Imagine biting into a warm cookie that melts with the rich fudgy texture of a brownie—that’s exactly what you get with this Brownie Cookies Recipe. It’s the perfect treat that combines the best of both worlds: chewy, chocolatey, and utterly satisfying.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I honestly can’t get enough of how these brownie cookies strike the perfect balance between cakey and chewy. Whenever I bake them, the whole kitchen fills with that warm cocoa smell, and they disappear faster than I expect!
- Rich, Fudgy Flavor: The cocoa and brown sugar combo creates a deep chocolate taste that's decadent without being overwhelming.
- Perfect Texture: These cookies are chewy with just the right hint of softness, making them a great cross between a brownie and a classic cookie.
- Simple Ingredients: You probably have everything you need in your pantry to whip these up—no complicated steps or special equipment!
- Customizable: Swap out chocolate chips for fun flavors like mint or peanut butter for a twist every time.
Ingredients & Why They Work
This brownie cookies recipe uses ingredients that not only blend to create that decadent flavor but also work in harmony to nail the texture. I always tell my friends, don’t skip the brown sugar—it’s key for that chewy, moist bite.
- Unsweetened natural cocoa powder: Gives the cookies their deep chocolate foundation without added sweetness.
- Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness and helps with structure and a slight crisp edge.
- Light brown sugar: Packed brown sugar adds moisture and a subtle caramel note that's essential for chewiness.
- Unsalted butter: Melted butter enriches the dough and helps set that fudgy texture.
- Vegetable oil: Adding a bit of oil keeps the cookies tender and moist—don’t skip it!
- Egg: Binds everything together and adds richness; room temperature egg mixes in best.
- Vanilla extract: Boosts the chocolate flavor and adds a warm, sweet aroma.
- All-purpose flour: Gives the cookies structure; too much flour can make them dry, so measuring carefully helps.
- Baking powder: Provides a little lift so the cookies don’t turn out flat.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the chocolate flavor.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips: For melty pockets of chocolate throughout that make each bite extra luscious.
Make It Your Way
One of the things I love about this brownie cookies recipe is how easy it is to mix things up. Once you nail the base, feel free to make it your own with a few tweaks that reflect your taste or what you have on hand.
- Variation: I’ve swapped the chocolate chips for butterscotch chips before, and it was delightful—sweet, buttery pockets make the cookies a new experience without extra work.
- Dietary Mod: For a dairy-free version, try coconut oil instead of butter and make sure your chocolate chips are dairy-free.
- Seasonal Boost: Adding a sprinkle of cinnamon or a pinch of cayenne gives the cookies a cozy warmth—perfect for cooler months.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Brownie Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prep and Mix the Wet Ingredients
First, preheat your oven to 350°F and line your baking sheets with either parchment paper or a silicone baking mat—I prefer the silicone mat since it helps keep the cookie shape just right. In your stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or with a sturdy spoon if you’re hand-mixing), combine the cocoa powder, both sugars, melted butter, and vegetable oil. Beat those together really well. Then, add the egg and vanilla extract, making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl so nothing gets left behind—that little step really made a difference the first time I tried this!
Step 2: Add Dry Ingredients and Chocolate Chips
Next, add the flour, baking powder, and salt to the wet mix. Stir just until combined—don’t overmix or your cookies might turn out tough. Fold in the chocolate chips gently to spread them throughout. The dough will be a bit sticky and fudgy, which is exactly what we want here.
Step 3: Scoop and Bake
I like to use a cookie scoop or a tablespoon to make uniform 2-tablespoon-sized dough balls, spaced about 2 inches apart on the baking sheets. Bake for 11–12 minutes, watching closely—your kitchen will smell amazing. The cookies will still look slightly underbaked when you take them out, but that’s perfect! Let them cool on the sheet for 5–8 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. This resting time helps them set just right.
Top Tip
From my experience making this brownie cookies recipe more times than I can count, a few things can make all the difference between good and unforgettable cookies.
- Scrape the Bowl: Don’t skip scraping down the bowl as you mix—especially after adding the egg and vanilla—ensuring a uniform, fudgy dough.
- Underbake Slightly: Watch the cookies closely; pulling them out when still a bit soft keeps them chewy and tender.
