Bigger in Texas (Pillow) Cookies

It seems like numerous variations of pillow cookies have been floating around the blogosphere as of late. Everything from peanut butter stuffed with banana to chocolate stuffed with candy, the possibilities are endless. I'm not usually one to jump on the bandwagon so quickly, but this concept was too good to pass up!

If you've never tried or heard of a pillow cookie, it is basically cookie dough that is formed around an already cooked center such as a brownie or another cookie (eek - cannibals!!) then baked.

For my Bigger in Texas Cookies, fudge brownies are baked and wrapped around a caramel square then covered up in my favorite chocolate chunk cookie dough. The result is a monster of a cookie with a fudgy brownie middle and melted caramel center, definitely big enough to share with a friend. or several.

Bigger in Texas Cookies
(printable recipe)

1 boxed brownie mix, bake according to package directions in a 9x13 pan and cut into 18 pieces
8 caramel candies, unwrapped

For the cookie dough:
2 sticks butter
1/2 c sugar
1 3/4 c brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
3 1/2 c flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1 lb. 60% cacao dark chocolate, chopped

Cream butter and sugars together until light and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time and mix well. Add vanilla. In a separate bowl combine dry ingredients. Slowly add to wet mix, until just combined. Fold in chocolate.
To assemble the cookies, form brownie around caramel square, making sure the caramel is completely covered. Form the brownie into a flat disc, (like a hockey puck). Take 1/2 c of cookie dough and place it on parchment paper, press the brownie into the center. Cover with another 1/2 c cookie dough, making sure the brownie is completely enclosed on all sides.
Bake cookies (2 at a time, they are huge!) for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.


Makes 8 enormous cookies. You could certainly make these smaller if you like, just omit the caramel and cut small chunks of brownie. I prefer the larger ones though, the more cookie the better!