OMG Brownie Cookie Layer Bars

This is a recipe that I've been making for a while now. It's a favorite in our house. It's a layer of chocolate chip cookies, followed by a layer of Oreo cookies, followed by a layer of brownies. So really, what's not to love?

One of the very first recipes I ever pinned on Pinterest was this recipe, which I have then subsequently tweaked to get the recipe I've listed here. Let's let that sink in . . . one of the FIRST recipes I EVER posted on PINTEREST . . . 

Taylor gets it.

Anyhoot, here are the fantastic Brownie Cookie Layer Bars that are sooooo good that they make you say Oh My Goodness (hence the OMG).

OMG Brownie Cookie Layer Bars

Chocolate Chip Cookie Ingredients

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 sticks butter, softened

3/4 cups packed brown sugar

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1, 3.4 oz. packages instant vanilla pudding mix

2 eggs

1 Tbsp vanilla extract

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Oreos

1 package, flavor of your choice

Brownie Ingredients

2 sticks butter, softened

8 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped

4 eggs

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside to mix cookie dough.
2. Mix Cookie Dough:  Mix flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar. Beat in the pudding mix until blended. Mix in the eggs and vanilla. Mix in the flour mixture in small increments until all of it is incorporated. Finally, use a spoon to stir in the chocolate chips. 
3. Press cookie dough into bottom of prepared pan. Top with a layer of Oreos.
4. Mix Brownie Batter:  Combine butter and chocolate in a microwaveable bowl. Microwave in 1 minute intervals until chocolate is melted. Stir to combine. Whisk eggs together in a large bowl, then whisk in salt, sugars, and vanilla. Stir in chocolate and butter mixture, then fold in flour.
5. Pour batter over Oreo layer. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
6. Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 20 minutes.
7. Let bars cool completely before cutting. Bars will be a perfect fudge-like consistency.

Notes:

To make cookies from cookie dough:

1. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
2. Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated 350 degree oven. Edges should be golden brown.
3. Cool for 5 minutes on cookie sheets before moving to cooling racks.

To make brownies from brownie batter:

1. Pour batter into sprayed 9 x 13 pan and spread evenly. 
2. Bake for about 45 minutes in preheated 350 degree oven, until top has formed a shiny crust and batter is moderately firm.
3. Cool in pan on rack.

The original recipe that I pinned all those years ago suggests that you can create this same bar with store-bought cookie dough and boxed brownie mix. That would certainly speed up the process, but I don't know if the flavor would be anywhere near as good!

The cookie recipe that I've used is one I've posted about before. It's Ryan's favorite cookie recipe! Here are pictures of the finished product from that recipe.