Cosmic Brownies

If you think store-bought cosmic brownies are something, wait until you try my homemade Cosmic Brownies recipe! It’s a whole vibe y’all. My unbelievable melt-in-your-mouth fudge brownies are slathered in a smooth decadent frosting before being decked out with fun rainbow coated candies. These throwback treats will have the kiddos and the grown folks stoked!

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Listen, I used to get down on some Little Debbie’s treats y’all. Whether it was a zebra cake or a Swiss roll, it was my after school go-to special. But it was something about that cosmic brownie boo. That was a whole mood. Nowadays, I just make this easy recipe when I get the craving. And I’m telling you, once you try these, you ain’t going back to our friend Little Debbie no time soon.

The Lowdown on Making the Best Cosmic Brownie Recipe

Cuisine Inspiration: Classic American Treat
Primary Cooking Method: Baking
Dietary Info: Gluten and Dairy filled. Can be made gluten-free with substitutions
Key Flavor: Rich Indulgent Chocolate Vibes
Skill Level: Beginner (No Sweat Fam!)

• Flavor On Point: I’m only giving you the best fudgy brownies you have ever have with an irresistible chocolate frosting. No biggie!
• Beyond Easy: You can legit whip up a batch of these in no time. The prep is minimal and not hard at all.
• Crowd Pleaser that’s kid approved: The little ones totally dig this recipe, and the adults love it just as much.
• Nostalgic Vibes: Each bite will give you that blast from the past that makes you feel so good inside.

Ingredients to Make Homemade Cosmic Brownies

For the Brownies

• Unsalted butter: This gives that rich flavor that you definitely need in a bomb brownie.
• Two Sugars: I use both granulated and brown sugar so you get some deep complexity as well as sweetness. That molasses don’t play y’all.
• Eggs: These give that perfect chewy texture and help bind all the ingredients together while being the best stabilizers.
• Oil: This is going to give the perfect amount of extra moisture so you get extreme fudginess.
• Vanilla Extract: That aromatic essence makes the flavor of this brownie so good boos!
• Flour: This is the base of the brownie structure. All-purpose is the move.
• Cocoa Powder: Grab quality here y’all so you get that intense chocolaty flavor.
• Baking Soda: Just a little bit will give those brownies a nice lift and perfect texture.
• Salt: We gotta enhance the flavors and balance that sweetness too.

For the Frosting

• Heavy whipping cream: This is the creamy base for our fudge frosting. It makes it so smooth y’all.
• Two Chocolates: We need to strike the perfect balance of sweetness so I mix two different chocolates. Milk chocolate provides that silky-smooth, rich taste. Semisweet stabilizes the texture and offers a fuller bodied chocolate flavor. 
• Unsalted Butter: This is gonna give some amazing rich flavor to that frosting.
• Rainbow Chocolate Chip Sprinkles: Those colorful, crisp candies add crunchy texture and a fun look! They can be purchased online, at some grocery stores, or at craft stores.
• Salt: A hint of salt balances everything out.

How to Make Cosmic Brownies

Step 1: Mix the Butter and Sugar then Eggs

1. These Cosmic Brownies start with my chewy fudge brownie recipe which is arguably the best brownie out there. We start by adding the melted butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar to a medium bowl and mixing on medium speed with a hand or stand mixer. 
2. Next toss in those eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition to incorporate. Mix well! 
3. Then add in the oil and vanilla and mix until smooth.

PRO TIP: Make sure those eggs are room temp to get that perfect chewy texture. If you forgot to set them out, sit the eggs in warm water for 5-10 minutes. 

Step 2: Get those Dry Ingredients Added

1. Add the flour, cocoa powder and baking soda to a bowl and whisk it up.
2. Reduce the speed of your mixer and add the dry ingredients to the wet in intervals until they are all incorporated.

Step 3: Bake it Up!

1. Pour the brownie batter into a prepared baking pan. Then bake it up for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes up barely clean. A few crumbs are all good so you keep the brownies moist.
2. Let them cool for about an hour in the pan. We gotta get them to room temp.

