Easy Cowboy Brownies (Cowboy Cookie Brookies)

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Can't decide between cookies and brownies? These easy Cowboy Brownies combine fudgy brownies with loaded Cowboy Cookie dough for the perfect BBQ dessert.

If you can't decide whether you want a brownie or a cookie, I've got good news: you don't have to choose.

These easy Cowboy Brownies start with a rich, fudgy chocolate brownie base, then get topped with scoops of homemade Cowboy Cookie dough loaded with oats, coconut, pecans, and chocolate chips.

Think of them as Cowboy Cookie Brookies—a Texas-sized spin on the classic brownie-and-cookie combination.

They're rich. They're hearty. They're chewy and fudgy and crunchy in all the right places. And if you're a texture lover like I am, there's a whole lot to love in every bite.

Best of all? They're easy enough to throw together for a backyard BBQ, potluck, family reunion, or any gathering where you need a sturdy handheld dessert that can feed a crowd.

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

A Cowboy Dessert Made for the BBQ Table

Years ago, when my daughter Randi was still a kid, we stayed at a dude ranch in Bandera, Texas.

One evening they served an outdoor chuckwagon supper beneath a huge oak tree. We ate barbecue, went on hayrides afterward, and, of course, there was an official cowboy heading up the festivities.

Those aren't particularly hard to find here in Texas.

I can't remember what they served for dessert that night, but I know what I would put on that chuckwagon table today: a big platter of these Cowboy Brownies.

They're exactly the sort of dessert that makes sense after barbecue. There's nothing fussy about them. No frosting to melt in the Texas heat, no fancy plating required, and no forks necessary.

Just cut them into squares, pile them on a platter, and let everybody help themselves.

What Are Cowboy Brownies?

You've probably heard of brookies—brownies and chocolate chip cookies combined into one dessert.

Cowboy Brownies take that idea one step further.

Instead of topping the brownies with ordinary chocolate chip cookie dough, we're using the same flavors found in my Old-Fashioned Cowboy Cookies here on Backyard Texas Grill.

After all, here in the South we'd probably put pecans and coconut in just about everything if we could.

Why You'll Love These Cowboy Cookie Brookies

There's a lot happening in these brownies, but that's precisely what makes them so good.

The brownie underneath is rich and fudgy. The Cowboy Cookie topping is buttery and chewy. The oats give the bars substance, the pecans add crunch, the coconut adds sweetness and chew, and the chocolate chips create little pockets of additional chocolate.

In other words, these aren't just brownies for chocolate lovers. They're brownies for texture lovers.

They're also perfect for anyone who stands at the dessert table unable to decide between the cookies and the brownies.

Take both.

Or, better yet, bake them together.

Why I Use a Boxed Brownie Mix

Yes, I used a boxed brownie mix for this recipe.

And I'm perfectly happy to admit it.

I do a tremendous amount of baking, and I've made plenty of brownies from scratch. In fact, I have an entire baking site—Out of the Box Baking—devoted to baking recipes, techniques, and plenty of creative ways to use mixes.

Here's what I've learned: when you find a really good boxed brownie mix, it's hard to beat.

A good mix gives you a dependable, rich, fudgy brownie with almost no effort. And for a recipe like this one, that's exactly what I want.

The star of this particular show is the combination of brownie and Cowboy Cookie. Starting with a mix means I can get the brownie batter into the pan quickly and concentrate on that wonderful loaded cookie topping.

Of course, if you're a from-scratch baker, feel free to use your favorite homemade brownie recipe instead. I'll link to my homemade brownie recipe over on Out of the Box Baking for anyone who wants to go that route.

Around here, I'm a big believer in homemade when it matters and shortcuts when they make sense.

This is one of those times when the shortcut makes perfect sense.

Ingredients for Cowboy Brownies

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but here's a quick peek at what you're going to need. These are simple ingredients you might already have in your pantry or refrigerator.

For the Brownie Layer

• 1 boxed brownie mix, sized for a 9x13-inch pan
• Eggs, oil, water, or other ingredients called for on the box

For the Cowboy Cookie Topping

• ½ cup salted butter, softened
• ½ cup packed light brown sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• ½ cup sweetened shredded coconut
• ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
• ½ cup chopped pecans

Note: This is essentially a half batch of my Old-Fashioned Cowboy Cookie dough. Depending on the size of your cookie scoop and how heavily you top your brownies, you may have enough dough left to bake two or three cookies. That's a bonus, not a problem!

How to Make Easy Cowboy Brownies

Step 1: Prepare the Pan

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish or prepare it according to the directions on your brownie mix.

