Ask a Chef reveals the secrets of those superb dishes you ate in cafes and restaurants and wanted to try yourself.
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Cookie dough brownie or 'Brookie'

Makes about 12
Ingredients
Brownie layer
½ cup butter, melted
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
⅓ cup cocoa powder
½ cup all-purpose flour
¼ tsp baking powder
⅛ tsp salt
Cookie layer
½ cup butter, softened
½ cup light brown sugar
¼ cup sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
1¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
½ cup chopped walnuts, optional
Method
Brownie layer
Preheat oven to 180degC. Grease a 22cm-33cm baking pan.
In a small bowl, whisk together ½ cup flour, ¼ tsp baking powder, and ⅛ tsp salt; set aside.
In a large bowl, combine ½ cup melted butter, 1 cup white sugar, and 1 tsp of vanilla extract; stir mixture until it is well combined.
Add 2 eggs and beat well. Stir in the cocoa powder until it is well combined.
Add the flour mixture, stirring well until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan.
Cookie layer
In a medium bowl, whisk together 1¼ cups flour, ½ tsp baking soda, and ½ tsp salt; set aside.
In a large bowl, beat together ½ cup softened butter, the light brown sugar, ¼ cup white sugar, and ½ tsp vanilla extract; continue beating until mixture is creamy. Add 1 egg; beat about 2 more minutes until the mixture is light and creamy.
Gradually stir the flour mixture into the butter mixture until the dough is combined. Stir in the chocolate chips and chopped nuts. Carefully spread the cookie dough over the brownie layer in the baking pan.
Bake in the preheated oven, about 20 to 25 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the centre of the brookies comes out clean.
Cool completely; cut into bars.
Recipe provided by Double Black, Wanaka
Recipe requested by Sarah King, Wellington
If you have enjoyed a dish in an Otago cafe or restaurant and would like the recipe, write to Ask a Chef, Features, Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, Dunedin, or email odt.features@odt.co.nz, including your name, address and a daytime telephone number, and we will request it.