Step 4: Make the Frosting and Get Those Babies Ready

1. Add the heavy cream to a microwave safe bowl. You should heat in 15 second intervals until the cream is nice and hot (but just not boiling). Stir in between increments.
2. Add the chopped chocolates to the cream and let them chill for about a minute then whisk it all up until smooth and silky.
3. Stir in the butter until it melts up.
4. Finally you are going to pour that chocolate ganache frosting right over the top and flatten with a spatula. Cool for about 5 minutes then add the rainbow chocolate chips.
5. I like to let the brownies set for about an hour then I cut into squares and serve them up!

How to Serve Copycat Cosmic Brownies

• Glass of Milk: Get super nostalgic with it and serve up a cosmic brownie with a tall glass of cold milk boos.
• Ice Cream: Ain’t nothing like a cosmic brownie with a scoop of amazing vanilla ice cream.
• Sundae Vibes: Slice up a banana, scoop on different ice cream flavors like strawberry ice cream and cookies and cream ice cream then layer with ganache, strawberry sauce and whipped cream for a real treat. And don’t forget the cherry on top boos!
• Caramel: Ain’t nothing like a caramel sauce and chocolate combo ya dig?

Recipe Substitutions

• Unsalted Butter- You can grab salted here. Just omit the added salt if you use this swap. You can also use oil instead here but they will be a bit less rich and flavorful.
• Sugar: If you don’t have both, just use one. You can also make your own brown sugar by adding molasses to granulated sugar.
• Vegetable oil: Make sure you grab a neutral oil like canola or even avocado oil if vegetable isn’t around.
• Heavy Cream: You can use equal parts milk and melted butter to create your own sub here.
• Rainbow Chocolate Chips: If you can’t find these, regular mini chocolate chips, m&ms, or sprinkles are all good! 

Recipe Variations and Additions

• Gluten-Free: Replace the all-purpose flour with a 1:1 ratio gluten-free option to make this gluten-friendly.
• Peanut Butter: Dollop and swirl a little peanut butter through the batter before you bake these up for some nutty goodness ya dig?
• Mint it Up: Just a teaspoon of peppermint extract is all you need to make this festive.
• Zest it Up: Sprinkle in a little orange or lemon zest to really brighten up the flavor.
• Add nuts: For some additional texture, sprinkle some walnuts or pecans into the batter before you bake the brownies up for some good crunchy flavor.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Prep Your Pan: For the brownies to come out super easy, add some parchment to the bottom of the pan and let some hang over. This helps easily lift them out after they are baked and cooled.
• Don’t Overmix: When you add in your dry ingredients, make sure you don’t overmix. You don’t want those brownies to be tough and dense.
• Don’t Overbake: I know I’m giving y’all a lot of tips on what not to do but this one is key. Don’t let those brownies get all dry. When you insert your toothpick into the center, there should be some moist crumbs left.
• For the Frosting: Use chocolate bars for the fudge topping instead of chocolate chips. The chips usually contain stabilizers that prevent them from properly melting. Chocolate bars produce the smoothest, yummiest result. 
• Cutting Tip: For perfect looking bars, use a sharp knife dipped in hot water and dried to cut them up. Your bars will look like a pro made them!

How to Store Cosmic Brownies

• Room Temp: Don’t leave these out at room temp boos. Warm temperatures won’t allow the frosting to remain cool and stable, leaving you with a melted, goopy mess.
• Fridge: Although you could store these brownies at room temp, it’s best to keep them in an airtight container or wrapped up in plastic wrap in the fridge for up to 5 days. Let the brownies sit at room temperature for 10 minutes after removing them from the fridge.
• Freezer: Store the same way you would in the fridge wrapping super tight. They will last up to 3 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

My Favorite Brownie Recipes

• Turtle Brownies
• Mississippi Mud Brownies
• Caramel Pretzel Brownies
• Skillet Brownie
• Salted Popcorn Brownies