WHAT’S FOR A COLORFUL TREAT?
Cosmic Brownies
Array/5
COOK TIME
25 mins
TOTAL TIME
2 hours 25 mins
SERVINGS
There was pretty much nothing better in grade school than opening up your lunchbox and seeing a Little Debbie Cosmic Brownie. I used to have these every single day. So naturally, I had to make a copycat Cosmic Brownie recipe!
I always used to peel back the thick layer of fudgy frosting off the top and eat that first. That was clearly the best part. So I knew that if I was going to make homemade Cosmic Brownies, that I was going to need to get the recipe so close to the real thing that I could eat the frosting first.
This brownie is exactly that – a thick, fudgy brownie topped with a thick, rich solid layer of chocolate ganache and signature candy-coated sprinkles. Frankly, they are AMAZING.
Ready to make your own batch of this Cosmic Brownie recipe? Keep reading for a step-by-step guide and all the details you need to make this just like the original. Below is the recipe plus a .pdf that you can print out to keep handy in the kitchen while you bake.
What are Cosmic Brownies?
First of all, if you’ve never had a Little Debbie Cosmic Brownie, you need to go to the store right now and get some of the originals. Eating a Cosmic Brownie is a life experience everyone should have, but also, I want you to have a good comparison before making these copycat Cosmic Brownies.
Ok, so what are Cosmic Brownies? They are a dense, fudgy brownie that is topped with an even fudgier chocolate frosting and colorful chocolate chip candy pieces. They come wrapped individually in plastic and taste like the magic of childhood.
Still, as much as I love the original, I am obsessed with this homemade Cosmic Brownie recipe and I can’t wait for you to try it!
What Do You Need for Homemade Cosmic Brownies?
- Butter: Brownies need fat to be fudgey (and delicious). While some brownie recipes call for oil, I love using butter to make mine.
- Sugar: You’ll need two kinds of sugar to make these copycat Cosmic Brownies – white granulated sugar and light brown sugar.
- Cocoa Powder: These brownies get their deep chocolate flavor from unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Vanilla Extract: Adding vanilla extract to a chocolate recipe helps bring out the flavor.
- Eggs: This recipe calls for two whole eggs and one egg yolk, which helps give the brownie its dense, fudgy texture.
- Corn Syrup: I don’t make a lot of things with corn syrup, but this is a big part of what gives these brownies the traditional Cosmic Brownie texture.
- Flour: A must-have ingredient for most baked goods.
- Cornstarch: Cornstarch works with the flour and the corn syrup to create the traditional texture of the original Cosmic Brownies.
- Salt: Adding a bit of salt to a sweet dessert really helps highlight the flavors.
What do you need for Cosmic Brownie frosting?
- Chocolate Chips: I like to use bittersweet chocolate chips for this recipe, but you can use your favorite kind of chocolate chips.
- Heavy Cream: Heavy cream makes everything better, right? Yes, exactly right.
What kind of sprinkles are on Cosmic Brownies?
Cosmic Brownies are perhaps best known for their colorful, candy-coated sprinkles. Because I wanted to make my brownies as close to the real thing as possible, I knew I needed to find the kind used by Little Debbie. These are candy-coated chocolate pieces and they are so good.
I bought my sprinkles on Amazon but you can use sprinkles, nuts, chocolate chips, whatever you have on hand that you would love to eat. Get creative!
How to Make Cosmic Brownies
- Melt the butter for about 60-90 seconds and then pour it into the bowl of your stand mixer. Add both kinds of sugar and the cocoa powder and mix until combined. If you don’t have a stand mixer, you can also do this in a bowl with a hand mixer.
- Add in the vanilla, corn syrup, eggs and mix again until combined.
Add the dry ingredients – the flour, cornstarch and salt – and mix until just combined. This batter is going to be very thick! - Pour the batter into a baking pan, spread it out evenly and bake for 23-25 minutes. Let the brownies cool completely before frosting them.
- To make the frosting, microwave the heavy cream for 1 minute to warm it up. Add the chocolate chips to the warm cream and let sit for 2-3 minutes before stirring. Stir until smooth.
