Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Frosted Brownies: A Rich Two in One Dessert

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Frosted Brownies

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Frosted Brownies are two desserts in one pan, and that is exactly why they disappear so fast. A rich homemade brownie base gets covered with a thick layer of creamy cookie dough frosting, so every bite delivers deep chocolate and that sweet, buttery cookie dough flavor at the same time.

The frosting is the fun part. It tastes like raw cookie dough, but it is completely safe to eat because there are no eggs in it and the flour is heat treated first. Spread it over brownies, cookies or cakes, then press in mini chocolate chips so it really looks like cookie dough.

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We keep the base flexible on purpose. You can bake a fudgy chocolate chunk brownie from scratch, or choose the super easy homemade brownie version when you want dessert without a long ingredient list. Both bake up beautifully under the same frosting.

If cookie dough in every form is your thing, our Homemade Cookie Dough Buttercream Brownies and Cookie Dough Brownies give you two more ways to enjoy the same craving. Same idea, slightly different texture, equally hard to share.

This is a party friendly dessert. It works for birthdays, potlucks, bake sales and holiday trays, or for a quiet Sunday when the chocolate craving wins. Bake the brownies, let them cool, then frost them right before serving.

For The Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Frosting

The frosting is creamy, sweet and packed with brown sugar, which is what gives it that unmistakable cookie dough taste. Softened butter, brown sugar, a little granulated sugar, vanilla extract and mini chocolate chips do most of the work, and a few tablespoons of milk or heavy cream loosen everything into a thick, spreadable texture.

There is a vegan option too, so nobody has to sit this one out. Swap in vegan butter, non dairy milk and vegan chocolate chips, and the frosting comes together the same way. If you want this flavor in spoonable form, our Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Recipe covers that craving too.

Ingredients You Need

Everything on this list is a pantry staple, which is one reason the frosting comes together so quickly. Set the butter out ahead of time so it is properly softened, and heat treat the flour before you start mixing.

Cookie Dough Frosting

This frosting makes 12 servings and takes about 5 minutes of prep once the flour is treated and cooled.

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour, heat treated and cooled
• 3 to 4 tablespoons milk of choice or heavy cream
• 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

One batch frosts an 8×8 or 9×9 pan of brownies or 6 cupcakes. If you are frosting a 9×13 pan, double the frosting so every square gets a generous layer.

2 Brownie Recipes You Can Choose From

Both brownie options are made from scratch, and both taste fantastic under the cookie dough frosting. The difference comes down to texture and effort.

The first option is the Fudgy Chocolate Chunk Brownies. They are chocolatey, thick, fudgy and moist, made with melted butter, Dutch processed cocoa powder and plenty of chocolate chunks stirred into the batter. Serve them with cold milk, or warm a square and top it with vanilla ice cream.

The second option is the Super Easy Homemade Brownies. These are ultra chocolate, gooey, fudgy and irresistibly chewy, and they come together with simple pantry ingredients. They are the ones to bring to potlucks and celebrations, because they travel well and please a crowd.

Choose the fudgy chocolate chunk version when you want a deeper, denser brownie. Choose the easy homemade version when you want something fast, chewy and dependable.

Ingredients You Need for Brownie Recipes

The fudgy chocolate chunk brownies call for unsalted butter, granulated sugar, Dutch processed cocoa powder, eggs, vanilla, optional salt and all purpose flour. Then you stir in 1/2 to 1 cup of chocolate chips, chocolate chunks or chopped chocolate bar.

• 3/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup Dutch processed cocoa powder
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, optional
• 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 to 1 cup chocolate chips, chocolate chunks or chopped chocolate bar

This batch makes 12 servings, with about 10 minutes of prep and roughly 30 minutes in the oven.

Super Easy Homemade Brownies

The easy version uses a slightly different lineup. All purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, salt, unsalted butter, canola oil or oil of choice, granulated sugar, eggs and vanilla extract. For a vegan version, use 1/2 cup applesauce in place of the eggs. If you use coconut oil instead of canola, melt it together with the butter so it blends smoothly.

• 2/3 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1 stick
• 2 tablespoons canola oil or oil of choice
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs or 1/2 cup applesauce for a vegan version
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

A darker cocoa powder pushes the chocolate flavor deeper, while a standard unsweetened cocoa keeps things classic.

Pan size changes the texture here too. An 8×8 pan gives you thicker brownies, while a 9×9 pan gives you thinner ones that bake a little faster. This batch makes 9 servings, with about 5 minutes of prep and around 28 minutes in the oven.

How to Make Easy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Frosting

Heat treat the flour first, because everything after that moves fast. Once the flour is treated and completely cool, grab a hand mixer or a stand mixer and go.

