Brownie Gooey Bars

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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!

How to make Brownie Cookie Bars

Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare your baking dish.
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.
Press half the thick brownie mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan.
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.
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 lose the glossy look.
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.

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.