Cookie Dough Topped Brownies

Every time I think about or make brownies, I think of my sisters. We would make brownie batter (and sometimes leave out the egg) and just eat it - raw - with a spoon - without cooking it - put it in a little bowl - and we told my brother-in-law it was pudding... seriously. I think brownie batter might be the best thing. Although, it's really difficult to choose between brownie batter and chocolate chip cookie dough. Cookie dough might be the main reason why I like to make chocolate chip cookies - just to eat some of the dough. Now you don't have to choose.... brownies with cookie dough on top!!! Perfection!

     

Cookie Dough Topped Brownies

for the brownies...
1 1/2 cups butter, melted and cooled
4 eggs
3 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla

Note: I usually like to just grab a box of brownie mix rather than making brownies from scratch... I always seem to have brownie mix in the house (just in case I need to make some to eat without cooking it). If you want to make brownies from scratch, here's a simple recipe (or you can just follow the directions on the box like I did).

Combine sugar, cocoa powder, flour, and salt in a large bowl. Mix in butter, eggs, and vanilla and stir until just blended.

Line a 9 by 13 inch baking pan with foil, allowing some overhang. Spray the foil with non-stick cooking spray and pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes. 

Note: You could halve the recipe and pour into an 8 by 8 inch pan.

Allow the brownies to cool.

for the cookie dough...
3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup flour
1 cup mini chocolate chips

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the butter and sugars. Add the milk and vanilla into the sugar-butter mixture and blend. Mix in the flour until just combined. Stir chocolate chips into the dough using a spatula.

Spread the cookie dough onto cooled brownies. You can use clean, damp hands to smooth the  dough evenly onto the brownies. (I found that damp hands work much better than a spatula because the dough doesn't stick to your hands the way it sticks to a spatula.)

Refrigerate the cookie dough topped brownies until the cookie dough is set (about 1 hour). Remove the brownies from the refrigerator. Gently lift the cookie dough topped brownies from the pan using the foil overhang. Place on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to cut into squares.  Note: You may need to wipe the knife with a damp cloth to clean it after a few cuts in order to keep your cuts smooth. If you cut the brownies when the are straight out of the refrigerator, they'll cut more smoothly.

Enjoy!