These Cookie Dough Brownies are rich and decadent! A fudgy brownie base topped with a thick layer of chocolate chip cookie dough. This dessert is easy to make, fun to serve, and delicious to eat.
This is our 20th brownie recipe! To say we’re brownie-obsessed is an understatement. These Cookie Dough Brownies immediately became a new favorite. With the combination of brownie AND cookie dough, how could you go wrong? Look to satisfy your chocolate craving fast? Try our small batch brownies.
Jump to:
These brownies are
Fudgy: We used a variation of our favorite fudgy brownies as the base for this recipe.
Perfect for cookie dough lovers: If you love to steal bites of cookie dough you’ll go crazy for these brownies. The thick layer of cookie dough topping is incredible!
Made with basic ingredients: Yes, this ingredient list is fairly long, but most (if not all) the ingredients are pantry staples.
Freezer friendly: If you have any brownies leftover you can freeze them (double wrapped) for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.
Recipe overview
*Full recipe below in recipe card*
Start by making the homemade brownies. Combine warm melted butter and granulated sugar. Whisk in eggs, vanilla, and water. Add cocoa powder, flour, powdered sugar, salt, and chocolate chips.
Bake the brownies in an 8×8 pan and cool completely.
For the cookie dough topping, you’re essentially going to make an egg-free cookie dough. Beat softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Add vanilla then flour. Add a few tablespoons of milk to make it spreadable. Stir in mini chocolate chips.
Top the cooled brownies with cookie dough topping.
Heat treating flour (optional)
The topping for these brownies is a raw cookie dough. The cookie dough is eggless, so you don’t have to worry about bacteria from raw eggs, but there is a minimal risk related to eating raw flour. If you are concerned about this you can heat treat the flour for the cookie dough topping. Place the flour in a microwave safe bowl and heat on high for 1 minute. Cool and then proceed with cookie dough topping. Note: you do not need to do this for the flour in the brownies because it will be cooked in the oven.
Serving and storage
Serve chilled or at cool room temperature. Store brownies in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If you have any brownies leftover you can freeze them (double wrapped) for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.
More brownie recipes
Recipe
Cookie Dough Brownies
Ingredients
Brownies:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and still warm
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ¾ cup all purpose flour
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
- ½ teaspoon salt
Cookie dough topping:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened slightly
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1¼ cups all purpose flour, see note
- 3 tablespoons milk
- ½ cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
Brownies:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8×8 square pan with foil or parchment paper, leaving a couple inches of overhang on two sides (this will allow you to lift the whole tray of brownies out of the pan for easy removal). Grease the foil/parchment.
- Combine granulated sugar and melted butter in a large bowl. Stir it briefly then allow it to sit undisturbed for 5 minutes. The heat from the butter will begin to dissolve the sugar. After 5 minutes, whisk the butter and sugar vigorously for 30 seconds. Add eggs, water, and vanilla extract, whisking again for about 30 seconds. Tap all the excess batter off the whisk and remove the whisk from the bowl.
- Sprinkle cocoa powder, powdered sugar, flour, chocolate chips, and salt over the wet ingredients. Use a silicone spatula or wooden spoon to stir the mixture until it is glossy and well combined.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for for 28-33 minutes (begin checking at 28 minutes). The brownies are done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out without raw batter on it, moist fudgy crumbs are OK. Be careful not to over bake. Remove from the oven and place on a cooling rack to cool completely.
Cookie dough frosting:
- Using a hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and salt until smooth and combined. Add vanilla and beat until combined, followed by flour. Add the milk, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach a thick but spreadable consistency (I used 3-tablespoons of milk). Stir in the chocolate chips.
- Scoop the cookie dough mixture on top of the brownies and spread into an even layer. Place in the refrigerator for an hour or two for the topping to firm up.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
Phoebe says
Okay, these need a warning label! They’re so good and addicting!
Allison says
Ha! Thanks! 🙂
Sarah says
Love these! Found them on your Instagram, made them and took them to work a couple weeks ago… very popular!
Being unable to actually follow a recipe, I made a double batch of the brownies, used milk instead of water, baked them in a 9×12 glass pan and then put a single recipe of oven heat treated cookie dough on top. So fantastic I’m about to make another batch for a church potluck tomorrow!
Allison says
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I’m glad you enjoyed them. 🙂
Kristina says
Wow!! These are so amazing, and I never leave reviews. But thank you so much!!
Allison says
I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Selah says
My sister who is Sixteen kept telling me to make these, and I’m glad she did, cause they are so good!
Thanks for the recipe.😊