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 those Cosmic Brownies 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.
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How to Make Cosmic Brownies
Step 1: Mix the Butter and Sugar then Eggs
- 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.
- Next toss in those eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition to incorporate. Mix well!
- 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
- Add the flour, cocoa powder and baking soda to a bowl and whisk it up.
- 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!
- 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.
- Let them cool for about an hour in the pan. We gotta get them to room temp.
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Step 4: Make the Frosting and Get Those Babies Ready
- 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.
- Add the chopped chocolates to the cream and let them chill for about a minute then whisk it all up until smooth and silky.
- Stir in the butter until it melts up.
- 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.
- I like to let the brownies set for about an hour then I cut into squares and serve them up!
Cosmic Brownies Recipe
Made with my classic fudge brownie recipe, a rich chocolate frosting, and lots of rainbow coated candies, these Cosmic brownies are perfect for parents and kiddos alike!
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Servings: 9 servings
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Fudge Brownies
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 tbsp neutral oil like a vegetable oil
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda optional
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
For the Frosting
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 4 oz semisweet chocolate chopped
- 4 oz milk chocolate chopped
- 1 tbsp salted butter
- 1/2 cup rainbow chocolate chip sprinkles
Instructions
For the Fudge Brownies
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8×8 nonstick baking pan and line it with parchment paper, leaving at least 2 inches of paper hanging over the sides.
- In a medium sized bowl, add melted butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar and mix with your hand mixer on medium speed.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition to incorporate. Mix well! (see notes below)
- Mix in oil and vanilla extract.
- Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking soda if using and salt in a bowl. Reduce the speed of the mixer.
- In intervals, add flour mixture to wet mixture until all ingredients are incorporated.
- Add brownie batter to the prepared baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out just barely clean.
- Allow the brownies to cool in the pan for about an hour, or until as close to room temperature as possible.
For the Frosting
- Place the heavy cream in a medium-sized microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 15 second increments until cream is very hot (not boiling). Stir in between increments.
- Add the chopped chocolates to the cream. Let sit for a minute, then whisk until a smooth chocolate mixture forms. Stir in the butter until melted.
- Pour the chocolate ganache over the top of the brownies. Use a flat spatula to spread the chocolate into an even layer. Cool for 5 minutes. Sprinkle the rainbow chocolate chips on top.
- Cover and chill the brownies until set, about 1 hour. Use the parchment to lift the brownies out of the pan. Cut into squares and serve.
Notes
How to Store
- 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.
Nutrition
Calories: 523kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 18g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 84mg | Sodium: 203mg | Potassium: 239mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 47g | Vitamin A: 630IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 3mg
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Recipe Tips
- 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!
Recipe Help
Do I need to grease the pan when making the cosmic brownies?
Not necessary boos. The parchment is going to do the work so those brownies lift out super easy!
Can I use dutch-processed cocoa powder instead of natural in this cosmic brownie recipe?
No doubt you can. But just know that the results will be slightly different in terms of that texture and flavor.
Can I use just semisweet chocolate instead of both that and milk chocolate for the cosmic brownie frosting?
While it’s my preference to use both, you can definitely use one or the other. Just adjust the sweetness as needed.
Can I give my cosmic brownies more fudgy flavor?
Yep you can! Use all brown sugar in the brownie batter. It will give more moisture and create a super fudgy texture.
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We loved making these brownies and the kids were super happy about them!
I have been looking for a classic brownie recipe to make for my kids and this was perfect. Quick to make, but delicious and great texture. Will certainly make these again!
These brownies were my all time favorite as a kid, so I can’t wait to give this recipe a try! They look incredible!
I love the rainbow sprinkles on top! They look so colorful and add a fun twist to these brownies. So delicious!
Such colorful looking brownies and so rich and decadent. A tiny slice goes a long way, so a pan of this can definitely feed a big crowd.