Brownie Cookies

These fudgy chocolate brownie cookies are the ultimate sweet treat for brownie and chocolate lovers! With a perfectly crinkled top, an ooey-gooey center, and a sprinkle of salt, these cookies are impossible to resist and come together in just 10 minutes!

Jump to:

• 🌟 Why this is the best recipe
• 📝 Ingredient notes
• 👩‍🍳 How to make this recipe
• Storage & freezing
• 📚 Flavor variations & substitutions
• 🎓 Expert tips
• 🥣 Equipment notes
• ❓Recipe FAQs
• Other cookie recipes
• Brownie Cookies

🌟 Why this is the best recipe

1. It is pure chocolate heaven - The sprinkle of salt on top enhances the overall flavor and perfectly balances the richness of the chocolate, creating chocolate cookies that aren’t overwhelmingly sweet with depth of flavor.
2. It is gooey and chewy - The fudgy brownie cookies have a crinkly top that adds a crispness that contrasts beautifully with the thick fudgy center. This texture is the key to the perfect brownie!
3. It is super easy - You don't need any special ingredients or fancy equipment to create these easy brownie cookies. Even a novice baker can effortlessly whip up a batch, making them a go-to recipe for an easy chocolate fix. 
4. It is made from scratch - My recipe doesn’t use brownie mix to make cookies. This not only produces more delicious results but it also allows you to customize the recipe to suit your taste.

📝 Ingredient notes

1. Butter: I use butter with an 82% fat content in all my recipes. It’s also important to always use unsalted butter to control the saltiness of the cookie dough.
2. Chocolate: For the best fudgy texture and flavor use high-quality chocolate that has a cocoa content of about 70% such as Callebaut Dark Chocolate (callets).
3. Sugars: A combination of granulated white sugar and light brown sugar sweeten the chocolate cookies. Check out my sugar guide to learn more about how to use different sugars in baking. 
4. Egg: Helps to bind the batter. The egg should be at room temperature.  
5. Flour: All-purpose flour works perfectly for this brownie cookie recipe. Take a look at my flour guide to learn more about different types of flour.
6. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: I recommend using unsweetened Dutch-processed 100% cocoa powder which has a lovely dark color and is lower in acidity.
7. Baking Powder: Serves as a leavening agent to make the chocolate brownie cookies tender and slightly puffed up. 
8. Salt: An essential ingredient that balances the sweetness and enhances the chocolate flavor.  

🛒 You’ll find detailed measurements for all Ingredients in the printable version of the Recipe Card at the bottom of this post.

👩‍🍳 How to make this recipe

How to make brownie cookies

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (356°F) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. 
2. Melt the butter and chocolate in a heat-proof bowl over simmering water or carefully in the microwave, and set it aside. 
3. Use an electric hand mixer or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment to beat the egg, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together for 5 to 6 minutes. 
4. Pour the melted chocolate mixture to the egg mixture and continue to beat for another minute. 
5. Sift the flour, baking powder, and cocoa powder into the bowl, and then use a rubber spatula to fold it into the wet ingredients just until fully combined. 
6. Use a medium cookie scoop or spoon to divide the dough into 6 equal balls, keeping the surface as rough as possible to create a crackly brownie top. 
7. Place the cookie balls onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving plenty of space between them. Then sprinkle them with sea salt.
8. Transfer the cookies to the preheated oven and let them bake for just 12 minutes. 
9. When done, immediately remove the baking tray from the oven, grab a large cookie cutter or any round kitchen object slightly larger than the cookies, and gently move it around each cookie in a circular motion. This step also helps to form perfect rounds and give the brownie cookies their crackly top. 
10. Let the cookies rest for a few minutes on the pan. Then move them to a cooling rack.

💡 Top Tip: Do not bake the cookies for more than 12 minutes. They may look underbaked but they will continue to set as they cool. This is key to their gooey middle and crackly top.

Storage & freezing

How long do brownie cookies last? Similar to how to store brownies, the beauty of these cookies extends beyond their irresistible taste. They're also surprisingly storage-friendly!

• Room Temperature: They will keep for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
• Fridge: They will become a little denser, but you can store the cookies for up to a week in the fridge. Just let them come to room temperature before indulging. 
• Freezer: Wondering, can you freeze brownie cookies? Yes! Let the cookies cool completely, then individually wrap them in plastic wrap or store them in an airtight container for up to 3 months. When ready, thaw them overnight in the fridge or defrost them quickly in the microwave. 
• Cookie Dough: Bonus! It’s also possible to freeze the cookie dough. Just portion the dough into balls, freeze them on prepared baking sheets until solid and then store them in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. When ready, simply bake the frozen dough balls for a few extra minutes (around 14-16 minutes).

📚 Flavor variations & substitutions

The great thing about crafting these cookies from scratch instead of just making brownie mix cookies is that it allows you to create new flavors and modify the recipe with substitutions to suit your dietary needs.   

1. Nutty: For a crunchy twist, fold chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds into the batter. You can also drizzle the baked cookies with some homemade walnut butter or hazelnut butter. 
2. Vanilla: Add a splash of aromatic vanilla extract to complement the chocolate taste.
3. Dried Fruit: Add dried fruits like cherries, cranberries, or raisins for a contrasting taste and texture. 
4. Double Chocolate: Add some white chocolate or semisweet chocolate chips to the dough to make brownie chocolate chip cookies! You can also sprinkle some mini chocolate chips on top!
5. Mocha: Add a little instant espresso powder to the dry ingredients. This subtle coffee flavor complements the sweet chocolate chips.
6. Mint: Mix in some peppermint extract or crushed candy canes for a chocolate mint flavor. 
7. Spice It Up: Add a pinch of cinnamon or cayenne pepper for a spicy kick. 
8. Caramel: Drizzle caramel sauce over the cookies before serving.
9. Vegan: Use plant-based butter and chocolate, and an egg substitute to make the brownie cookies eggless and vegan.
10. Gluten Free: How do you make brownie cookies gluten-free? Just replace the all-purpose flour with your favorite gluten-free flour.
11. Cookie Sandwiches: Make homemade ice cream sandwiches! You can also spread them with filling. Check out these cake filling ideas that can be used for cookies too!

🎓 Expert tips

1. Use high-quality chocolate and a natural cocoa powder like Dutch-processed for the best flavor. The quality of chocolate significantly impacts the taste and texture.
2. Ensure that your egg is at room temperature before starting. Room-temperature eggs result in a much smoother dough.
3. Do not overmix! Once you add the dry ingredients to the wet, mix just until combined. Overmixing can lead to tough cookies.
4. Add the sea salt! The light sprinkle of sea salt on top of the cookies before baking enhances the rich chocolate flavor.
5. Do not overbake the cookies! Knowing how long to bake brownie cookies is crucial. They only need 12 minutes in the oven and will continue to set as they cool.
6. After baking, use a cookie cutter to make circular movements around the cookies. This helps in achieving a perfectly round shape and more crinkles on top.
7. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack. This helps them set without breaking.

🥣 Equipment notes

Just like when you make chocolate chip cookies or any other baked goods, you'll need a few tools! For the best results, always use a digital scale for precise measurements and ensure your oven reaches the correct temperature by using a digital oven thermometer.

When mixing the ingredients, you'll require either an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer. Additionally, a rubber spatula is the perfect tool for gently incorporating the dry ingredients into the wet mixture without overmixing.

And after baking, you need a cooling rack to allow the brownie cookies to finish setting.

❓Recipe FAQs

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