Triple Chocolate Cookies and Cream Brownies
This week, I’m sharing the second of the three brownie recipes included on my Christmas goodie trays. This one is a definite crowd pleaser, combining fudgy brownie, creamy center and America’s favorite cookie, Oreos. These also get a little extra hit of cookies and cream from chopped up Hershey’s Cookies ‘N’ Creme candy folded into the batter.
I don’t exactly remember when I first came up with this recipe, but I can tell you that at the time supermarkets were selling something called “Oreo Ultimate Icing”. It came in original and chocolate flavors and was sold in 7oz squeeze pouches. I grabbed a few of each flavor on sale the first time I saw them and that was the beginning of the inspiration for this recipe.
The basic idea was that I wanted to create an Oreo loaded brownie sandwich with a creamy filling. At first I used two pouches of the Original Creme flavor for the filling, which, I will admit, offered a nice visual contrast with the deep color of the brownies and Oreos. But, I just couldn’t resist upping the chocolate factor, so switched to the Chocolate Creme flavor instead. Less visual contrast, but more chocolate flavor, making these reminiscent of the chocolate creme Oreos. I’m sure you are not the least surprised to find out I prefer the chocolate creme version (or the dark chocolate creme version) over the original Oreo flavor. Which is also why I call for the chocolate creme Oreos specifically in this recipe (feel free to replace them with your favorite Oreo flavor instead).
After a while, the Oreo Ultimate Icing became more difficult to find. When I could find it, I would buy as many as I could at a time, saving them up to use in this recipe. Until, one day, I couldn’t get the Oreo Ultimate Icing any more at all. It was time to come up with a home made alternative. I tried a few different varieties of chocolate and/or cookies and cream frosting recipes, but none of them were quite what I was looking for. Enter Stella Parks’ Homemade Oreo Cookies Recipe. Her filling for her Oreo style cookies isn’t really anything like the Oreo Ultimate Icing at all, but it is very similar (as one would expect) to the actual Oreo filling. It was exactly what I wanted for this recipe. I, of course, use a chocolate variation, but the beauty of making a home made filling is that it can be customized however you’d like.
Now I just have to hope that Hershey’s doesn’t discontinue their Cookies ‘N’ Creme candy, or I’ll find myself trying to figure out how to make my own version just so I can continue to make these amazing brownies!
Equipment
- 9"x13" brownie pan
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer (hand held or stand)
- whisk
- flexible spatula
- double boiler (or microwave)
- kitchen scale (or measuring spoons/cups)
Ingredients
Brownies
- 8 ounce Hershey's Cookies N Cream Candy chopped
- 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoon dark cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 6 ounce milk chocolate chopped or chips
- 6 ounce bittersweet chocolate chopped or chips
- 1 teaspoon espresso powder
- 1 ¼ cup sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar packed
- 5 eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
Cream Filling
- 10 Chocolate Creme Oreos coarsely chopped
- 2 ¾ stick butter (about 1 1/3 cup)
- 3 cup powdered
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ tablespoon cocoa powder
Topping
- 6 Chocolate Creme Oreos coarsely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 13"x9" baking pan with non-stick foil.
For the Brownies:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder and salt. Set aside.1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoon dark cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon salt
- In a double boiler, melt together the butter, chocolate and espresso powder. (This can also be done in the microwave, either with a "Melt Chocolate" setting or in 30 second bursts)1 cup unsalted butter, 6 ounce milk chocolate, 6 ounce bittersweet chocolate, 1 teaspoon espresso powder
- Whisk the sugar and brown sugar into the melted chocolate mixture until well combined.1 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar
- Whisk in the eggs one at a time, adding the vanilla with the last egg. The mixture should be thick, glossy and pull slightly away from the sides of the double boiler or bowl.5 eggs, 1 tablespoon vanilla
- Fold in the flour and cocoa mixture until just combined.
- Fold in the Cookies N Cream candy.8 ounce Hershey's Cookies N Cream Candy
- Pour half the brownie batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly. Set aside while working on the filling.
For the Filling:
- Melt the butter in a medium sauce pan over medium-low heat.2 3/4 stick butter
- Simmer, stirring frequently, until the butter falls silent (if you notice brown bits forming, reduce heat to low).
- Strain the melted butter into the bowl of a stand mixer.
- Add vanilla, salt, cocoa and powdered sugar.3 cup powdered, 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 1/2 tablespoon cocoa powder
- Using the paddle attachment mix on low speed to moisten and then increase to medium speed, beat until creamy and soft.
- Spoon over the top of the batter in the pan. Gently spread nearly to the edges, leaving about 1/2 inch all around.
- Sprinkle the chopped Oreos over the top of the cream filling.10 Chocolate Creme Oreos
- Carefully spread the remaining batter over the top of the chopped Oreos. Try not to mix the Oreos or the cream filling into the top layer of batter.
- Evenly sprinkle the remaining chopped Oreos over the top of the brownie batter, gently press into the batter.6 Chocolate Creme Oreos
- Bake in the preheated oven for 34-38 minutes until the brownies are dry on the top and just set.
- Cool brownies completely before attempting to cut (it is easiest to cut them if they are chilled).
- Store in an airtight container.
Notes
Nutrition
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