Brownie Mix Cookies

If you can’t decide between cookies or brownies, you don’t have to make a choice. Brownie mix cookies are a fun way to combine the richness of brownies with the tender, chewiness of cookies. Thanks to our secret ingredient (a box of store-bought brownie mix) the recipe only takes 15 minutes to prepare and a few simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. It makes for a fun spin on traditional brownies that’s sure to impress the whole family. For a crunchy and crispy topping, don’t forget to roll the balls of dough in confectioners’ sugar before placing in the oven. The result is a crackle cookie that’s crunchy and chewy at the same time.

Brownie Mix Cookie Ingredients

• Fudge brownie mix: While boxed brownie mix comes in a variety of different styles, we like the fudge option the best. It results in brownies that are moist, tender and totally melt in your mouth. If you have a different type of boxed brownie mix at home — like the chewy or moist version — you can absolutely use those instead.
• All-purpose flour: Adding a bit of flour helps ensure that these brownie mix cookies aren’t too moist. Flour adds  structure and stability, so they hold their shape nicely without drying out.
• Egg: Egg is key to emulsifying any brownie or cookie recipe. It adds richness and density to the batter while making sure everything holds together and doesn’t get too crumbly.
• Semisweet chocolate chips: Semisweet chocolate is a form of dark chocolate, so it’s not as sweet as milk chocolate. The deep flavor of the semisweet chocolate helps balance out some of the richness of the brownie mix, making sure the resulting cookies aren’t overly sweet or cloying.
• Confectioners’ sugar: Before baking these brownie mix cookies we like to roll them in a bit of confectioners’ sugar. Once baked, the sugar gets crispy and crackly. The extra layer of texture is a fun way to coat the moist and tender cookies with a bit of crunch.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the mix

Sarah Tramonte for Taste Recipes

Preheat the oven to 350°. In a large bowl, beat the brownie mix, flour, egg, water and oil until it’s well blended. Stir in the chocolate chips, then let the dough stand for 30 minutes.

Step 2: Coat in sugar

Sarah Tramonte for Taste Recipes

Place the confectioners’ sugar in a shallow dish. Drop the dough by tablespoonfuls into the sugar then gently roll to coat them. Place the cookie balls 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets.

Step 3: Bake

Sarah Tramonte for Taste Recipes

Bake for about 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Remove the cookies from pans and transfer to wire racks to cool.

Sarah Tramonte for Taste Recipes

Brownie Mix Cookie Variations

• Boost flavor with instant coffee: Instant coffee is a fun ingredient to incorporate into baked goods like this one. It works nicely with chocolate and adds rich, deep flavor that’s very complex. Try adding a teaspoon to the brownie mix and adjust as needed.
• Add fun toppings: We’ve added chocolate chips here, but there are a ton of other mix-ins you could incorporate, too. Try chopped nuts, white chocolate chunks, butterscotch chips or mini-marshmallows. The options are endless; simply mix your add-ins in with the batter in step one and bake as indicated in the recipe!

How to Store Brownie Mix Cookies

Once these cookies have cooled completely, you can store them at room temperature. Just transfer the cooled cookies to a container with a tight-fitting lid or pile them into a zip-top bag. Store the cookies in a cool, dry place for up to four days.

Can you freeze brownie mix cookies?

These cookies can absolutely be frozen and enjoyed at a later date. Simply transfer the baked cookies to a zip-top bag, label it and place in the freezer for up to three months.

Brownie Mix Cookie Tips

Sarah Tramonte for Taste Recipes

Can I skip the confectioners’ sugar?

If you’re not a fan of the crackle topping, you can absolutely skip the step where we roll the cookies in confectioners’ sugar. Simply bake the dough as indicated above and you’ll be left with the same moist and tender cookies, just without the crunchy sugar on top.

What else can I make with brownie mix?

Brownie mix is more versatile than most people might think! The boxed ingredient can be used to whip up a huge variety of baked goods. You can whip up cheesecake, brownie trifle or even brownie pizza. Check out some of our other favorite brownie mix recipes.

How can I make the crackle coating even more crunchy?

If you love crinkle-style cookies and want to make the coating even more crunchy, try using granulated sugar instead of confectioners’ sugar. Granulated sugar results in a crispier texture while still providing the crackle appearance and sweet coating.