- Use a Silicone Mat: I love baking on my silicone mat because it prevents spreading and helps the bottoms bake evenly without burning.
- Measure Flour Carefully: Spoon flour into your measuring cup and level it off instead of scooping directly to avoid dry, crumbly cookies.
How to Serve Brownie Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
My go-to garnish is just a light dusting of powdered sugar—simple, elegant, and it adds a touch of sweetness without overpowering. When I want to get fancy, I drizzle a bit of melted dark chocolate or sprinkle flaky sea salt on top to highlight the chocolate flavor.
Side Dishes
These brownie cookies are fantastic alongside a cold glass of milk or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an indulgent dessert. I've also enjoyed them with a warm cup of coffee or hot chocolate when I need a cozy pick-me-up.
Creative Ways to Present
For a party, I’ve arranged them on a platter with clusters of fresh berries and mint leaves to brighten things up. They also make great edible gifts when stacked in a pretty box with a ribbon—people always ask for the recipe afterward!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover brownie cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, and they stay soft and delicious for about 4 days. If you like a bit of chew, this method works great without drying them out.
Freezing
I’ve frozen both baked cookies and cookie dough balls with success. For dough, I roll the balls, freeze them on a sheet for about half an hour, then transfer to a Ziplock bag—this makes it so easy to bake fresh cookies whenever a craving hits. Just add a couple of extra minutes to baking time when frozen.
Reheating
To bring back that just-baked feeling, I pop the cookies in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds or warm them in a low oven for 5 minutes. It revives the softness in a flash without drying them out.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes, you can. If you use salted butter, reduce or omit the added salt in the recipe to avoid overly salty cookies.
Bake the cookies just until they look set but slightly underbaked (about 11-12 minutes). They’ll firm up as they cool, giving you that perfect chewy texture.
Absolutely! Roll dough into balls, freeze on a sheet for 30 minutes, then store in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Bake straight from frozen, adding a minute or two to baking time.
Feel free to swap chocolate chips for butterscotch, cinnamon, mint, or peanut butter chips to create exciting new flavors.
Final Thoughts
This Brownie Cookies Recipe is a total winner in my kitchen—and I think you’ll feel the same once you give it a whirl. There’s something so comforting and delightful about that fudgy-chewy combo, and it's pretty easy to make with all pantry staples. Next time you want a chocolate treat that's a little different but unmistakably delicious, just come back to this recipe—I can guarantee it'll become one of your go-tos!
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Brownie Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 17 minutes
- Yield: 15 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delicious fudgy brownie cookies that combine the rich, dense texture of brownies with the classic cookie shape. These cookies are easy to make with simple ingredients, offering a perfect balance of chocolatey sweetness and chewy goodness, ideal for any chocolate lover.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- ½ cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup light brown sugar - packed
- 1 ¼ cups all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter - melted
- 2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 1 large egg - room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Add-ins
- ⅓ cup semi sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with a silicone mat or parchment paper and set aside.
- Mix Cocoa and Sugars with Fats: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, thoroughly mix the cocoa powder, granulated sugar, brown sugar, melted butter, and vegetable oil until combined.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla extract. Scrape down the sides of the bowl well to ensure all ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Add the flour, baking powder, and salt to the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined to avoid overworking the dough.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in the semi sweet chocolate chips into the dough.
- Scoop Dough onto Baking Sheets: Scoop the cookie dough into 2 tablespoon sized balls and place them on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart to allow spreading.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 12 minutes. The cookies should be slightly underbaked for a fudgy texture.
- Cool Cookies: Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5-8 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Use unsalted butter for controlled saltiness; if using salted butter reduce added salt accordingly.
- Scrape down the bowl sides during mixing to ensure even incorporation of ingredients.
- Do not overbake to maintain moistness and tenderness; cookies will continue to set as they cool.
- Use parchment paper or silicone mat to prevent spreading and sticking.
- For perfect texture, slightly underbake the cookies for more fudgy brownie consistency.
- Variations include swapping chocolate chips for butterscotch, cinnamon, mint, or peanut butter chips.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
- You can freeze baked cookies for up to 3 months.
- Cookie dough can also be frozen: roll into balls, freeze on a sheet for 30 minutes, transfer to freezer bag, and bake directly from frozen adding 1-2 minutes to baking time.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 75 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
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