Cosmic Brownies have all the fudgy brownie goodness of the iconic treats complete with thick chocolate ganache and rainbow chip sprinkles!
Take a trip down memory lane in this copycat Brownie Recipe for the well-loved Little Debbie’s lunch box snack! For more chocolaty favorites, try my Classic Fudge Brownies and Walnut Brownies.
Sabrina’s Cosmic Brownies
Relive your childhood with this delectable brownie recipe. This homemade version of the classic Little Debbie treat boasts a rich, fudgy brownie base, smooth chocolate ganache frosting, and colorful candy chips. Using real ingredients instead of corn syrup and hydrogenated oils ensures a satisfying snack without guilt. These brownies are easy to make, perfect for special occasions or an everyday treat, and sure to impress anyone with a sweet tooth.
Ingredients
Fudge Brownies
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter , melted
- 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar , packed
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/4 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Chocolate Ganache Frosting
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup candy coated chips , rainbow
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9×13 baking pan with baking spray.
- Whisk together cocoa powder and melted butter until smooth.
- Whisk in sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla.
- Sift together flour, cornstarch and salt then whisk it into the wet ingredients until just combined.
- Spread into baking pan and bake for 16-18 minutes.
- Cool completely.
Chocolate Ganache
- Add chocolate chips and heavy cream to a large microwave safe bowl and microwave for 1 minute.
- Let sit for 2 minutes then stir until smooth and glossy.
- Spread over brownies and sprinkle rainbow chocolate chips while ganache is still wet.
Nutrition
Want to save this recipe? Create a free account to easily save your favorite recipes
Table of contents
About this Recipe
Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies have been the go-to snack for road trips, lunch boxes, camping trips, and so much more for decades. What school-goer hasn’t tried to swap a homemade dessert for one of these store-bought chocolaty treats at least once? Kids and kids at heart can’t resist these iconic brownies. My recipe is simple with pure, wholesome ingredients so you can have all the deliciousness of this favorite sweet treat while feeling good that it’s homemade!
Ingredients
- Unsalted Butter: This ingredient provides a rich, creamy base for the brownies and helps create a tender, fudgy texture.
- Cocoa Powder: The use of unsweetened cocoa powder ensures a deep, chocolaty flavor in the brownie base.
- Brown Sugar: Brown sugar adds a subtle molasses flavor and extra moisture to the brownie, contributing to its chewiness.
- Chocolate Chips: A combination of semisweet and milk chocolate chips creates a luxurious ganache frosting, perfect for topping the fudgy brownie base.
- Candy-Coated Chips: These colorful chips add a fun, nostalgic touch and a delightful crunch!
How to Make
- Preheat
Preheat oven and prepare a 9×13-inch baking pan. Combine cocoa powder, melted butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla extract in a bowl.
- Sift
Sift flour, cornstarch, and salt into the wet mixture, whisking until just combined. Spread the brownie batter into the pan and bake for 16-18 minutes. Let cool completely.
- Ganache
In a microwave-safe bowl, mix semisweet and milk chocolate chips with heavy cream. Microwave for 1 minute, then let sit for 2 minutes.
- Stir
Stir the chocolate mixture until smooth and glossy. Spread the ganache over the cooled brownies.
- Garnish
Sprinkle rainbow candy-coated chips on the wet ganache and let it set before cutting and serving.
Can this be Made Ahead of Time?
Yes, brownies can be made ahead of time, making them a convenient choice for parties or busy mornings getting ready for school. Prepare the brownies as directed, and once they have cooled completely, store them in an airtight container at room temperature or the refrigerator. The ganache frosting can also be made ahead and stored separately in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, simply reheat the ganache and frost the brownies. Add the candy-coated chips just before serving for optimal crunch and presentation.
Nutritional Facts
Baking Tips
- Make sure that you don’t over-mix the brownie base when you combine wet and dry ingredients. Sifting the dry ingredients first ensures less mixing when you combine, so always sift or whisk dry ingredients in a separate bowl.
- If it’s your first time (or fiftieth time) making a chocolate ganache, you want to be careful it doesn’t seize up. Seizing up and becoming grainy happens when cold milk meets hot melted chocolate. Bring the heavy cream and chocolate up to the same heat together, never add cold heavy cream to melted chocolate
- When it comes to brownies you want to underbake them so they are nice and soft. Use the toothpick method and if it comes out with moist crumbs, your Cosmic Brownies are perfect. If the toothpick comes out completely clean, they are over-baked and will be less fudge-like.
How to Store
- Serve: The brownies can be kept covered with plastic wrap at room temperature for up to 4 days. If the room temperature is too hot and the frosting melts, refrigerate.
- Store: You can keep the leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Use parchment paper between layers so the frosting doesn’t stick.
- Freeze: Wrap them individually in wax paper before freezing for a quick go-to treat. Place brownies in a sealed container and freeze for up to 6 months.
Ideas to Serve
You want to cool the brownies completely before topping them with the Chocolate Ganache so they will set properly. Once the brownies are set, feel free to pop them in the microwave to make them melty fudge goodness perfect with Vanilla Ice Cream! You can also skip the ganache and top your brownies with Cream Cheese or Rich Chocolate Frosting instead.
Frequent Questions
Absolutely! You can use dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or a mix of both for a customized flavor.
Of course! Feel free to get creative with your favorite candies or even use sprinkles.
Store the brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Yes, you can freeze the brownies for up to 3 months. Wrap them individually in plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container or freezer bag.
Variations
- Nuts: You can use walnuts for a traditional fudge brownie, or try chopped almonds, peanuts, or pecans for a salty crunch.
- Turtle Brownies: For a newer Little Debbie treat, bake the brownies in a muffin tin (or cut them into round disks) and top them with Salted Caramel Sauce and chopped peanuts instead of chocolate ganache.
- Coffee: A couple of tablespoons of brewed coffee or a teaspoon of espresso powder will make these brownies even fudgier and chocolatier!
- Mix-Ins: Add mix-ins you love to the brownie base like semi-sweet chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, peanut butter chips, chopped nuts, or Oreo cookie chunks.
- Toppings: Instead of the rainbow chips, you can sprinkle the ganache with rainbow or chocolate sprinkles, mini chocolate chips, or mini M&Ms.
- Gluten-Free Flour: Replace the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend to make these brownies suitable for those with gluten sensitivity.
More Delicious Brownies
Photos used in a previous version of this post.
They are too greasy and too sweet plus they don’t taste like cosmic browniesI don’t like them.
These did not taste like cosmic brownies, they were AMAZING. My family loves cosmic brownies thought I would try these, I will not be buying cosmic brownies any more, these were so good!!!!
I’ve made these several times and they are DELICIOUS! No, they’re not going to taste exactly like the store-bought cosmic brownies, (because they don’t have all the preservatives and other junk) but they are wayyy better! Rich, fudgy, very decadent! To me they are a homemade improvement on the Little Debbie classic. A small square goes a long way. Definitely a special treat kinda dessert!
They didn’t taste anything like Cosmic Brownies. We ended up tossing them.
The directions for mixing the ganache say to add milk, but it is not in the ingredients list.
Sorry about that. Milk isn’t needed for this recipe, just the heavy cream. I’ve edited the recipe card to read correctly now. Thanks for catching that.
can I use salted butter and just omit the salt?
You can try that but there’s no telling exactly how much salt is exactly in the butter especially since it can vary between brands. Good luck!
Where can you buy the rainbow chips?
I added a link in the recipe card for the rainbow chips. Just click on the green link and it’ll take you to the ones I used. Thanks!