Copycat Nestle Cafe Oreo Brownies

On our way back from vacation last month, we stopped by the Mall of America to go to the Sea Life Aquarium.  While we were there, we had dinner at the Rainforest Cafe, and dessert at the Nestle Cafe.  We had a couple of different things, but the Oreo Brownies are what really did it for me.  They were so chocolatey and deliciously moist with chocolate and vanilla frosting on top then sprinkled with Oreo cookies.  I honestly have been thinking about them every since!  I knew I had to make a copycat, and here we are. I couldn't find a copycat recipe online, so I created my own, and I feel that I did a pretty good job.  I slightly modified this brownie recipe, and used a Nestle Tollhouse frosting recipe that I stumbled upon here (slightly modified).  I topped it off with this Oreo filling frosting recipe, and we're in business!

Copycat Nestle Cafe Oreo Brownies

Brownies:
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cocoa special dark cocoa powder (can substitute regular cocoa powder)
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Chocolate Frosting:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, divided
2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
2 Tablespoons special dark cocoa powder
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, room temperature
2 Tablespoons milk, divided
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Oreo Filling Frosting:
2 Tablespoons butter, room temperature
2 Tablespoons shortening
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
1 cup chopped Oreos (about 8 Oreos)

Preheat the oven to 350F.  Grease an 8x8 inch square baking pan, then line the bottom with parchment paper and lightly grease the paper.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until combined.  Add the vanilla extract and eggs and beat until incorporated.  Add the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt, and beat until just combined.  Scrape the brownie batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs.  Remove brownies from the oven and let cool completely before frosting.

For the chocolate frosting, beat together 1/2 cup powdered sugar, cocoa powder, dark cocoa powder, butter, 1 Tablespoon of milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.  Beat in the remaining powdered sugar and milk until smooth.

For the Oreo Filling frosting, beat together the butter, shortening, sugar, and clear vanilla extract until smooth.  Spoon the frosting into a quart size plastic bag (or piping bag), and snip the tip.

To assemble the brownies, remove the brownies from the pan and peel off the parchment paper.  Place the brownies on a large cutting board.  Spread the chocolate frosting evenly over the top of the brownies.  Pipe the Oreo filling frosting in a criss-cross pattern on top of the the chocolate frosting.  Sprinkle the chopped Oreos on top of the frosted brownies.  Use a large knife to cut the brownies.  Makes 16 brownies.

Enjoy!  -Cardamommy