1. Beat the softened butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar and salt until smooth and combined.
2. Add the vanilla and beat until it is mixed in, then add the flour and beat again until combined.
3. Add the milk or cream one tablespoon at a time, mixing after each addition, until the frosting is thick but spreadable.
4. Stir in the mini chocolate chips by hand so they stay whole.
5. Spread the frosting on brownies, cookies or cakes.

A few texture notes help here. If the frosting feels too stiff, add milk one teaspoon at a time instead of a full tablespoon. If it feels too soft, chill it for a few minutes before spreading. The frosting holds its shape once it is on the brownies, and it pipes nicely if you want swirls.

The frosting needs only about 5 minutes of mixing, so it is easy to make while the brownies cool.

How to Heat Treat Flour for Frosting

Raw flour can carry harmful bacteria, so heat treating it is the step that makes this cookie dough frosting safe to eat without baking. It takes a couple of minutes, and it is not optional.

Microwave method: spread the flour on a large plate or a baking dish that fits in your microwave. Microwave it for about 1 minute, then continue in 15 second increments until the flour reaches 160 F. In many microwaves, 90 seconds does the job.

Oven method: spread the flour on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for 5 minutes.

Whichever method you use, whisk the flour afterward to break up any chunks, then let it cool completely before adding it to the frosting. Warm flour will melt the butter and make the frosting greasy.

Want to change the flavor? Try mini mint chocolate chips, chopped Andes mints, mini m&m’s, chopped peanut butter cups, crushed peppermint, toffee chips or Oreo crumbs.

How to Make Fudgy Chocolate Chunk Brownies

These brownies come together in a saucepan and a bowl, no mixer needed.

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8 or 9 inch square baking pan with butter or nonstick spray and line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
2. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Take it off the heat, then whisk in the sugar until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
3. Whisk in the cocoa powder until it is fully combined.
4. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla and salt.
5. Once everything is mixed very well, add the flour and stir just until combined. Do not over mix at this stage.
6. Stir in the chocolate chips or chunks so the chocolate starts to melt into the warm batter.
7. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and swirl a knife through it to distribute the chocolate and even out the top. Add more chocolate chips or chunks on top if you like.
8. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 to 35 minutes. An 8×8 pan gives thicker brownies and needs more time, while a 9×9 pan gives thinner brownies and bakes faster. Start checking at 25 minutes.
9. Let the brownies cool, then slice and serve them as they are or with ice cream and hot fudge.

Store these brownies at room temperature, tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container. They stay soft and chewy for several days.

How to Make our Super Easy Homemade Brownies

This version uses one bowl and a whisk, and the batter comes together in minutes.

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8×8 square pan or line it with parchment paper.
2. Combine the flour, cocoa and salt, mix, and set the bowl aside.
3. Melt the butter in the microwave in a large microwavable bowl, or melt it and transfer it to a large bowl.
4. While the butter is still hot, mix in the oil and sugar and whisk until everything is well mixed.
5. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until well combined.
6. Add the flour mixture to the buttery mixture and whisk until well combined.
7. Spoon the batter into the pan and spread it evenly. The batter will be thick.
8. Bake for 28 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs.

If you made the vegan version with applesauce, expect a slightly fudgier center and a little extra moisture. Let the brownies cool completely before frosting so the cookie dough layer stays thick and neat on top.

One more detail for planning: the Super Easy Homemade Brownies come in at about 287 calories per serving, with 38 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of protein, 15 grams of fat, 7 grams of saturated fat, 2 grams of fiber, 28 grams of sugar, 70 milligrams of sodium and 70 milligrams of cholesterol.

Those numbers cover the brownie base only, before the frosting goes on.

Storing Cookie Dough Frosted Brownies

Frosted brownies are at their best the day they are made, but they keep well when stored properly.

Always frost the brownies after they have cooled. Warm brownies will soften the frosting and make it slide. If you are baking ahead for an event, bake and cool the brownies, frost them, then chill until you are ready to serve.

For freezing, wrap the frosted brownies tightly or place them in a sealed container with parchment between layers. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator so the frosting stays creamy.

More Delish Desserts!

If cookie dough frosted brownies are your kind of dessert, there is plenty more to bake next. Our Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake takes the same flavor combination somewhere completely different.

Other favorites include Ultimate Chocolate Cookies, Thick and Chewy Loaded Chocolate Chip Cookies, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bars, Delish Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars and Cookie Dough Brownie Cookies.

When you need a whole table of ideas, there is the roundup of 18 Superbowl and Game Day Party Desserts and 20 Valentine’s Day Brownies To Love.

