Cookies and Cream Fudge Brownies
Warning: Cold milk is necessary. As is a litter of hungry bear cubs to help you eat these ridiculously delectable brownies.
Soren Bear’s favorite homemade brownies.
As a mom to three bear cubs, I’ve earned the title “Mama Bear”.
My smallest cub, Soren, carries the middle name “Bear.” With his big brown eyes, chubby paw-like hands, and endless need to cuddle, it suits him perfectly. Not to mention his desire to eat everything in sight as if he’s hibernating for winter. Soren is always hungry, mostly for treats, and if he’s anything like his dad, who is 6’5” tall, he’ll grow to be the size of a grizzly. Feeding Soren is a full-time job, and as a good Mama Bear, I want to feed him well, making his treats as wholesome as possible.
His favorite treat? Brownies. But not just any brownie will do. He loves Cookies and Cream Fudge Brownies.
I can’t blame him. These Cookies and Cream brownies are insane. So fudgy, so dense, so chewy, sooooo much chocolate, and topped with a white chocolate cookies and cream ganache. Pinch me! They’re life altering good. So when Soren wants these treats I’m happy to make them, cause it’s a treat for me, too.
And the best part? They’re not made with junk food Oreo cookies. Yes, I know we all love Oreos; they’re basically crack. But let’s be real, they’re terrible for you. Packed with GMO’s, preservatives, and high fructose corn syrup. I don’t even want to think about what’s in the white filling. I’m happy to feed my kids desserts now and then, but I have my limits.
Instead of Oreos, these Cookies and Cream Brownies get their classic chocolate cookie flavor from Kodiak Cake’s Chocolate Bear Bites. They’re a new graham cracker snack from Kodiak Cakes, packed with 5 grahams of protein per serving, wholesome whole grains, and no GMOs. I love them and so do my kids. We crumble them over yogurt, dip them in milk, and eat them by handful for a quick treat. They’re basically crack, too, but a good crack. If there is such a thing.
The chocolate Bear Bites aren’t just in the brownie topping, but in the brownies themselves. A whopping 2 cups of crushed Bear Bites are added to the batter before baking. Oh yes, oh yum. The grahams add a hearty texture and an extra pop of chocolate flavor. You could stop here, the brownies are amazing on their own, but I always go the extra mile with the cookies and cream topping, because I’m a Mama Bear and I love my cubs.
The Cookies and Cream topping is a mix of melted white chocolate, confectioners sugar, and a generous handful of crushed Kodiak Cake chocolate Bear Bites. I spread it over the brownies when they’re warm, add some Bear Bites to the top, because they’re the sweetest shapes, then let the brownies cool completely before cutting them into squares.
How cute are they? And seriously, so delicious. Say goodbye to your Oreos, folks. These chocolate Bear Bites are so much better, and better for you. Indulge wholesomely, in these insanely bomb-diggity, Cookies and Cream Fudge Brownies. Mama Bear approved.
Let your bear cubs help you bake! These homemade brownies are made in one bowl. No mixer needed.
Cookies and Cream Fudge Brownies
Makes about 20 large brownies
For the brownies you’ll need:
3/4 cup unsalted butter
4 oz semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped. (I use Baker’s semisweet)
2 cups granulated sugar
3 extra large eggs, at room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder (I use Hershey’s Special Dark)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips
2 cups of crushed Kodiak Cakes Bear Bites in Chocolate Graham (I let my boys crush them up in a plastic bag)
Make the brownies:
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 9x13 inch pan with parchment paper, so it overhangs on each side. This allows for the brownies to lift out easily for cutting.
In a medium sized heat safe bowl, melt the butter and chopped chocolate together in the microwave, in 20 second increments, stirring in between. Set aside to cool slightly.
Add the sugar to the butter mixer, whisk till well combined.
Add the eggs and vanilla. Whisk till well combined.
Using a wooden spoon, add the cocoa, kosher salt, and flour. Mix till well combined.
Add the chocolate chips and crushed Kodiak Cake Bear Bites. Mix till combined. The batter will be super thick and you’ll be tempted to eat it. Be patient.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Begin testing with a toothpick at 25 minutes. If you see a couple moist crumbs on the toothpick the brownies are perfect.
Allow the brownies to cool while you make the Cookies and Cream topping.
For the topping you’ll need:
2 cups white chocolate chips
5 tablespoons heavy cream
3 tablespoons confectioners sugar
a heaping handfull (a little over 1/2 cup) crushed Kodiak Cakes Bear Bites in Chocolate Graham
Make the topping:
In a medium sized heat safe bowl, melt the white chocolate and heavy cream together in the microwave, in 20 second increments, stirring in between.
With a rubber spatula, add the confectioners sugar and crushed Kodiak Cakes Bear Bites. Mix till combined.
Pour the mixture over the brownies, spreading evenly with the spatula. Allow the brownies to cool completely and set. I chill them for a bit to speed up the process.
Lift the brownies out of the pan and cut into bars. They’ll keep fresh covered, up to one week, or frozen for a few months.
Enjoy!
This post has been sponsored by Kodiak Cakes, but all opinions are my own. As a family we enjoy Kodiak Cakes products almost daily. I’m a genuine fan.