Whenever I want to dress up a batch of brownies, I don’t turn to chocolate ganache or fancy chocolate chips. I turn to a big bag of cream filled, Oreo-type sandwich cookies, chop them up and add them to my brownie batter. I suppose that this is actually dressing down the brownies, rather than dressing them up, but Oreo cookies make a fantastic addition to a batch of brownies and take these from good to irresistible.
These Cookies n’ Cream Brownies are fudgy, chewy brownies that are loaded with oreo cookies (or a similar brand of chocolate and vanilla sandwich cookie). The brownie batter is not that unusual, made with chocolate and cocoa powder to ensure that it has a good chocolate flavor. There is quite a bit of sugar in it and the sugar contributes to that chewy texture, as well as to the flavor of the brownies, sweetening the batter because all the chocolate called for is unsweetened. There is no leavening in this brownie batter, either, which keeps the brownies very moist, rich and fudgy.
The Oreos are a nice addition to these for a couple of reasons. They actually hold up very well to baking and you’ll see the full sandwich preserved in the brownies when you slice into them! You definitely get a cookies n’ cream flavor along with the dark chocolate brownie, just like you do when you eat cookies n’ cream ice cream. This recipe makes a big batch, which is great for sharing, so make this for a party, take it to a bake sale or just invite some friends over to share.
Cookies n’ Cream Brownies
1 cup butter
6 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped
3 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla extract
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 2/3 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 cups oreo-type cookies, coarsely chopped (approx 20-24)
Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, and grease lightly.
In a medium-large saucepan over low heat, melt together butter and chocolate, stirring occasionally. Whisk in sugar, salt and vanilla, then turn off heat. Whisk in eggs one at a time, waiting until each is fully incorporated before adding the next.
Stir in flour and cocoa powder until mixture is uniform. Fold in chopped oreo cookies and pour batter into prepared pan and spread into an even layer. Crush 3-4 additional cookies finely and sprinkle on top of batter, if desired.
Bake for about 35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs, but not coated with batter.
Cool brownies in pan for about 20 minutes, then carefully lift brownies out of the pan using the aluminum foil as a handle and place on a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Makes 36 brownies (or 48 bite-sized brownies).
Linda
February 16, 2011I thought at first you’d repeated an older recipe but checking back saw it was a peppermint cookies ‘n’ cream version. I get the Peppermint Joe-Joes for that very purpose! These look wonderful!! Can’t wait to try one–but I’ll keep to Joe-Joes over Oreos these days. Thanks for the recipe!!
Amy @ whatjewwannaeat
February 16, 2011Wow this are insane! I like. A lot.
jennifer
February 16, 2011These looks so yummy. Never thought of adding Oreos to brownies. Yours look so delicious, I’ll have to give it a try.
Love From The Oven
February 16, 2011These look delish. I make something similar but add vanilla buttercream frosting to them and than sprinkle oreo crumbs on top. Hands down one of my favorite desserts. I thought frosting was good on cookies and cakes, but wow, with the oreo brownies, it’s a whole new level of yumminess!
Kid Kat
February 17, 2011What a fantastic idea to use Oreo biscuits! I made brownies last weekend, but they were just normal chocolate chip ones. I found they taste much better when you take them out of the oven about 3 minutes before the instructions tell you to – much more squidgy 😀
Deanna
February 17, 2011I am new to your blog…I found it today looking for Girl Scout cookie recipes! Now, I am hooked! I love your recipes and photos! I have a cooking/baking blog as well and would love to add some of your blog posts/recipes if that is OK with you 🙂 http://tastenc.blogspot.com/
Thanks for sharing all of your great recipes!!! 🙂
shaffy
February 17, 2011oh.good.almighty.great.god. i want to take the whole tray and hide it from my kids. it’s so delish!!!! instead of using regular sized oreos, i used mini sized ones. so i skipped one step – the chopping. yay! 🙂 oh, my goodness, i still can’t believe how good these babies are. thanks for sharing this recipe. that’sit, gonna leave just a quarter of the batch for my kids (after all, i took their oreos), and keep the rest for my greedy self. hehehe……..
Babette
February 17, 2011Thanks for posting this recipe! I love anything made with Oreos, although I admit to saving money by purchasing the faux-reos at Aldi, they’re about half the price.
Cat @ Buttery Bakery
February 17, 2011Terrific idea! I bet the oreos get nice and soft…the way they are in the ice cream 🙂 I often don’t add leaveners to brownies either to retain the fudginess.
MrsB
February 17, 2011Those look really yummy!
I saw a similar recipe recently on Lorraine Pascale’s show “Baking Made Easy” on BBC (recipe shown here http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/cookies_and_cream_fudge_48648) so it seems cookie-brownies are in the air 🙂
Kristen
February 17, 2011Yum! I have peanut butter oreos in the pantry… I think i might have to try these this weekend!
If you use semi-sweet chocolate chips how much would you need to decrease the sugar?
Lauren at KeepItSweet
February 18, 2011I agree, Oreos really do make for a delicious brownie addition! Your version looks rich and fantastic.
Sprinzette
February 21, 2011Wow – these look fantastic. I can’t wait to try them out, and to get more updates from your blog, which I’ve only just discovered!
sara
February 21, 2011Ooooh, these look so good! Oreos and brownies…both so good on their own but I bet they are even better combined! Genius! 🙂
Emily
February 22, 2011these look delish!
caroline
October 25, 2011I can’t wait to try this recipe. When I add the sugar should it be still be grainy before adding the eggs? Thanks