Julie Clark
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Buckeye Brownie Cookies
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These Buckeye Brownie Cookies combine the best of both worlds: brownie cookie base and peanut butter buckeye filling, all topped with melted chocolate. This easy buckeye cookies recipe has been one of our most popular cookie recipes since 2014.
The base of the buckeye brownie cookie is made using a boxed brownie mix, melted butter, egg, and softened cream cheese. It’s the same method I used for Reese’s Stuffed Brownies and it creates a chewy cookie with the perfect mix of flavors.
Ohio’s Favorite Candy Just Became a Cookie
We’re in OH-IO season, which means all things Buckeyes! In Ohio, it’s always buckeye season and buckeye candy desserts like buckeye cheesecake, cookie dough buckeyes and buckeye cupcakes are welcome any time of year.
I first shared this buckeye brownie cookie recipe back in February of 2014. It is gone viral over and over since and millions have made this recipe.
Since then, buckeye cookies became even more popular thanks to the Crumbl buckeye brownie cookies, which are very similar. Is this a Crumbl copycat recipe? Nah, because ours are better. 😉 Not only do they taste better, they are so much cheaper to make.
Don’t want to use a box brownie mix? Try our buckeye no bake cookie variation!
Love brownie cookies? Try love our new brownie cookie versions: Nutella Brownie Cookies, Peppermint Patty Brownie Cookies and Cookie Dough Brownie Cookies.
Enjoy! -Julie
Ingredients Needed
Although there are three parts to the buckeye brownie cookies, there are just a handful of ingredients.
Use a family size box brownie mix. The ounces of the boxes are constantly changing, but it should be a box that is meant to be baked in a 9×13″ pan.
Full fat cream cheese and peanut butter work best. The cookies may not set well with a low fat version.
Dark chocolate melting wafers work perfectly. Ghirardelli is one brand of chocolate wafers, but Aldi has a cheaper version that works just as well.
You’ll want to make sure the butter is very soft, if not a little melty so that it easily mixes into the brownie batter. The batter will be very thick!
See the recipe card for full ingredients and amounts of the buckeye brownie cookies.
Buckeye Brownie Cookies
These Buckeye Brownie Cookies combine the best of both worlds: brownie cookie base and peanut butter buckeye filling, all topped with melted chocolate.
Servings 24
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 42 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 box fudge brownie mix (19.5 ounce or family size)
- 1/4 cup salted butter melted
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 4 ounces dark chocolate melting wafers or dark / semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- In a medium mixing bowl, beat the brownie mix, almost melted butter, cream cheese, and egg using a hand mixer. The dough will be a little sticky. Use a cookie scoop to scoop the dough onto the prepared baking sheet, making about 24 cookie dough balls. Smooth the edges of each to form a round dough ball. 1 box fudge brownie mix, ¼ cup salted butter, 4 ounces cream cheese, 1 large egg
- Bake for the cookies 12 minutes, keeping an eye out to make sure the cookies don't overcook or undercook.
- While the cookies are baking, make the peanut butter filling. In a separate bowl, use a hand mixer to mix the powdered sugar and the peanut butter until it is completely combined. Form the mixture into 24 balls, about 1 inch each. You should have one ball for each cookie. Set aside. 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, press a peanut butter ball lightly into the center of each cookie. The peanut butter mixture will soften slightly, but that is OK. Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Place the chocolate into a glass microwave-safe bowl. Melt the chocolate in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir, then melt for additional 15 second-intervals or until the chocolate is completely melted. Spoon about ½ a tablespoon of melted chocolate on top of each cookie so it covers the peanut butter ball. Let the chocolate set. 4 ounces dark chocolate melting wafers
Video
Notes
- Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
- When you’re baking the cookies, watch to make sure you don’t overcook them or under cook them. We baked ours a full 12 minutes and it was perfect. All ovens are different, so yours might take longer or shorter to cook.
Nutrition
Calories: 242kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 142mg | Potassium: 104mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 136IU | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg
How to Make Buckeye Brownie Cookies: Step by Step
Make the cookie dough. Mix the cookie dough ingredients in a medium bowl using a stand mixer or hand mixer. The dough will be very thick and sticky, so it’s hard to mix by hand.
Mix the peanut butter filling. Again, use an electric mixer to cream the peanut butter and powdered sugar. It’s similar to buckeye candy filling, but there’s no butter. This keeps the cookies a little sturdier! Roll the peanut butter mixture in 24 balls (or however many cookie dough balls you made).
Bake the cookies. Scoop the cookie dough onto a lined baking sheet. Then bake in a preheated oven for 11-12 minutes. As soon as they come out of the oven, press a peanut butter ball into the center of each cookie. There’s no need to use your thumb to make an indent like thumbprint cookies. The peanut butter ball will nestle itself right into that baked cookie.
Top with chocolate. Melt the chocolate and spoon the melted chocolate over the top of each cookie. Some recipes showcase the buckeye brownie cookies with chocolate frosting. That’s an option, but we like them to mimic the buckeye candies so use dark chocolate.
Can these be frozen?
OMG, these sound freaking amazing, I’m definitely making them this weekend!
I make tons of different kinds of cookies…but this one is probably everybody’s favorite!
Can I use a chocolate fudge cake mix instead of a brownie mix?
I have the 18oz. box but only have a jumbo egg. How will that effect the brownie batter?
I bought all the ingredients that I need to make these but the only boxed brownie mix I could find is 18.2 oz Please advise how to adjust as all the brownie mixes have down sized. 😔
I bought all the ingredients that I need to make these but the only boxed brownie mix I could find is 18.2 oz Please advise how to adjust as all the brownie mixes have down sized. 😔
Can these be made ahead and frozen prior to baking?
These are simply the BEST!! I have made them multiple times for fellowship dinners and bake sales. They are always a HUGE hit! So delicious! Who could not love brownie cookies and buckeyes? Yum!!
Can you add the peanut butter ball before you bake or just after the brownie is done baking? Does it matter?
My question is, where do you find a 19.5 oz brownie mix. All the ones I have found are smaller. Is that ok, or do I need to adjust anything?
So do you melt the butter or no? And is it 1/4 cup? I’m confused.
My Sister In Law just forwarded this recipe to me knowing that I Love to Bake. Our family found a similar recipe a couple years ago, it came out of a IGA store advertisement in Tennessee. The recipe is the same except for the topping which uses Pillsbury Creamy Supreme Chocolate Fudge frosting. Give it a try and let me know. Trust me it’s gonna be a game changer. We also make them in mini using the small Pampered Chef scooper.
These cookies are so amazing! We make them all the time at our house and our friends and family love them! Thank you so much for sharing the recipe.
These cookies are fantastic!! I made these the other day, took some over to my Mom and Dad’s house, and my Mom’s eyes turned as big as a 2 saucers.She is crazy for peanut butter and chocolate. I asked my Dad if he got any and he said no. Ha ha ha Thank you for a fantastic cookie combo.