Brownie Cookies

Every month or so, the irresistible urge to make a pan of brownies creeps into my mind. Often only a day or two passes before the craving turns into a reality. Despite my regular hunger for brownies, I have yet to create a brownie that suits my tastes. Each month I try out a new recipe, finding myself discouraged by the rubbery texture or the lack of chewiness. I have tried the most popular recipes, from names both big and small, only to find disappointment in the pan that emerges from the oven.

Three years and two dozen batches later, I'm still looking for the one.

The dirty truth is that I love box mix brownies. I love the crackled top, the chewy texture, and the dense nature of the bars. I love box mix brownies so much that I feel that the homemade version pales in comparison. As a baker, I feel somewhat ashamed to admit these truths, to admit that I cannot match the box when it comes to this criteria (though it isn't for a lack of trying).

Every so often, I sneak a box mix into my red basket at the market, feeling deliciously guilty about my purchase.

When the obligatory brownie craving struck this month, I searched around for another recipe to try. After so many disappointments, I have become wary of homemade brownies, especially those making bold claims of box mix similarities. When my search came up empty handed, I decided to try something completely different. A cookie. And, surprisingly, it worked.

These cookies are the closest I have ever come to the perfect brownie. Dense and endlessly chewy, a handful of cookies disappeared before they completely cooled. Though they may be missing the classic crackled top, I can assure you that it won't be missed. If you are a box mix brownie lover like me, I know you'll love these, too.

Brownie Cookies take the classic pan of brownies and turn them into individual servings. The cookies are made with both melted chocolate and chocolate chips, which lend a deep, satisfying flavor. Brown sugar makes the cookies undeniably chewy—a feature I look for in all of my brownies. The cookies are so good warm and straight out of the oven that they may not survive to see the next day.

One Year Ago: French Silk Pie
Two Years Ago: Plum Clafouti
Three Years Ago: Grilled Peaches

Brownie Cookies

Yields about 18 cookies

4 tablespoons (56 grams) butter
3 ounces (85 grams) unsweetened chocolate, chopped
2 ounces (55 grams) semisweet chocolate, chopped
2 large eggs
3/4 cup (150 grams) brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup (95 grams) all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (85 grams) chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).

In a large saucepan, melt the butter and chopped chocolate over low heat until smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in the eggs, sugars, and vanilla extract. Fold in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Allow the batter to cool to room temperature before adding the chocolate chips.

Drop batter by the tablespoon onto a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes, or until set. Cool for several minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Comments

[Tiffany D.]

This is my favorite brownie recipe! It's from "My Baking Addiction" and you should try it! http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/amazing-brownies-a-giveaway/

[Belinda @themoonblushbaker]

I have a varying brownie affliction too. sometime I love them from the box; sometimes I need to see that melty good choc rich batter. how gorgeous do these look, such a great cookie hybrid.

[Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough]

If there is anything I love more than brownies (total box mix lover, right here!), it's cookies. SO THESE ARE AMAZING.

[Tammela]

I totally understand the regular urge to make brownies and the hunt for the perfect recipe...

Looking forward to trying your brownie cookies!

[Sophie]

Oh my gosh, yum! I love brownie cookies!

[Becca from Cookie Jar Treats]

These look delicious! I can never control myself around a pan of hot fudgy brownies. I don't think I can control myself with servings of these cookies. Several will probably be eaten in one sitting.

[jennifer]

Oh you speak to my heart, er... my stomach! lol

xo Jennifer

[Coline]

Yummmmmy ! It looks so good :)

[Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar]

I totally know what you mean. Sometimes brownies call my name and this recipe is so lovely! The chocolate looks so dark and rich and the cookies look perfectly chewy!

[Abbie]

These look so decadent and chocolatey! I love the idea of making brownies into cookies. Plus they're great individual portion sizes.
I know what you mean about brownie mix brownies... they are so unavoidably chewy. xD And how is it possible to wait until cookies are cooled to try them, right?
I'm definitely going to try making these sometime, with a pinch of coarse salt on top. <3

[Kim Grey]

I love box mix brownies, too! (Betty Crocker, to be precise) Like you, I have yet to make homemade brownies which I like as much.

These cookies look delicious! I will have to try baking a batch soon. Very soon.

[madscar]

This is amazing!I love it:)

[Avanika {Yumsilicious Bakes}]

These cookies look gorgeous... I love such dense type of cookies that are almost brownies...

[Michelle]

Great post! I love boxed brownies too, esp with a layer of Hershey bars in the middle. I can't wait to try these cookies, thanks for sharing. My favorite from scratch brownies are from Food and Wine. They are called Salted Fudge Brownies and the recipe is by Kate Krader. They are honestly really good, probably the closest I have come to achieving brownies from a box texture.

