Biggest Cookie Ever!!

For my birthday each year, my Mom gives me the annual Southern Living Christmas Cookbook. I love looking at all the decorating ideas and all the new recipes. I especially enjoy baking, so I always check out the sweets first! This year a recipe for a chocolate chip brownie cookie caught my eye. I have been looking for an opportunity to make these cookies for someone!! My brother is moving into his dorm this weekend and starting college Monday, so I thought this would be a great opportunity to treat him to some of these new cookies! Little did I know that these cookies were HUGE!! After I looked a little closer these are no ordinary cookies, they are actually called "Chocolate Chip Brownie Pillows!" Here's a picture of the cookies, it doesn't really do it justice. I could only bake four at a time on the cookie sheet!

They are really yummy though, here's the recipe, you're sure to love them!!

Chocolate Chip Brownie Pillows
**Note from the editor: "These are gargantuan cookies, each with a fudgy brownie "pillow" in the middle. You'll have extra brownies leftover to enjoy right away or freeze for later."

1 pkg. double chocolate Ghirardelli brownie mix
1/2 c. unsalted butter, softened
1/2 c. butter-flavored shortening
1 1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 egg yolk
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
2 1/2 c. unbleached all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3 c. semisweet chocolate morsels
Parchment paper

Preheat oven to 325. Prepare and bake brownie mix according to package directions in an 8" square pan. Let cool completely. Cut brownies int 3 dozen squares.

Beat butter and shortening at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add brown sugar, beating until smooth. Add eggs, egg yolk, and vanilla, beating until blended.

Combine flour and next 3 ingredients; gradually add to butter mixture, beating just until blended after each addition. Stir in chocolate morsels. Cover and chill dough for 1 hour.

Increase over temperature to 350. For each cookie, scoop a level 1/2 cup dough onto parchment paper-lined cookie sheets; placing cookies 3 inches apart. Using your fingers, make an indentation in the mound of dough; place 1 brownie square in center. Press chocolate chip dough around brownie, reshaping dough in the form of a ball. Repeat procedure with remaining dough and 10 brownie squares. Chill 15 minutes.

Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes or until lightly browned and cookies look set. Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheets; remove to wire racks, and cool completely.

Yield: 11 HUGE cookies