- Pour the frosting over the brownies and spread out evenly before adding your sprinkles.
- Refrigerate the brownies for at least 1-2 hours to set the frosting, then slice and enjoy!
Cosmic Brownie Baking Tips
If you want your copycat Cosmic Brownies to come out perfectly, use these tips.
Use butter vs. oil in brownies
There are many delicious brownie recipes that use oil, but I prefer butter in my brownies. Brownies made with butter typically have a chewier texture than those made with oil, which is key for these homemade Cosmic Brownies. Butter also adds a richness to the flavor that oil can’t do.
Do I have to use cornstarch + corn syrup?
You technically don’t have to use cornstarch and corn syrup in this recipe if you don’t want to, or you don’t have them on hand. But keep in mind that these ingredients are a key part of what makes the brownies super chewy and fudgy. Your brownies will taste just as good without these ingredients, but the texture definitely won’t be quite the same as the originals.
Use an extra egg yolk for the best brownie texture
I love adding an extra egg yolk to my brownie recipes. The yolk adds fat and protein, which helps make your brownies more rich, fudgy and chewy (in other words, delicious!).
Opt for a metal brownie baking pan
You can really use any kind of baking pan to make these, but glass and ceramic baking pans can take longer to make, which can impact the texture. I like to use a metal pan. But no matter what kind of pan you purchase, make sure to line it with parchment paper to make removing the brownies painless.
Can mix-ins be added to the batter?
You definitely can! I love the idea of making these Cosmic Brownies your own. Add in chocolate chips, nuts, crushed up Oreos – the sky’s the limit!
How to cut brownies perfectly
I’m normally not one to worry about the way brownies are cut. Mostly I just want to get them out of the pan and into my stomach as quickly as possible. But the cut really matters when making homemade Cosmic Brownies. I wanted mine to look as close to the clean lines of the original as possible, so I had to pull out all my best brownie cutting tips:
- Cut up and down when slicing – don’t drag the knife out. Instead, pull it straight back up.
- Use a warm, dam cloth or paper towel to wipe the knife clean between cuts.
- Try using a very thin knife for the cleanest cuts.
How to Store DIY Cosmic Brownies
I recommend storing your copycat Cosmic Brownies in the fridge. The chocolate ganache can melt if it’s left at room temperature. The brownies keep well in the fridge and should stay fresh for several days if kept in a tightly-covered container.
Can this recipe be made in advance?
Yes, just make sure to store the brownies properly so they stay fresh. I like to make the brownies a day in advance and frost them the day you’ll be serving.
Print
Cosmic Brownies
Rich, chewy and delicious chocolate brownies with a fudgy icing on top. But the best part is the rainbow chocolate sprinkles on top.
Ingredients
10 Tablespoons Hiland Dairy butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs plus 1 egg yolk
1 Tablespoon corn syrup
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
Frosting
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup Hiland Dairy heavy cream
Rainbow Chips, Sprinkles, M&Ms, Nuts, any candy
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8×8 baking pan with parchment or foil. Leave some overhang over the sides, this helps so the brownies are easy to pull out of the pan. Spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a microwave safe bowl, melt the Hiland butter for about 60-90 seconds. Pour into the bowl of your stand mixer. Add the granulated sugar, brown sugar and cocoa powder and mix until combined.
- Add in the vanilla, corn syrup, eggs and egg yolk and mix again until well combined. Add flour, cornstarch, and salt. Mix again until just combined. Batter will be very thick.
- Pour batter into your prepared baking pan, use a spoon or spatula to spread out evenly. Bake for 23-25 minutes. Remove and let cool completely before frosting.
- Frosting: Pour the Hiland heavy cream into a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 1 minute. Pour in the chocolate chips and let sit for 2-3 minutes before stirring.
- Stir until smooth, then pour over the brownies and spread out evenly. Sprinkle with rainbow chips. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours until frosting is set.
- Cut brownies and enjoy! (Feel free to peel the top layer off and eat it, I won’t tell)
Notes
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