If you have a serious sweet tooth and a love for the classic peanut butter and chocolate combo, then you have to try this Buckeye Brownie Cookies Recipe. These cookies bring together fudgy brownie goodness with a creamy peanut butter center, all enrobed in a luscious layer of melted dark chocolate. Each bite offers a perfect balance of rich, gooey, and melt-in-your-mouth textures that will quickly make these your new favorite treat. Whether for a special occasion or just a fun weekend baking project, this Buckeye Brownie Cookies Recipe is sure to delight anyone lucky enough to get a taste.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Every ingredient in this Buckeye Brownie Cookies Recipe plays an essential role in delivering that crave-worthy texture and flavor. The fudge brownie mix provides a rich and moist base, while the butter and cream cheese contribute to a soft, tender crumb. The powdered sugar and peanut butter mixture adds a sweet, creamy center, and the dark chocolate melting wafers deliver that irresistible chocolatey finish.
- Fudge brownie mix (19.5 ounce or family size): This is the foundation of the cookies, offering a deep chocolate flavor and fudgy texture.
- Salted butter (1/4 cup, melted): Adds moisture and richness, helping achieve a soft bite.
- Cream cheese (4 ounces, softened): Adds tang and a smooth tenderness that makes the cookies wonderfully chewy.
- Large egg (1): Binds the ingredients together and helps the cookies hold their shape.
- Powdered sugar (1 cup): Sweetens the peanut butter filling while keeping it smooth and silky.
- Creamy peanut butter (1 cup): For that iconic peanut butter filling that’s creamy and luscious.
- Dark chocolate melting wafers (4 ounces) or semi-sweet chocolate chips: For coating the peanut butter center with a glossy, decadent chocolate shell.
How to Make Buckeye Brownie Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Baking Sheet
Start by preheating your oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to ensure your cookies don’t stick and bake evenly. This small prep step saves you from messy cleanup later and helps your cookies bake to perfection.
Step 2: Mix the Brownie Dough
In a medium bowl, beat the fudge brownie mix, melted butter, softened cream cheese, and egg together using a hand mixer. The dough will be slightly sticky but that’s exactly what you want for a rich and fudgy cookie. A good tip is to use a cookie scoop to portion out 24 even balls of dough onto your baking sheet, then gently smooth each into a round shape for uniform baking.
Step 3: Bake the Cookies
Pop your tray into the preheated oven and bake the cookies for 12 minutes. Keep a careful eye on them so they don’t over or underbake — you want the edges set but the center still soft and tender. This precise timing is key to achieving that fudgy brownie texture.
Step 4: Prepare the Peanut Butter Filling
While the cookies bake, whisk together the powdered sugar and creamy peanut butter in a separate bowl until smooth and fully combined. Then roll this mixture into 24 small balls, about 1 inch each. These will become the rich peanut butter centers for your cookies, so take your time to get them just right.
Step 5: Add the Peanut Butter to the Cookies
As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, gently press one peanut butter ball into the center of each cookie. The warmth will soften the peanut butter slightly, creating that fantastic gooey center everyone loves. Let the cookies cool for about 5 minutes on the sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 6: Coat the Peanut Butter Centers with Chocolate
Finally, melt the dark chocolate wafers in a microwave-safe bowl using 30-second intervals, stirring between each until smooth. Spoon about half a tablespoon of melted chocolate onto each cookie, covering the peanut butter ball completely. Allow the chocolate to set fully so your Buckeye Brownie Cookies have that perfect chocolatey finish.
How to Serve Buckeye Brownie Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
If you want to add a little extra flair, sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt atop the melted chocolate before it sets. This contrast enhances the sweetness and deepens the chocolate and peanut flavors. Chopped roasted peanuts or a drizzle of white chocolate can also add a nice decorative touch and an exciting textural element.
Side Dishes
These cookies pair wonderfully with a cold glass of milk or a cup of freshly brewed coffee. The richness of the brownie and peanut butter makes for a decadent dessert that’s balanced perfectly by these simple beverages. For a party spread, include some fresh berries or a light fruit salad to cut through the richness.
Creative Ways to Present
Serve your Buckeye Brownie Cookies Recipe on a rustic wooden board with a scattering of chopped peanuts and chocolate pieces for a visually stunning dessert platter. You can also stack them in a clear jar with wax paper layers for a cute gift idea that friends and family will adore. Get creative and have fun presenting these beauties!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
You can keep leftover Buckeye Brownie Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. The texture remains soft and fudgy, making them just as enjoyable the next day. If you have a bigger batch, it’s a good idea to separate layers with parchment paper.
