These copycat Cosmic Brownies are deliciously rich and have the BEST fudgy texture. They’re just like the classic chocolate treat you know and love, but taste even better. Fudgy frosted brownies with colorful candies on top are the perfect lunchtime treat!
Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies
Fudgy brownies, covered in a thick layer of chocolate ganache, and topped with candy-coated chocolate chips…how could cosmic brownies NOT be our favorite childhood treat?
As a matter of fact, these brownies are so popular that they’ve been passed down to another generation where our own kids now indulge in this special treat.
Why You’ll Love this Cosmic Brownies Recipe:
- Great Taste: These homemade brownies have a wonderful, chewy texture and rich, chocolate flavor that you’ll love. Add on the colorful candy sprinkles for a surprise crunch that’s out of this world!
- Huge Hit: The original cosmic brownies have always been a classic favorite. This homemade version takes the famed treat to a whole new level of deliciousness!
Trademark Note: In the spirit of transparency, I want to note that this is a copycat recipe for an existing product and some of the ingredients are trademarked products. Little Debbie and Hershey’s are proprietary brands that I want to acknowledge and give credit to.
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How to Make Cosmic Brownies
Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!
- Microwave the butter and chocolate chips. Stir and set aside to cool.
- Next, add your sugar and wet ingredients and whisk as instructed. Then stir in the dry ingredients.
- Pour your batter into the pan and bake. Once finished, transfer to a wire rack to cool. Then place in the fridge for 1-2 hours.
- Make your chocolate ganache and spread it over the brownies. Top with sprinkles and transfer back to the fridge for 45 minutes. Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Ingredient Notes
- Make sure your chocolate and butter mixture is warm, but not hot, when added to the eggs and sugar. Adding it while it is hot will cook the eggs and create a lumpy batter.
- You can substitute regular cocoa powder for the Special Dark, but note that the brownies will not be as dark or rich.
- You can buy rainbow candy-coated chocolate chips online from Amazon or Nuts.com. If you can’t find them, you can use mini M&M’s or regular rainbow sprinkles instead.
Cosmic brownies are fudge brownies topped with chocolate frosting and candy-coated rainbow sprinkles. They were created in 1999 by Little Debbie to capitalize on the booming cosmic bowling trend.
No, these brownies do not contain any nuts, but you could absolutely add some if you’d like. Chopped walnuts or pecans would be delicious!
No, these brownies are not naturally gluten-free. You could make them gluten-free by using a gluten-free 1:1 baking flour in place of the all-purpose flour.
Yes, you can make these brownies with an equal amount of vegetable oil, canola oil, or coconut oil. Your brownies may turn out less fudgy and soft, though!
Your cosmic brownies may turn out crumbly if you don’t measure your ingredients carefully. Be sure to spoon and level your dry ingredients for the most accurate results.
To prevent the icing from cracking, be sure that the brownies have fully cooled and wait for 1-2 minutes before adding the rainbow candy-coated chocolate chips so that they don’t sink into the icing and cause cracks.
Unfortunately, I have not found these specialty candies in grocery stores. However, they are easily found on both Amazon and Nuts.com, or you can always substitute them for mini M&M’s or regular rainbow sprinkles. If you choose to use rainbow sprinkles, I recommend nonpareils for the closest look to the original.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Use butter instead of oil to get your brownies super fudgy and soft for the ultimate melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Make sure you measure your dry ingredients properly. Adding too much will create dry and crumbly brownies.
Make Ahead Instructions
You can bake these cosmic brownies up to 1 day in advance and frost them on the day you plan to serve them. Store the unfrosted brownies in an airtight container at room temperature until ready to frost and serve.
You can also fully assemble the brownies up to 1 day in advance and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Storage Instructions
Store leftover cosmic brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Although they are safe to store at room temperature, I do not recommend it, as the frosting tends to melt off in warmer temperatures. Bring the brownies to room temperature for about 10 minutes before serving.
Freezing Instructions
Freeze cosmic brownies cut into individual slices and wrapped in 2 layers of plastic wrap and 1 layer of aluminum foil for up to 2 months. Let thaw at room temperature before serving.
Substitutions
- You can use a neutral oil, such as vegetable, canola, or coconut oil, in place of the butter, but your brownies may not turn out as soft.
