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These Gooey Brownie Cookie Bars recipe taste just like your favorite gooey brownie except they’re formed into GOOEY bars! These are so rich and chocolatey and they start with a box brownie mix!

stacked brownies with chocolate chips baked in.


I am OBSESSED with gooey bars – I’ve made them with every flavor cake mix you can imagine. But one day I thought to myself: can gooey bars be made with BROWNIE mix? You betcha they can!

What is a gooey bar? My gooey bars are two layers of cake mix or brownie mix sandwiched with sweetened condensed milk. The bar layers are more like cookies in texture and the center is sweet and gooey and perfect.

These are chocolate to the extreme with just 5 ingredients – you’re going to LOVE them.

ingredients in brownie gooey bars laid out on a marble counter.

Ingredients Needed

  • Brownie mix: I start with a store bought brownie mix. Make sure to use one designed for a 9×13-inch pan.
  • Egg: for chew and moisture.
  • Butter: I use unsalted butter so it won’t overpower the taste of our batter. I leave a stick of butter out to warm up to room temperature, that way it’s easier to mix in with the sugar.
  • Sweetened condensed milk: my regulars know how much I love this stuff. It’s a foolproof way to get a gooey and incredible dessert. 
  • Chocolate chips: I’m using semi-sweet chocolate chips but feel free to use any kind you please. You can also add nuts!
process shot of brownie gooey bars.
process shot of brownie gooey bars.
process shot of brownie gooey bars.
process shot of brownie gooey bars.

How to make Brownie Cookie Bars

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare your baking dish. 
  2. Add brownie mix, egg, and butter to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. You can use a hand mixer but it takes a long time to mix it! Beat until a thick mixture forms. Should be thicker than chocolate chip cookie dough.
  3. Press half the thick brownie mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. 
  4. Top with your favorite chocolate chips and pour the sweetened condensed milk over the top. Try to not let the milk touch the edges of the pan though. If you do, it will cause it to bubble and brown. 
  5. Break pieces of the remaining dough and drop them evenly over the top of the bars, then press gently to compact.
  6. Bake for 35-45 minutes, until the top starts to lose the glossy look.
  7. Cool to room temperature. You’ll probably be impatient at this point because your kitchen will smell incredible. But just let it cool down to cut into bars. 
stacked brownies with chocolate chips baked in.

Expert Tips

  • Store at room temperature for maximum gooeyness.
  • Serve this chocolate brownie bar with your favorite ice cream!
  • Sprinkle the top with sea salt for a perfect salted chocolate finish.
  • Instead of chocolate chips, use chunks of your favorite candies: Reese’s, M&Ms, Butterfingers, Rolos, Almond Joy, Kit Kat, etc., or use or add chopped nuts.

FAQs

How long do cookie bars last?

If stored in an airtight container, these cookie bars last up to 1 week in the refrigerator. 

Can I freeze brownie cookie bars?

Yes. If stored in an airtight container, you can freeze these brownie cookie bars for up to 1 month. 

stacked brownies with chocolate chips baked in.

Brownie Gooey Bars

4.59 from 17 votes
The gooiest fudgy brownies ever! This is an easy recipe that starts with a brownie mix and is filled with extra chocolate and sweetened condensed milk!

Recipe Video

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Yield 12 brownies
Serving Size 1 serving
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Ingredients
 

  • 1 box (approx 18 ounces) brownie mix
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter , softened
  • ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 cup (170g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
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Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9” pan with foil and spray with cooking spray for easy removal.
  • Add brownie mix, egg, and butter to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat until at thick mixture forms (thicker than cookie dough). You can do this with a hand mixer but it will take a really long time!
  • Press half the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Top with the chocolate chips and pour the sweetened condensed milk over the top, but try to not let the milk touch the edges of the pan. (That will cause it to bubble and brown.) Break pieces of the remaining dough and drop them evenly over the top of the bars, then press gently to compact.
  • Bake for 35-45 minutes, until the top starts to loose the glossy look. Cool to room temperature before cutting.
  • Store at room temperature for maximum gooeyness.

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 190kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 23mg | Potassium: 98mg | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 293IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 0.1mg
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Author Dorothy Kern

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Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

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4.59 from 17 votes (16 ratings without comment)

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87 Comments

  1. I’m slightly confused. I do NOT make the brownies per the box directions AND add an extra egg and butter right? Is that why you’re saying it’s going to be super tough to mix? Because normally, brownie mix is runny, correct? Thanks!

    Reply

    1. Nope! Just use the box mix, the egg and butter called for, not the ingredients on the box. The mixture will be like thick cookie dough.

      Reply

  2. I’m 8 months pregnant, and this recipe has me running upstairs to check if I have any sweetened condensed milk on hand. Heaven forbid I have to wait until tomorrow to make these!

    Reply

  3. Just made these and they are amazing!!! I’m about to eat with some frozen yogurt and blueberries so I don’t feel bad eating too many of them

    Reply

  4. Hi Dorothy, I have made these three times already. Once with peanut butter chips. They are really so good. hubby says best brownies he ever ate. Thanks for all your great posts. have a wonderful day.

    Reply