Fudgy brownies topped with peanut buttery monster cookie dough and rich chocolate ganache!
I’m sure most of you have heard of the super trendy and wildly popular cookie dough eateries popping up all over. They basically serve cookie dough like it’s ice cream–scooped in a cup or cone. While I do love me some raw cookie dough, surprisingly, even I would get sugared out from eating that much cookie dough at once.
Other than sneaking little tastes from the mixing bowl here and there, the best way to enjoy cookie dough is WITH other treats. For instance, these brownies…
These Monster Cookie Dough Brownies are TEN TIMES better than any of those overrated cookie dough scoop shops. It has just the right amount of cookie dough and just the right amount of brownie. And if that wasn’t enough for ya, it’s topped with chocolate ganache!
I was feeling colorful this week, which is why I made monster cookie dough instead of plain ol’ chocolate chip cookie dough. Because unlike chocolate chip cookie dough, monster cookie dough is loaded with peanut butter, oats, and yummy M&Ms! For baking, I usually prefer the mini M&Ms because not only are they cuter, but they disperse more evenly into the dough. I did, however, sprinkle a few regular-sized M&Ms on top for prettiness purposes.
For the brownies, I went the lazy route by using a box mix. However, if using a box brownie mix is against your religion, feel free to use your favorite homemade recipe. In fact, you could use the brownie recipe from my German Chocolate Brownies if you want!
Without the ganache, these brownies would just seem naked to me. It’s an absolute must to bring this whole treat together. The semisweet chocolate in the ganache also helps to balance out the sweetness of the monster cookie dough.
Now THIS is how cookie dough SHOULD be enjoyed.
Honestly, I have no idea why people stand in line forever for an overpriced cup of cookie dough when they can make mouthwatering treats like this at home.
Monster Cookie Dough Brownies
Ingredients
Brownies:
- 1 box of brownie mix plus ingredients to make
Monster Cookie Dough:
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup quick cook oats
- ⅓ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips plus more for topping
- ⅓ cup mini M&M's plus more for topping
Chocolate Ganache:
- 4 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup heavy cream
Instructions
Make the Brownies:
- Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray. Prepare and bake brownies according to package instructions; allow to cool completely.
Make the Cookie Dough:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, sugar, and peanut butter together until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla and salt and continue mixing.
- With the mixer on low speed, add the flour, followed by the oats. Once incorporated, fold in the chocolate chips and M&M's.
- Spread cookie dough evenly over the cooled brownies.
Make the Ganache:
- Place chocolate in a medium bowl. Heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan on the stove until it just begins to boil. Immediately pour heavy cream over the chocolate, cover with plastic wrap, and let sit for 5 minutes. Remove plastic wrap and whisk until smooth.
- Pour ganache evenly over the cookie dough. Sprinkle with M&Ms and chocolate chips. Refrigerate until ganache has set. Slice and enjoy!