Cookie Dough Brownies

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Total Time 3 hours
Servings 16 brownies

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These cookie dough brownies have a layer of chewy brownie, edible chocolate chip cookie dough in the middle, and chocolate on top. The cookie dough layer tastes exactly like the real thing, only it’s completely safe to eat because there’s no raw eggs. They’re incredibly decadent and the perfect dessert for when you can’t decide between brownies or cookies!

Stack of three cookie dough brownies

**This post was updated September 7, 2025 with a slightly updated recipe to include chocolate topping, new photos and new recipe tips**

A Note from Fiona

Why you’ll love these Cookie Dough Brownies

There’s something extremely satisfying about cookie dough – and these cookie dough brownies definitely hit the spot. The brownie is super fudgy and chocolate-y, and the cookie dough on top tastes exactly like the real thing. Only there’s no raw eggs and the flour is heat treated so it’s completely safe to eat. The cookie dough layer uses my edible cookie dough recipe – which is a reader favorite.

The recipe isn’t overly difficult, but takes a little extra effort because of the 3 layers.

Since I first posted this recipe in 2021, I’ve updated the brownie recipe slightly so that it’s not quite so rich and added a chocolate topping. The brownie is still super chewy, but no so rich that’s too overpowering. I also love the look of the 3 layers.

Brownie with edible cookie dough layer and chocolate topping on a cooling rack

Ingredients

For the brownie layer:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter. Salted works too – simply omit the salt.
  • 2 ounces semi-sweet chocolate – or use dark for a richer flavor. This is about 1/3 cup chocolate chips.
  • 1 cup granulated sugar.
  • 2 large eggs. The eggs should be room temperature.
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla – for added flavor.
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour. Measured properly!
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder for a richer flavor.
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt to balance out the sweetness.

For the cookie dough layer:

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar – light or dark works, I used light
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract – really necessary for the best flavor
  • 2-3 tablespoons milk
  • 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips. I like mini chocolate chips for the cookie dough layer because it makes the brownies easier to slice – but regular work too

For the chocolate topping:

  • 3/4 cup chocolate chips – I used regular because I had both mini & regular on hand.
  • 1 tablespoon shortening or butter

Recipe Tip

I used mini chocolate chips for the cookie dough layer, and regular chocolate chips for the brownie base and topping. I prefer mini chocolate chips for the middle layer because it makes the brownies easier to slice. However, I had a massive bag of regular chocolate chips on hand – so I used those for the brownie base and chocolate topping. You could also use chocolate baking squares for the brownie base and topping – just be sure to finely chop the chocolate before melting.

Method – With Photos

For the Brownie Layer:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F (180C) and line your brownie pan. I like to have an overhang around the sides so I can easily lift the brownies out of the pan afterwards.
  2. Melt together the chocolate and butter. You can do this in the microwave or using a double boiler. Cool slightly.
  3. Whisk in the sugar, eggs and vanilla extract.
Bowl of chocolate and butter, and bowl of melted chocolate and butter with sugar and eggs.
  1. Stir in the flour, cocoa and salt.
  2. Pour into the prepared pan and bake for about 22-25 minutes, or until the top is set and an inserted toothpick comes out clean or with a few damp crumbs.
bowl of brownie batter with dry ingredients added, pan of brownie batter

For the Cookie Dough Layer:

  1. Start by heat treating the flour – this makes it safe to eat. Sprinkle the flour onto a cookie sheet and bake at 350F (180C) for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and turn off.
  2. In a medium bowl, beat together the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar until creamy. For this recipe, you want the butter to be so soft that it’s just starting to melt. I do a few short bursts in the microwave on medium power for this.
Cookie sheet with flour, and bowl of butter and sugars
  1. Beat in the milk and vanilla extract.
  2. Mix in the heat treated flour.
Edible cookie dough batter with milk and vanilla added to bowl, edible cookie dough batter with dry ingredients added
  1. Stir in the chocolate chips.
  2. Press the cookie dough layer over the cooled brownie base. Then pop in the fridge.
Bowl of edible cookie dough, and pan with edible cookie dough pressed into an even layer

For the Chocolate Topping

  1. Very slowly, melt together the chocolate and butter/shortening.
    • If using chocolate squares, finely chop first.
    • In the microwave, use 35 second intervals on medium power and stir between each interval. Do not use high power, which is typically the default.
    • Or use a double boiler over gently simmering water. Make sure the water doesn’t touch the bottom of the bowl.
  2. Quickly pour the warm chocolate over the cookie dough layer and spread into an even layer. You can use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon.

Recipe Tip

When the chocolate topping looks about 80% hardened, use a sharp knife to score/trace the top of the chocolate where you plan to slice. This makes it easier to slice the brownies without the chocolate topping cracking. Then when the chocolate layer is hardened, lift the bars out of the pan and place on a cutting board. Peel back the parchment paper and slice the brownies where you scored the chocolate topping using a sharp knife.

