When you think of brownie cookies, you imagine a round brownie, or at least I do! Silly as it sounds, that's exactly what these brownie mix cookies with cream cheese frosting are like! Rich chocolate cookies with that signature fudgy center, then add to that a vanilla cream cheese frosting. This is, hands down, the best brownie mix cookie recipe. Delicious cookies with only 7 ingredients from start to finish!
These cream cheese brownie cookies are a great base recipe as they offer lots of customization options. Switch up the flavors of the frosting to suit the seasons or dip half of the cookie in chocolate, the choice is yours.
As someone who doesn't make brownies often, but cookies yes, this one was a no-brainer. Truly the best of both worlds. Turning a box of brownie mix into cookies couldn't be easier, with only 3 additional ingredients you've leveled up everyday fudgy brownies into a decadent dessert. You won't get away with making these just once!
Here's another brownie cookie you'll enjoy, a few more simple ingredients as we don't use a brownie box mix for that one. Still delicious though! My Old Fashioned No Bake Cookies with Peanut Butter are another favorite that's rich in chocolate and only a few ingredients. I am biased though, this is my grandma's recipe.
Jump to:
- Important Ingredients with Substitutions
- SOFTENING CREAM CHEESE
- Instructions For Brownie Mix Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Level Up with a Top Tip!
- Recipe Variations
- Storage Recommendations
- Level Up With Expert Tips & Tricks
- Recipe FAQs
- Similar Sweets
- Brownie Mix Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
- More Cookie Recipes!
Important Ingredients with Substitutions
- Brownie Mix - I love the Ghirardelli brand, but you can use whichever is your favorite brand of boxed brownie mix. This particular box came with a little bag of chocolate sauce, I simply just set that aside for another day. I don't recommend adding anything additional to the mix. Using betty crocker or duncan hines brand should make for great brownie cookies as well.
- Oil - I've used avocado oil here as that's what we use for most things in our household. You can use vegetable oil or canola oil as well.
- Eggs
- All Purpose Flour - Be careful to measure the flour accurately as too much flour will result in a dry not fudgy cookie.
- Cream Cheese - Room temperature cream cheese. Check below for some great tips on softening cream cheese quickly.
- Powdered Sugar - I'll always recommend Domino brand sugar. I've had issues in the past with off-brand powdered sugar giving off a floral or chemical taste. If it tastes of pure sugar then you're good to go.
- Vanilla - Pure vanilla extract for the best flavor. You can also get creative here and use mint, pumpkin spice, maple, or any other extracts to change the flavor of your cream cheese filling.
See the recipe below for the full list of ingredients and quantities.
SOFTENING CREAM CHEESE
Check out my awesome tips on how to get room-temperature cream cheese quickly.
Instructions For Brownie Mix Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Preheat your oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 1: In a medium bowl add the brownie mix, flour, eggs, and oil.
Step 2: Using a rubber spatula, mix the brownie batter until completely combined.
Step 3: Use a small cookie scoop to create even sized cookie dough balls on your prepared baking sheet.
Step 4: Bake for 9 -10 minutes. Let them cool before transferring them to a cooling rack.
Step 5: In another medium bowl, using a hand mixer at medium speed, cream together the room temperature cream cheese, vanilla, and powdered sugar.
Step 6: Whip until combined. Cover with plastic wrap and let chill until the cookies are cooled enough to fill.
Step 7: Fill a piping bag or use a knife to spread a ½ inch layer of the cream cheese mixture on the underside of a cookie. Use another cookie to sandwich the frosting.
Step 8: Serve!
Level Up with a Top Tip!
Hint: Allow the baked brownie cookies to cool completely before sandwiching with the cream cheese frosting. If they're still warm, the frosting will start to run right off and your sandwich cookie won't stay together. Feel free to chill the brownie cookies in the fridge until they're cool enough to frost.
Recipe Variations
I love this easy cookie recipe for the simple fact that it can be VERY customizable!
Frosting Variations: The only limit here is your imagination, this is just a couple of options.
- Mint Frosting - Add mint or peppermint extract in place of vanilla.
- Maple Frosting - Maple extract or pure maple syrup will add another layer of sweetness.
- Pumpkin Spice Frosting - For a taste of fall try pumpkin pie spice!
- Peanut Butter Frosting - Adding creamy peanut butter or peanut butter powder gives the taste of a Reese's.
- Chocolate Frosting - Adding cocoa powder or chocolate malt mix will make these a chocolate lovers dream.
Toppings: There isn't really a need to add anything to the top of the cookies, but you can!
- Chocolate - A milk chocolate drizzle and sprinkles depending on the time of the year.
- White Chocolate - Melt white chocolate chips and shortening for a beautiful drizzle and contrast of colors. For Halloween, add candy eyes for a mummy look.
- Peanut Butter - Chocolate and peanut butter will always go together. Melt peanut butter chips or use creamy peanut butter for that added nutty flavor.
- Sprinkles - Whichever type of drizzle you choose, find seasonal sprinkles to add that will make your cookies stand out from the rest.
Storage Recommendations
It's recommended that these cookies not sit out for longer than 2 hours. Cream cheese can start to spoil after that time.
Once assembled, place cookies in a single layer in an airtight container. Refrigerate before serving to let the cream cheese harden. You can serve these right out of the fridge, the cookies stay chewy and fudgy.
Can I freeze this brownie mix cookies recipe? Yes, you can freeze these cookies. If you're preparing a batch of cookies ahead of time you can chill the brownie cookies on a cookie sheet in the freezer, once chilled add them in a single layer to a freezer safe container. Place a piece of parchment or wax paper between each layer to prevent sticking. You can use this process for unfrosted and frosted cookies.
Level Up With Expert Tips & Tricks
A medium cookie scoop will result in larger but fewer cookies. Using a large cookie scoop will make larger cookies, but the baking time may need to be adjusted for the cookies to bake though.
Check out my post on how to quickly soften cream cheese.
If you're feeling ambitious, sandwich your cookies with softened vanilla ice cream.
Recipe FAQs
No!, you'll actually have more cookies this way. You can simply pipe or spread your frosting on top of the cookie and call it good. Instead of having 10 sandwich cookies, you'll have 20 brownie cookies with frosted tops.
Similar Sweets
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Brownie Mix Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Brownie Cookies
- 1 box Brownie Mix
- 2 large Eggs
- ⅓ cup Vegetable Oil
- ½ cup All Purpose Flour sifted
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 ounces Cream Cheese softened to room temperature
- 1 cup Powdered Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- In a medium bowl add the brownie mix, flour, eggs, and oil.
- Using a rubber spatula, mix the brownie batter until completely combined.
- Use a small cookie scoop to create even sized cookie dough balls on your prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 9 -10 minutes. Let them cool before transferring them to a cooling rack.
- In another medium bowl, using a hand mixer at medium speed, cream together the room temperature cream cheese, vanilla, and powdered sugar.
- Whip until combined. Cover with plastic wrap and let chill until the cookies are cooled enough to fill.
- Fill a piping bag or use a knife to spread a ½ inch layer of the cream cheese mixture on the underside of a cookie. Use another cookie to sandwich the frosting.
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