Freezing
To freeze, place the cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag with parchment paper between layers. They freeze beautifully for up to two months, so you can enjoy the Buckeye Brownie Cookies Recipe anytime a craving hits.
Reheating
Warm frozen or refrigerated cookies gently in the microwave for about 15 seconds to bring back their soft, fresh-from-the-oven feel. Avoid overheating to keep that perfect fudgy texture. Alternatively, a few minutes in a low-temperature oven also works great for gently reviving these treats.
FAQs
Can I use natural peanut butter for the filling?
Natural peanut butter can work, but because it contains more oil and less sugar, the filling might be softer and less sweet. If using natural peanut butter, you might want to add a bit more powdered sugar to achieve the right consistency.
What if I don’t have a brownie mix? Can I make these from scratch?
Absolutely! While the boxed brownie mix keeps this recipe quick and easy, you can use your favorite homemade brownie batter instead. Just keep in mind that baking times may vary slightly depending on the batter’s consistency.
Can I substitute dark chocolate melting wafers with regular chocolate chips?
Yes, regular dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips will work fine. Melting wafers are often smoother and easier to melt evenly, but chips can be melted carefully in the microwave or on the stove with a double boiler.
How do I prevent the peanut butter center from sinking or melting too fast?
Pressing the peanut butter balls gently into warm but not hot cookies helps them set nicely without sinking. Cooling the cookies for a few minutes before adding the chocolate shell also helps your centers maintain their shape.
Is this recipe suitable for kids to help bake?
Definitely! This Buckeye Brownie Cookies Recipe is a fun and simple project that kids can help with, especially when it comes to mixing, scooping dough, and rolling peanut butter balls. Just supervise the oven use and chocolate melting for safety.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, this Buckeye Brownie Cookies Recipe might just become your go-to for any chocolate and peanut butter craving. It combines ease, flavor, and that perfect gooey center that’s impossible to resist. So, grab your mixing bowls and start baking — these cookies are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser and a sweet way to make any day special.
Print
Buckeye Brownie Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 42 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
Description
Delight in these decadent Buckeye Brownie Cookies, featuring rich fudge brownie dough wrapped around a creamy peanut butter filling and topped with smooth dark chocolate. Perfectly soft and chewy, these cookies bring together classic flavors to create an irresistible treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 box fudge brownie mix (19.5 ounces or family size)
- 1/4 cup salted butter, melted
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 large egg
Peanut Butter Filling
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
Chocolate Topping
- 4 ounces dark chocolate melting wafers (or dark/semi-sweet chocolate chips)
Instructions
- Prepare oven and baking sheet: Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Mix brownie dough: In a medium bowl, use a hand mixer to beat together the fudge brownie mix, melted salted butter (slightly cooled), softened cream cheese, and one large egg until fully combined. The dough will be somewhat sticky but manageable.
- Form cookie dough balls: Using a cookie scoop, portion the dough into about 24 equal balls. Place them on the prepared baking sheet with enough space between them. Gently smooth the edges on each dough ball to make them round and uniform.
- Bake the cookies: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 12 minutes. Watch closely to avoid over- or under-baking; the cookies should be set but still soft in the center.
- Prepare peanut butter filling: While the cookies bake, combine powdered sugar and creamy peanut butter in a separate bowl. Use a hand mixer to blend them until smooth and fully incorporated. Form this mixture into 24 small balls, about 1 inch in diameter, to match the number of cookies. Set aside.
- Add peanut butter balls to warm cookies: As soon as the cookies are taken out of the oven, gently press one peanut butter ball into the center of each cookie. The warmth will slightly soften the filling, which is normal. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Melt the chocolate: Place the dark chocolate melting wafers in a microwave-safe glass bowl. Microwave initially for 30 seconds, then stir. Continue microwaving in 15-second intervals, stirring after each, until the chocolate is smooth and completely melted.
- Top cookies with chocolate: Spoon approximately 1/2 tablespoon of the melted chocolate over the peanut butter center of each cookie, fully covering it. Let the chocolate set completely at room temperature or in the refrigerator before serving.
Notes
- Ensure the cream cheese is fully softened for easier mixing and smoother dough texture.
- Use a cookie scoop for uniform cookie sizes and even baking.
- Monitor cookies closely during baking to maintain soft centers without overbaking.
- The cookies are best stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for longer freshness.
- For added flavor, sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt on the chocolate topping before it sets.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