Two cookie dough brownies on top of one another, with a bite taken out of the top brownie

Doubling the Recipe

This recipe can be doubled and made in a 9×13 inch (23×33 cm) pan. The brownies will be thicker. Simply double all the ingredients for each layer. The bake time for the brownies will be longer – about 28-33 minutes.

cookie dough brownie with glass of milk

Love these Cookie Dough Brownies? Then be sure to try:

Three cookie dough brownies, stacked one on top of another
5 from 1 vote
These cookie dough brownies have a layer of chewy brownie, edible chocolate chip cookie dough in the middle, and chocolate on top. The cookie dough layer tastes exactly like the real thing, only it's completely safe to eat because there's no raw eggs. They're incredibly decadent and the perfect dessert for when you can't decide between brownies or cookies!
Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Cooling: 2 hours
Total: 3 hours
Servings: 16 brownies
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Equipment

  • 8×8 inch (20×20 cm) baking pan

Ingredients

Brownies

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (112 grams), cut into 8 pieces
  • 2 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (56 grams), about 1/3 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 cup granulated sugar (200 grams)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (62.5 grams)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Cookie Dough Layer

  • 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (156.25 grams)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter (112 grams), softened – almost starting to melt
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar (100 grams), light or dark
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar (50 grams)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2-3 tablespoons milk (45 ml)
  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (about 90 grams)

Chocolate Topping

  • 3/4 cup chocolate chips (about 140 grams), about 5 ounces
  • 1 tablespoon shortening, or unsalted butter

Instructions 

Brownie Layer

  • Preheat the oven to 350F (180C) degrees. Line an 8×8 inch (20×20 cm) pan with parchment paper so that there's an overhang around the edges. Or line with foil and lightly grease.
  • Add the butter and chopped chocolate to a large heatproof bowl. Microwave on medium power for 45-second intervals, stirring between each, until smooth. Alternatively, melt in a double boiler over gently simmering water while gently stirring.
  • Cool the mixture slightly. Then whisk in the sugar, eggs and vanilla.
  • Stir in the cocoa, flour and salt. until there are no lumps of dry ingredients.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake in the middle of the preheated oven for about 22-26 minutes or until the top looks set and an inserted toothpick comes out clean or with a few damp crumbs.

Cookie Dough Layer

  • Preheat the oven to 350F (180C) degrees.
  • Spoon/sprinkle the flour onto a cookie sheet. **I typically sprinkle about 1 1/2 cups, even though you'll only use 1 1/4 cup in the cookie dough since I typically lose a bit of the flour in transferring it between the cookie sheet and the bowl**. Bake in the preheated oven for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and turn it off.
  • In a medium bowl beat the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth.
  • Mix in the vanilla extract and 2 tablespoons of milk.
  • Measure out 1 1/4 cups of your heat treated flour. If it's lumpy, sift the flour. Beat the flour and salt into the mixture. If the mixture is very thick, beat in 1 extra tablespoon of milk.
  • Stir in the chocolate chips.
  • Press the cookie dough on top of the cooled brownies, forming an even layer.
  • Place in the fridge.

Chocolate Topping

  • Add the shortening and chopped chocolate/chocolate chips to a heatproof bowl. Microwave on medium power (not high power!) for 45 second intervals, stirring between each interval until smooth. Alternatively, melt together in a double boiler while gently stirring.
  • Moving quickly, pour the chocolate topping over the pan and smooth into an even layer with the back of a spoon or an offset spatula.
  • Let the chocolate topping harden. You can speed this up by placing the brownies in the fridge.
  • When the chocolate looks about 80% hardened, use a sharp knife to trace lines in the chocolate topping where you plan to slice the brownies.
  • When the chocolate has hardened, lift the brownies out of the pan using the overhang of the parchment/foil and place on a cutting board. Slice using a sharp knife.

Notes

  1. Chocolate: I typically use semi-sweet chocolate. 50-70% dark chocolate works too.
  2. Flour: For the cookie dough layer, you’ll use 1 1/4 cups in the cookie dough. However, I typically heat treat 1 1/2 cups – since I usually loose a little when transferring the heat treated flour to the cookie dough.
  3. Mini Chocolate Chips: I recommend using mini chocolate chips because it makes the brownies easier to slice than regular chocolate chips.
  4. Nutrition: Nutrition information is an estimate only and based on 1 brownie, assuming the pan is sliced into 16 equal pieces.
  5. Storage: Store brownies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. 

Nutrition

Calories: 349kcal, Carbohydrates: 45g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 56mg, Sodium: 96mg, Potassium: 69mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 33g, Vitamin A: 425IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 37mg, Iron: 1mg
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