those cookies was heavenly. The brownie cookie was just like biting into a big chocolate cookie, but it was soft and fudgy like a brownie, complete with the signature crackly top. I immediately called it a “brookie.”

It was so good I told Matt to take a picture of it so I could remember I wanted to recreate it when we got home. I have since lost the picture. WOMP WOMP.

side view of stack of brownie cookies

The funny thing about coming home and beginning to develop this recipe is that I couldn’t believe we didn’t even write down the name of the place we stopped.

Thankfully, Matt had taken a picture of the stamp on the pastry bag, and after a little deciphering of the phone number, Google, and a physical search of the street by my LA-resident friend from high school Shaina (hi, Shaina!), we discovered the name of the place was Gjelina Take Away.

pile of brownie cookies

These molten center brownie cookies are super simple, and if you’ve ever made brownies from scratch, you’re going to do just fine here!

You’re going to start with melting some unsweetened chocolate, butter, and semi-sweet chocolate chips. This is typically the start of brownie batter, so we’re definitely off to a chocolately start!

brownie cookie batter in a saucepan

You just want to be sure you don’t scald the chocolate. When you’re melting your unsweetened chocolate, butter, and semi-sweet chips, it’s imperative you keep the mixture moving. You don’t want burned chocolate– trust me!

The rest of this brownie cookie recipe is pretty straight-forward, but over the years, I’ve found best results from chilling the dough before baking it. Just one hour will do!

brownie cookie dough balls on a baking sheet

And just like brownies, you’ll want to make sure that you don’t over bake these puppies. To keep the center moist and slightly fudgy, you’ll want to bake them and then let them cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes.

If you prefer your brownies cakey, bake them for the full 14 minutes. To keep them fudgy, only 12 minutes.

a brownie cookie leaning on a stack of other brownie cookies

PEOPLE: This. Cookie. Rocks.

This cookie is for all you cakey brownie lovers out there. It’s also for you end lovers (ME! ME!) because having a brownie in cookie form means one huge edge surrounding a moist, dense, oh-so-chocolatey center.

aerial photo of tray of brownie cookies with chocolate chips and nuts scattered around

The tops are even crackly just like a brownie, so biting into it is an experience in itself!

Chocolate on chocolate on chocolate. There is no shortage of it in this recipe, and I am certain you’re going to enjoy having your brownie in cookie form.

Besides, sometimes in life you’re faced with the dilemma of “do I make cookies or brownies?”

a brownie cookie broken in half with chocolate chips and nuts scattered around it

Now, you don’t have to decide… You’re welcome.

Brownie Cookies

With a gooey center and signature crackly top like a brownie and a crisp exterior like a cookie, this brownie cookie is the best of both dessert worlds!
Prep Time1 hour 45 minutes
Bake Time14 minutes
Total Time1 hour 59 minutes
Recipe Author Lynn April
Servings: 1 dozen cookies

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter cut into 2-3 slices
  • 1 ounce (28g) unsweetened baking chocolate chopped
  • 8 ounces (228g) semi-sweet chocolate chips divided
  • ¾ cup (90g) all-purpose flour be sure to measure properly
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • ¼ cup + 2 Tablespoons (75g) granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup + 2 Tablespoons (75g) firmly packed light brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup chopped nuts (I like walnuts or pecans) optional

Instructions

  • In a medium size saucepan over low heat, melt the butter, chopped unsweetened baking chocolate, and 4 ounces (about ¾ cup) of the semi-sweet chocolate chips. Stir constantly until mixture has melted completely. Allow to cool to room temperature (about 30 minutes).
  •  Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl with a handheld mixer or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla on medium speed until combined.
  • Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually add the dry ingredients to wet ingredients, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary. Add the cooled chocolate mixture and beat well until everything is combined.
  • Stir in remaining semi-sweet chocolate chips and chopped nuts, if using. Cover the dough tightly and chill in the refrigerator at least 1 hour and up to 2 days.
  • When you are ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 350ºF (177ºC). Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
  • Using a cookie scoop (I use this #50 cookie scoop for all of my standard size cookies), drop rounded dough balls on prepared baking sheet. For fudgy cookies, bake for 12 minutes. For cakey cookies, bake for 14 minutes. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Cookies stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature up to 7 days. Cookies freeze well, up to 3 months. Rolled cookie dough freezes well– up to 3 months. Place on baking sheet frozen and add 1 minute to baking time.
Did you make this recipe?Mention @freshaprilflours on Instagram or tag #freshaprilflours!

Nutrition Disclosure

All nutritional values are approximate and provided to the reader as a courtesy. Changing ingredients and/or quantities will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

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12 Comments

    1. Hi Mariya, it’s 4 Tablespoons, you are right. I have edited the recipe. Thank you for bringing it to my attention!

  1. I was so excited to make these but after mixing everything it was more like a thick cake batter not at all like cookie dough 🙁 The chocolate was definitely room temp. I feel like there should have been more flour? I don’t scoop my flour, I spoon it into the measuring cups—sometimes that makes less flour overall—- but that’s how I always learned to do it. Anyways, It’s in the fridge as we speak but it’s not at all formed. Any suggestions?

    1. Hi Mel, have you had any more progress on this recipe? It’s been awhile since I made these cookies, but I know they work, and I’ve had friends make them since posting it who have followed the recipe here. The measurements are correct. Are you in a particularly warm or humid climate?

    2. Hey! So I put the whole bowl in the fridge for about an hour and a half. Then I scooped big spoonfuls onto the baking sheet. It still wasn’t the consistency of cookie dough but it was firm. They turned out delicious! And yes I am in NC and its warm and humid, maybe that had something to do with it. Glad they turned out. Thanks for the recipe!

    3. Great, so glad to hear it worked out. Thanks for coming back to let me know! Sometimes humidity can affect recipes not at all or a ton. You just never know. But I would bet that since there isn’t a lot of flour in this recipe, there’s not a whole lot of stuff around to absorb the extra moisture in the air. Anyway… So glad you liked them!

  2. Made these beauties for a party and they were everyone’s favorite food (!) out of everything. Legit the perfect combination of everything you love about a cookie and a brownie. I had to use 4 oz semi sweet, then 2 oz milk and 2 oz 72% chips. SO YUM. Thanks Lynn!

  3. 5 stars
    Ohhh man, I never comment on recipes but this one was worth the comment!! These were AMAZING. I will be making them again!