[Hillary]

Personally, I love the brownie recipe from In the Sweet Kitchen. They are wonderfully dense and chewy. If you give them a try let me know what you think! It's a wonderful book to have in your arsenal.

[Allie B]

This looks absolutely delicious! I cant wait to try these. Your photography is absolutely gorgeous!

[Marta @ What should I eat for breakfast today]

I saw them on Foodgawker today and I had to check them out.

[Jessica]

Now I know what I need to make this weekend - they're gorgeous. And I'm always a bigger fan of cookies versus brownies, probably because I just like having all the cookies ready to go from the oven rather than trying to cut bars.

[Erin | The Emerging Foodie]

I am definitely a boxed brownie lover as well! But when there is a pan full of brownies sitting in front of me, I have a hard time not eating more than I want... I love that you turned them into individual servings. But I agree; I bet these would be gone just as quickly as brownies! :)

[mehrunnisa]

looks like many of us are boxed brownie lovers. i just don't get how they always results in the perfect soft, gooey and fudge like texture. what's uncanny is that i was musing over the same thing almost as the same time as you. i am not sure if you have heard of paul a young (the british chocolatier). i made his version of brownies recently and they are like truffles. http://comeconella.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/brownie-politics-recipe-for-espresso.html

in the meantime, i am looking forward to trying your brownie cookies! x

[Karen @ Lemon Grove Cake Diaries]

Love the post, I have a vision of my head of you furtively going around the grocery store with your illicit box of brownies hidden beneath your other purchases, hoping that you don't bump into anyone you know :) Great recipe!

[Vickie]

mmmm, they look & sound awesome :)

[Will]

Tried these today. Definitely got the soft, brownie-like mouthfeel spot on. I like, but the BF was confused, lol.

"Aren't these supposed to be, you know, crunchier?"

"They're supposed to be brownie, er, cookies."

"Maybe you should bake them for a bit longer."

"Shut up and eat."

[Ellyn]

This recipe is great! Just the others I have tried from your blog. The cookies are really soft and so fudgey. Thanks for thinking of this!

[Flynn]

These are great. Will definitely make again...perhaps sandwiched with ice cream.

[Carrie]

America's Test Kitchen has developed a home made 'box ' brownie - the secret in the ratio of fats - try it!

http://www.americastestkitchen.com/search/?rcat=&q=Brownies&search.x=0&search.y=0&search=SEARCH

[Angie]

Um... these DO NOT suck! Let me tell you... woah.... Good job!

[Dee]

These tasted so good that I have to come back and leave a comment haha. My husband and I absolutely loved these and will definitely be making them again. Awesome recipe!

[Lisa]

Making them today for the second time - they were a real hit!!!!

[Steph]

I'm a fan of Betty Crocker's fudge brownie mix (the one that comes in the red bag), and the closest homemade recipe to it that I've tried is King Arthur Flour's fudge brownie recipe.

They're chewy, dense, rich, chocolatey and most importantly have that crackly top. I urge to try it yourself...it might end that 3 year hunt of yours!

[Carey]

I made these yesterday. Although they did not turn out as dark in color - they were deemed the BEST chocolate cooky made (DH absolutely loved them). Best eaten still warm from the oven. If you have any left over, reheat for 5-10 seconds in the microwave. GREAT recipe. thanks

[Kelly]

I just made them and they came out amazing. I love how you captured the brownie taste in this cookie. I love your recipes- especially since they are always successful and failure is not an option :) Thank you!

[megan]

do they spread much during baking

[Kristin Rosenau]

Megan-- They spread about as much as is shown in the photographs. Just make sure that your dough stays relatively cool and it shouldn't spread more than you'd like.

[Wanda]

I tried this recipe on Sunday and it was delicious even though I didn't have the unsweetened chocolate. I subbed with semi sweet and bittersweet chocolate and added coconut.

[Dorine]

Great recipe! do you know how I could make these gluten free? can I just switch out the flour for GF flour?

[Kristin Rosenau]

Dorine-- You could give it a try! I cannot guarantee the results, but I don't see why you couldn't sub in a gluten-free all purpose flour.

[Julie Linstruth]

Hello!

I made your recipe tonight and have to thank you for sharing it with the world! It was so easy and the cookies were amazing.

Thanks!

[Liz, ND]

These cookies are simply incredible - so delicious. It's a good thing they are easy to make, because a batch doesn't last long. In fact, a double batch doesn't last very long either. The first time I made these, my husband and (college) daughter immediately declared them "best cookies ever." The hardest thing about the recipe is waiting for the mixture to cool to room temperature ... until I discovered that if you set the pan in the snow at 20 below, it only takes a few minutes. Conclusion: This recipe makes winter in ND a little more tolerable!! And also an unseasonably cold spring. (And they will probably improve summer and fall, too.) Thank you for yet another "no fail, makes me look good" recipe.