Step 2: Make the Brownie Batter

Prepare the boxed brownie mix according to the package directions.

Step 3: Make the Cowboy Cookie Dough

Cream the softened salted butter with the brown sugar and granulated sugar until light and creamy.

Add the egg and vanilla and mix well.

Add the flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix just until combined.

Stir in the oats, coconut, chocolate chips, and chopped pecans.

Step 4: Bring it together

Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.

Using a small cookie scoop, drop portions of Cowboy Cookie dough randomly over the brownie batter.

Keep the scoops approximately the same size, but don't arrange them in perfect rows.

Leave spaces of exposed brownie batter between the cookie dough portions. You want the brownie batter to be clearly visible so the two components can bake together rather than creating one solid cookie layer over the top.

Lightly press the tops of the cookie dough portions to flatten them just a bit.

You may not need every bit of the cookie dough.

Step 5: Bake

Bake at 350°F for approximately 35–40 minutes, checking the brownies toward the earlier end of the baking time.

Because the Cowboy Cookie dough partially covers the brownie batter, these may take a little longer than the baking time listed on your brownie mix.

Check an exposed brownie area near the center with a toothpick. You're looking for moist crumbs rather than wet batter.

The Cowboy Cookie portions should look set and should begin to turn lightly golden.

Don't wait for the toothpick to come out completely clean or you may overbake the brownies.

Step 6: Cool

Allow the Cowboy Brownies to cool in the pan for at least 45–60 minutes before cutting.

They will continue to set as they cool, and waiting will give you much cleaner squares.

Step 7: Slice and Serve!

Don't cut these into large pieces. They are very rich!

The Ultimate Shortcut: Brownie Mix + Store-Bought Cookie Dough

Want to make this idea even easier?

Use refrigerated pre-portioned cookie dough from the grocery store.

Prepare your boxed brownie batter, pour it into the pan, scatter partially flattened pieces of refrigerated cookie dough over the top, and bake.

That's it.

It won't technically have the oats, pecans, coconut, and chocolate chips that make these true Cowboy Brownies unless you find a similarly loaded cookie dough, but it's a fantastic way to use this same brownie-cookie technique when you're in a hurry.

Sometimes dessert really can be mix, plop, bake, and go.

Cowboy Brownie Variations

Once you understand the basic technique, the possibilities are almost endless.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownies

Use homemade, frozen, or refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough for a classic brookie.

Peanut Butter Cookie Brownies

Chocolate and peanut butter are natural partners. Scatter peanut butter cookie dough over the brownie batter for an easy chocolate-peanut butter brookie.

Oatmeal Cookie Brownies

Use your favorite oatmeal cookie dough for another hearty, chewy variation.

Snickerdoodle Brownies

Try cinnamon-sugar snickerdoodle dough over chocolate brownie batter for a fun flavor contrast.

Use Your Favorite Frozen Cookie Dough

If you're already in the habit of freezing cookie dough balls, take a look through your freezer. You may already have everything you need for your next pan of brownie-cookie bars.

Make a Cowboy Brownie and Blondie Tray

Planning a backyard BBQ, Western-themed party, or chuckwagon supper?

Make a pan of Cowboy Brownies and a pan of Cowboy Blondies, then alternate the dark and golden squares on a large rustic serving platter.

The contrast is beautiful, and guests can choose between rich chocolate brownies and chewy brown-sugar blondies.

Or, if they're anything like me, they'll take one of each.

What to Serve with Cowboy Brownies

These hearty bars were made for casual gatherings and outdoor meals.

Serve them after:

• Smoked brisket
• Pulled pork
• Drunken Chicken
• Burgers
• Ribs
• Baked beans
• Potato salad
• Cornbread
• A full chuckwagon-style supper (coming soon)

Because they're so rich and substantial, you don't need to cut enormous pieces. Smaller squares are plenty after a big BBQ meal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Thanks for Stopping By!

If you make these delicious brownies and love them please leave a comment or review. An before you go, why not pin some photos to your Pinterest boards?

About the Cook

Janice Thompson is a Texas author, baker, and home cook who believes some of the best recipes are the ones meant to be shared around a crowded table—or beneath a big Texas oak tree. Her love of backyard cooking is tied to years of family meals, church gatherings, potlucks, and Texas memories, including a long-ago chuckwagon supper at a dude ranch in Bandera, Texas, when her daughter Randi was still a little girl.

These days, Janice is always looking for simple recipes that belong beside brisket, barbecue, and all the fixings. And when a recipe manages to combine brownies, Cowboy Cookies, pecans, coconut, and chocolate? Well, that's just about as Texas as dessert needs to get.