Why I chose this recipe:
One bite of these brownies and you will feel as though you can run a marathon. They are that good! They are so good friends have actually asked me NOT to serve them because they will eat too many of them. (Friends – you know who you are!)
I had seen a similar recipe online for a version of these brownies, but to me it seemed unfinished and not decadent enough. Cue – my chocolate ganache. As I have said, everything is better with my chocolate ganache. So, on it went and I have never looked back.
Please don’t be intimidated by the length of the recipe. I have broken it down in parts to make the process more streamlined. Next bake sale, Girls’ Night In, weekend away at a friend’s house or just because you want to treat your family, try these Marathon Brownies and .
Ingredients for Brownie Layer
20 Tbsp butter (2 sticks plus 4 tbsp)
2 ½ cups white sugar
1 ½ cups cocoa powder
1 tsp salt
4 tsp vanilla
4 large eggs
1 cup flour
Ingredients for Oreo Layer
1 package of regular Oreos, each one cut into four pieces
Ingredients for Cookie Dough Layer
1 cup butter, room temperature
½ cup brown sugar
1 ½ cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 ½ tsp vanilla
2 ½ cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Ingredients for Ganache Layer
2 Tbsp butter
1 ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
2 tsp vanilla
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line a 12×12 metal baking pan with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
For the Brownie layer:
Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
Add sugar and cocoa powder once butter has melted. Whisk to combine and remove from heat. Add the eggs, vanilla and salt and whisk until eggs are combines. Add the flour, whisk until combined. Set aside.
For the Cookie Dough Layer:
Combine flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder in medium bowl and set aside.
Cream together the butter, brown sugar and white sugar in stand mixer. Once combined, add eggs and vanilla scraping sides of mixing bowl to make sure all ingredients are incorporated.
Add flour mixture in three batches scraping sides of bowl as necessary.
Mix in chocolate chips and cookie dough portion is ready to go.
Press the cookie dough into the bottom of the prepared 12×12 pan into a thick layer. (You may have ¼ of the dough left over for another use. Reserve the remaining cookie dough by wrapping in saran wrap, placing in Ziploc and freezing for future use.)
Arrange your pieces of Oreos in a single layer on top of the cookie dough.
Pour the prepared brownie batter over the cookie dough and Oreo layer.
Spread brownie batter evenly over the Oreos.
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until tester comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached. Set aside and allow to cool completely.
For the Ganache Layer:
Once the Brownie has cooled, combine the butter, chocolate chips, and condensed milk of Ganache ingredients in a small saucepan and heat over medium-low heat.
Whisk the mixture until all chocolate chips are melted.
Remove from heat and add the vanilla. Stir to combine. Pour over chilled Brownie layers and chill overnight.
Lift aluminum foil and brownie out of 12×12 pan when completely chilled.
Pull aluminum foil off of brownies, then cut Marathon Brownies into desired size.
For best results, keep Marathon Brownies in refrigerator. The Marathon Brownies also freeze perfectly for future use.
Best dessert you will ever try! This is my favorite dessert 🙂