And for a classic with a twist, Scrumptious German Chocolate Brownies with Coconut Pecan Frosting brings coconut and pecans into the mix.

This recipe is adapted from the original cookie dough frosted brownies recipe. Save it, pin it, and share it with the cookie dough lover in your life.

FAQs

Best Cookie Dough Frosting + Fudgy Chocolate Chunk Brownies + Super Easy Homemade Brownies

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• Yield: Best Cookie Dough Frosting: 12 Servings | Fudgy Chocolate Chunk Brownies: 12 Servings | Super Easy Homemade Brownies: 9 Servings

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Description

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Frosted Brownies Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Frosted Brownies are two desserts in one pan, and that is exactly why they disappear so fast. A rich homemade brownie base gets covered with a thick layer of creamy cookie dough frosting, so every bite delivers deep chocolate and that sweet, buttery cookie dough flavor at the same time.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Best Cookie Dough Frosting
Cookie Dough Frosting
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
½ cup + 2 tablespoons brown sugar
¼ cup granulated sugar
⅛ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1¼ cups all purpose flour, heat-treated & cooled
3–4 tablespoons milk of choice or heavy cream
½ cup mini chocolate chips

Fudgy Chocolate Chunk Brownies
¾ cup unsalted butter
1 ⅓ cups granulated sugar
¾ cup Dutch processed cocoa powder
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt, optional
¾ cup all-purpose flour
½ to 1 cup chocolate chips or chocolate chunks or chopped chocolate bar

Super Easy Homemade Brownies
⅔ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup unsalted butter
2 tablespoons canola oil or oil of choice
1 ¼ cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

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Instructions

Best Cookie Dough Frosting
1-Pretreat flour in microwave or oven: Pretreat flour in microwave or oven.
2-Using a mixer, beat butter, brown sugar,: Using a mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and salt until smooth and combined.
3-Add vanilla and beat until combined, followed: Add vanilla and beat until combined, followed by flour.
4-Add the milk/cream, one tablespoon at a: Add the milk/cream, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach a thick but spreadable consistency.
5-Stir in the chocolate chips: Stir in the chocolate chips.
6-Add to your favorite brownies, cookies or: Add to your favorite brownies, cookies or cakes!

Fudgy Chocolate Chunk Brownies
7-Preheat the oven to 350 degrees: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8 or 9 inch square baking pan with butter or non-stick spray and line with parchment paper for easy removal.
8-In a medium sized saucepan, melt the: In a medium sized saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Remove from heat, then whisk in the sugar until smooth and creamy.
9-Once that is combined, mix in your: Once that is combined, mix in your cocoa and continue whisking until fully combined.
10-Add eggs one at a time, whisking: Add eggs one at a time, whisking well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla and salt.
11-Once all that is mixed very, very: Once all that is mixed very, very well, add in your flour and stir to just to combine, without over-mixing.
12-Add chocolate chip/chunks and stir, so chocolate: Add chocolate chip/chunks and stir, so chocolate starts to melt in.
13-Pour into prepared pan and swirl mixture: Pour into prepared pan and swirl mixture with knife to further distribute chocolate and spread evenly. Add more chocolate chips/chunks on top if desired.
14-Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes: Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Times will vary with size pan used. 8×8 will require more time (thicker brownies) than 9×9 pan (thinner brownies). Check brownies at 25 minutes to see progress.
15-One brownies are baked, cool the brownies,: One brownies are baked, cool the brownies, slice and serve as they are or with some ice cream and hot fudge! YUM!
16-Store homemade brownies at room temperature tightly: Store homemade brownies at room temperature tightly wrapped with plastic wrap or in an airtight container.

Super Easy Homemade Brownies
17-Preheat oven to 350 degrees: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8×8 square baking pan, or line it with parchment paper.
18-Combine flour, cocoa and salt and mix,: Combine flour, cocoa and salt and mix, set aside.
19-Melt butter in microwave until melted in: Melt butter in microwave until melted in a large microwavable bowl or after melted, transfer to a large bowl.
20-While the butter is still hot, mix: While the butter is still hot, mix in the oil and sugar and whisk together until mixed well.
21-Add eggs and vanilla and mix until: Add eggs and vanilla and mix until well combined.
22-Add flour to buttery mixture and whisk: Add flour to buttery mixture and whisk together until well combined.
23-Spoon the batter into the pan and: Spoon the batter into the pan and spread evenly. Batter will be thick.
24-Bake brownies for 28-30 minutes, or until: Bake brownies for 28-30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs.

Keywords: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Frosted Brownies