29 Ingenious Brownie and Cookie Mix-Ins

These ideas for salty, crunchy, oozy, crumbly additions to the desserts we all love let you play mad scientist in the kitchen—with delicious results.

By Lynn Andriani

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Cocoa Brownies with Walnuts and Brown Butter

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Photo: Sang An

A Few Quick Notes Before You Start

Tossing in a cup of whatever rogue ingredient strikes your fancy is an easy and fun way to experiment in the kitchen (and is a lot less stressful than, say, experimenting with soufflés). Whichever goody you're baking, fold the mix-ins into the batter last, just before spreading into the pan (brownies) or dropping by spoonfuls onto sheets (cookies). Also, it's easier to cut brownies that have chunky additions (like nuts or candies) into squares if you line the pan with foil before pouring in the batter; once they're baked, chill the entire pan before you lift out the brownies and slice them. As for cookies, if you can stand the wait, chill the dough for 24 hours before baking. The cookies will spread evenly when they bake, won't get thin around the edges and will be thicker and chewier all over.

Published on January 11, 2012

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Culture Shock - About the Show

In America, the path to marriage can seem predetermined: we meet, we date, we fall in love, we marry. But what happens elsewhere, when relationships form in different ways and love is not a foregone conclusion? In Culture Shock, a one-hour special premiering on OWN Sunday, July 22nd at 10/9c, a team of young filmmakers journeys to uncover the world of dating, sex and marriage in Russia, India and China. First, producer/correspondent Lauren Terp travels to Moscow to cover a lavish wedding among Moscow's nouveau riche. After almost 80 years of government control under Soviet rule, a new generation has emerged, and Mischa and Adele are the new face of post-Soviet Russia: liberated, Westernized, and ready to party. But crime, corruption and uncertainty threaten to undercut this fairy-tale wedding. Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in Hyderabad, India, producer/correspondent Rawan Jabaji joins a self-styled local matchmaker named Farooqi, as one of his clients sorts through a stack of pictures of attractive women. The fact that his client has not yet met any of the women is of no concern. By the end of the meeting, his family will have chosen one to become his bride. It's a culture where as many as 90% of marriages are arranged. But where does love come into play? Rawan uncovers an unlikely twist to Farooqi's own story. Last stop is Shenzhen, China, where producer/correspondent Lindsay Wile takes us to an area nicknamed "Mistress Village" because it's occupied by thousands of concubines -- women who are kept by wealthy Chinese and Hong Kong men. Here she meets Yuki, a young woman from a small village who now lives a life she could not have imagined or afforded without the financial help of her "boyfriend," and Gigi, who offers a picture of what life as a mistress can look like down the line. What makes us different? What makes us similar? That's the mission the team of Culture Shock filmmakers and correspondents is setting out to discover. And when it comes to mistresses, matchmakers and marriages...it's complicated. Tune in for the premiere of Culture Shock on Sunday, July 22nd at 10/9c, only on OWN. Watch a preview now!