Last weekend I was asked to bring dessert to a party and I had neither the time, money nor inclination to make much of an effort.
So I dredged out of my memory an old ruse I had used before and was amazed at how good they were. Brownie cookies. Cookies out of a doctored box of brownie mix.

They are really cheap – a box of mix makes a ton of cookies – or at least several dozen and costs about $2, plus the trivial cost of the rest of the ingredients. Best of all they make a grown-up kind of cookie. Mildly chocolaty, moist, crisp at the edges yet chewy in the middle, not overly sweet, and rather versatile, (more about that later). Don’t use the recipe on the box. Here’s the technique:

Brownie Cookies

1 large box fudge brownie mix. Brand doesn’t matter but should run about 19-21 oz
2 large eggs lightly beaten
1/4 cup oil (not olive – I used canola)
3 TB water – may need a drop more or not
1/4 cup flour (essential)

• Preheat oven to 350
• Dump everything together in a large bowl. Mix until smooth. If it has some dry mix still, add a tiny drop more water. Dough will be like a thickish, stretchy batter – not clumpy like regular cookie double. That’s fine
• Line flat cookie sheet with baking (parchment) paper. You can get this at any grocery store where they have foil and plastic wrap, or sometimes in the baking or even the gadgets aisle.
• With a teaspoon drop a 1/2 dollar sized dollop of mix. It will spread after a minute into a nice circle. These cookies REALLY spread in the oven so give them room.
• Bake about 10 minutes until edges are very slightly browner than the rest of the cookie. That may not happen but 10 or 11 minutes seems about right.
• When they come out of the over let them sit a moment on the cookie sheet to firm as they will be delicate, and then carefully remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

They make a prefect round flattish circle and have a very flat bottom. This makes them good to eat but also good to fill! Make your own Oreos with vanilla icing (canned or your own) between the cookies, or even better, ice cream sandwiches. Just put a small scoop of ice cream between two cookies and freeze on a sheet until firm!

-This is a guest blog by longtime fudder MHF. Thanks mom!