Brookies (Cookie Brownies)

Name: Cookie Brownie
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Ingredients: ¾ cup all-purpose flour (90 grams); ½ tsp salt; ⅓ cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder (28 grams); ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (43 grams, or 2 oz chocolate); ½ cup unsalted butter (113 grams); 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar (248 grams); 2 large eggs; 1 large egg yolk; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (180 grams); 1 tsp cornstarch; ½ tsp baking soda; ¼ tsp salt; 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (170 grams); ½ cup unsalted butter (room temperature, 113 grams); ¾ cup packed brown sugar (160 grams); ¼ cup granulated sugar (50 grams); 1 large egg; 1 tsp vanilla extract

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This brookie recipe uses two of my most popular recipes, my homemade brownie recipe and my chocolate chip cookie recipe, layered together to make the best homemade brookies.

rows of brookies on brown parchment paper with chocolate chips scattered around

I love dessert mashups, so I was excited to take my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe and my favorite brownie recipe and combine them into the perfect sweet treat. Both of those recipes had already been extensively tested on their own and were already well-loved by thousands of families, so I got to work testing methods to combine them.

Brookies are all about the layers, so I tested two different methods of combining the brownie layer and cookie layer: a swirling technique and a drop technique. The drop technique won this battle! The swirling technique didn’t leave visual cookie pieces, except on the top, where the cookies turned into a thin layer. The drop technique produced more visible cookie and brownie sections throughout – kind of like a polka dotted look. It also allowed you to taste the difference between the two layers better.

rows of brookies on brown parchment paper, with one leaning on top of another showing the two layers with brownie on the bottom and chocolate chip cookie on top

When it comes to my recipe testing, I go all out. So, I tested everything, down to the pan I cooked the brookies in. I tested both metal and glass pans, and decided the metal pan was the best option. The brookies came out with a chewier brownie layer and more even baking throughout when baked in the metal pan, versus the glass pan which cooked the brookies more on the edges and left them too fudgy in the center.

Keep reading for all my best brookie baking tips, how to store and freeze brookies and more!

What is a Brookie?

A brookie combines the best of both brownies and cookies. It’s made by layering or swirling brownie batter with cookie dough, typically chocolate chip cookie dough, to create a dessert that has the rich, fudgy texture of a brownie and the chewy, buttery goodness of a cookie.

overhead view of the ingredients for brookies including eggs, all-purpose flour, chocolate chips, vanilla extract, brown sugar, cornstarch, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, butter, salt and baking soda

Brookie Recipe Ingredients

These delicious brookies are made with simple ingredients and prepped in just 20 minutes. It’s the perfect dessert for any family gathering, bake sale or party. Keep reading for full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions in the recipe card below. Here’s what you’ll need for both layers:

Brownie Layer

All-purpose flour
Salt
Unsweetened natural cocoa powder
Semi-sweet chocolate chips
Unsalted butter
Granulated sugar
Eggs
Egg yolk
Vanilla extract

Chocolate Chip Cookie Layer

All-purpose flour
Cornstarch
Baking soda
Salt
Semi-sweet chocolate chips
Unsalted butter: room temperature
Brown sugar
Granulated sugar
Egg
Vanilla extract

three brookies stacked in a tower on a stack of two small white plates, with more brookies and chocolate chips scattered around

How to Make Brookies

This easy brookie recipe is a crowd-pleaser every single time. Follow these easy steps for dessert perfection:

Brownie Layer

Prep oven and pan. Preheat the oven to 350º F. Line a 9×13 inch pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
Mix dry ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt and cocoa powder. Set aside.
Melt butter and chocolate. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the chocolate chips and butter. Stir occasionally until fully melted, about 5 minutes.
Beat sugar and eggs. In a larger mixing bowl, beat the sugar and eggs plus additional egg yolk with an electric mixer for 1 minute, until the mixture is pale yellow and doubled in volume.
Mix wet ingredients. Once the chocolate is melted, pour it into the egg mixture, add the vanilla extract. Mix to combine.
Combing wet and dry ingredients. Spoon the flour mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing with a spatula just until combined.
Add batter to pan. Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan and make the chocolate chip cookie layer.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Layer

Mix dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, salt, and 1/2 cup of chocolate chips. Set aside.
Cream butter and sugar. In a larger mixing bowl, combine the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Beat on medium speed for 1 minute. You want this mixture to be fluffy and pale in color.
Mix wet ingredients. Add in the egg and vanilla extract, beat for 30 seconds.
Gradually mix in the dry ingredients, mixing on low speed. The dough will be thick.

a brown batter layer in a metal pan lined with parchment paper

overhead view of a metal baking pan lined with parchment paper with brown batter in the bottom and dollops of chocolate chip cookie dough on top

Make dough balls. Drop dollops of cookie dough evenly over the brownie batter. You want cookie dough balls surrounded by brownie batter, maybe a little swirled, but not fully swirled together. The brownie batter will rise up and surround the cookie dough when baking. Press the remaining 1/2 cup chocolate chips onto the top.
Bake. Bake at 350ºF for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, then cover the pan with a large piece of aluminum foil and bake for an additional 15-25 minutes of bake time. The foil will help prevent the cookie dough from becoming too brown.

over head view of freshly baked brookies in a metal baking pan lined with parchment paper

Brookies Recipe Variations

Here are some ideas for variations of this recipe:

Gluten-Free Brookies: Simply use gluten-free flour. I prefer King Arthur’s Measure-for-Measure flour.
Mix-ins: Add any of your favorite mix-ins like chopped nuts, shredded coconuts, or sprinkles.
Swaps: You can get creative and swap the chocolate chips for white chocolate chips, or the brownie layer for a blondie layer, or both!
Use Different cookie doughs: If you want to change it even further, try a different cookie layer on top of the brownie.

three brookies stacked in a tower on top of two small white plates stacked with more brookies and chocolate chips scattered around

For best results, follow these tips:

For perfect texture without over-cooking the cookie layer: Bake at 350ºF for 20 minutes, then cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake for an additional 15-25 minutes.
Use a metal pan: When testing this recipe, I tested a glass pan and a metal pan. I preferred the metal pan because it produced a chewier texture with more even baking. The glass pan, on the other hand, yielded brownies that were cooked on the edges but too fudgy in the center.
Cream butter and sugar well: For glossy, chewy chocolate chip cookies, be sure to beat the butter and sugar well, until fluffy and pale in color.
Room temperature butter is key: To ensure you can cream the butter and sugar well, be sure to leave time to bring your butter to room temperature.

a hand holding a brookie that is split in half so you can see the center of it with layers of brownie and chocolate chip cookie

How to Store Brookies

Brookies can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for 5-7 days. You can also freeze brookies for up to 3 months. Simply freeze in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag (with parchment paper between layers). Thaw at room temperature when ready to serve.

Blondie vs Brookie

Blondies and brookies are both bar desserts, but are quite different. A blondie, also known as a “blonde brownie” is a bar dessert similar to a brownie but with different color and flavor. It tastes more like vanilla and caramel versus a brownie’s chocolate flavor. A brookie, on the other hand, is a bar dessert that has two layers: a brownie layer on the bottom and a chocolate chip cookie layer on the top.

What flavor is Brookie?

A brookie is a mashup of flavors, with classic chocolate chip cookie flavors on top and decadent brownies on the bottom. The two combine together to create the ultimate treat.

How do you know when cookie brownies are done?

When the cookie layer on top is golden brown, you know your brookie done. It may seem soft when you first pull it out of the oven, but it will get to that perfect texture as it cools.