- If using salted butter, omit the kosher salt.
- Feel free to use milk or dark chocolate chips in place of the semisweet in the brownies and/or the frosting to make these brownies to your taste.
- You can use all brown sugar in place of the granulated sugar for a richer flavor.
- You can substitute regular cocoa powder for the Special Dark, but note that the brownies will not be as dark or rich.
- Feel free to add up to 1 cup of mix-ins to these brownies, such as chocolate chips or nuts.
- In place of the rainbow candy-coated chocolate chips, you can use mini M&M’s or rainbow sprinkles.
Tips for the Best Cosmic Brownies
- Do NOT skip lining your pan. A parchment paper sling will help you to more easily remove the brownies from the pan.
- Make sure your chocolate and butter mixture is warm, but not hot, when added to the eggs and sugar. Adding it while it is hot will cook the eggs and create a lumpy batter.
- Use room temperature eggs to prevent sudden temperature shock, which could cook the eggs as well.
- Let the brownies cool completely before frosting them; otherwise, the frosting will melt off and could crack as it cools.
- To cut these brownies cleanly, dip a knife in hot water, then wipe it off between slices.
We hope that these copycat cosmic brownies satisfied your sweet tooth and took you back to the good ol’ days.
How did your recipe turn out? Let us know in the comments below!
If you make this recipe be sure to leave us a comment or rating. Enjoy!
Cosmic Brownies Recipe
Ingredients
For the Brownies
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter (1¼ sticks)
- ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
For the Ganache
- 1½ cups semisweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup rainbow candy-coated chocolate chips optional, for topping
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- 9×9-inch Baking Pan
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with a parchment sling. Spray with nonstick spray and set aside.
- Add the butter and chocolate chips to a large microwave-safe bowl and microwave at 50% power in 30-second increments until melted. Stir and set aside to cool.10 tablespoons unsalted butter, ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
- Whisk in the brown sugar, sugar, and eggs by hand until combined.¾ cup brown sugar, ½ cup granulated sugar, 2 large eggs
- Add the vanilla extract and whisk again.1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- With a wooden spoon or spatula, stir in the flour, cocoa powder, and salt.¾ cup all-purpose flour, ¼ cup Hershey’s Special Dark Cocoa Powder, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- Spread the batter out in your prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes, until the top is set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few moist crumbs.
- Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool for 30 minutes. Cover and place in the fridge to cool for 1-2 hours until no longer warm to the touch.
- Once the brownies are cool, make the ganache. Add the chocolate chips to a medium bowl. Heat the cream in a small saucepan until it is steaming and starting to bubble around the edges of the pan. Pour the cream over the chocolate and let sit for 1-2 minutes. Whisk until smooth.1½ cups semisweet chocolate chips, ½ cup heavy cream
- Spread the ganache over the brownies. Top with sprinkles and transfer back to the fridge to chill until the ganache is set, about 45 minutes. Slice and serve.¼ cup rainbow candy-coated chocolate chips
Notes
- You can use a neutral oil, such as vegetable, canola, or coconut oil, in place of the butter, but your brownies may not turn out as soft.
- If using salted butter, omit the kosher salt.
- Feel free to use milk or dark chocolate chips in place of the semisweet in the brownies and/or the frosting to make these brownies to your taste.
- You can use all brown sugar in place of the granulated sugar for a richer flavor.
- You can substitute regular cocoa powder for the Special Dark, but note that the brownies will not be as dark or rich.
- Feel free to add up to 1 cup of mix-ins to these brownies, such as chocolate chips or nuts.
- In place of the rainbow candy-coated chocolate chips, you can use mini M&M’s or rainbow sprinkles.
- Do NOT skip lining your pan. A parchment paper sling will help you to more easily remove the brownies from the pan.
- Make sure your chocolate and butter mixture is warm, but not hot, when added to the eggs and sugar. Adding it while it is hot will cook the eggs and create a lumpy batter.
- Use room temperature eggs to prevent sudden temperature shock, which could cook the eggs as well.
- Let the brownies cool completely before frosting them; otherwise, the frosting will melt off and could crack as it cools.
- To cut these brownies cleanly, dip a knife in hot water, then wipe it off between slices.
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