This Cosmic Brownie Recipe from scratch is so delicious! They are fudgy, chewy, and easy to make. You will love this chocolatey copycat brownie recipe!
homemade cosmic brownies:
Cosmic brownies are a lunchbox throwback! This copycat recipe is even better than the original Little Debbie’s! The brownies are dense and delicious, while the chocolate frosting adds the perfect amount of richness.
Making them may seem like an intimidating task, but I promise this cosmic brownie recipe is simple! This step-by-step recipe tutorial below will illustrate the exact steps so you can see how easy they are to make.
What are Cosmic Brownies?
The original cosmic brownie was made famous in the 1960’s by Little Debbie when they released fudgy chocolate icing covered brownies topped with rainbow chocolate-covered candies. While the idea was brilliant, a homemade brownie is always better than store-bought. This copycat cosmic brownie recipe is much like the original but even better.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- granulated sugar, light brown sugar, vanilla, eggs, and egg yolks- Found in many different desserts, this sugar and egg mixture is the base of these brownies.
- butter – adds richness and delicious fat to the recipe while enhancing the flavor of the chocolate
- chocolate chips – helps make the cosmic brownies extra fudgy.
- vegetable oil- It adds extra moisture to the brownies so that they will not become dried out.
- Self-rising flour – acts as a leavening agent
- cocoa powder- adds a deep chocolate flavor.
Frosting
- sweetened condensed milk- Adds all the sugar you need for this super simple frosting.
- chocolate- You can’t have a chocolate frosting without chocolate.
- butter- It will balance out the sweetness of the chocolate and sweetened condensed milk.
Topping
- rainbow chocolate chips– They give the brownies a pop of color and take the nostalgia over the top!
You can find rainbow chocolate chips at most grocery stores, but you can also purchase them on amazon.
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9-by-13 baking dish with parchment paper, but you can also use butter spray if you prefer. Gather the ingredients together.
Step 2: Combine granulated sugar, brown sugar, whole eggs, yolks, and vanilla in a large bowl and combine.
Tip: Do not overmix the batter because it will cause air bubbles to form. When there are too many air bubbles added to the batter, you will end up with a cakey texture instead of dense and fudgy.
Step 3: Add butter and chocolate to a microwave-safe bowl, then place it in the microwave in 30 seconds intervals, stirring between each one. You must stir between each interval because this will distribute heat throughout the chocolate mixture, causing it to melt faster and more evenly. Be careful NOT to overcook the chocolate chips, or the chocolate will seize, and you will end up with hard chocolate.
When the butter and chocolate mixture is melted, allow it to sit and come to room temperature before adding it to the sugar egg mixture. This will prevent the eggs from scrambling because of the hot butter.
Step 4: Stir in flour and cocoa powder, and bake for 30-35 minutes. To achieve perfect fudgy brownies pull them out of the oven just before they bake all the way through.
The brownies will continue to cook once you remove them from the oven, so if you follow the recipe card’s instruction, you don’t have to worry about them being underbaked.
Step 5: While the brownies are baking, begin making the chocolate frosting to pour over the top. Combine sweetened condensed milk and butter in a microwave-safe bowl for 30-second intervals.
After the butter has melted, add in chocolate and stir. If needed, continue to microwave for 15-second intervals until the frosting has been melted. Pour over the top of the brownies and add candy-coated rainbow chips to the top. Place the cosmic brownies in the fridge until they are set. Enjoy!
How to store cosmic brownies:
If you cut the brownies into squares, they can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days. However, if you are not eating the brownies right away, leave them in the pan, wrapping them tightly with plastic. This way, you will be able to store them for 4-5 days, and they will be much fresher.
Brownies can also be refrigerated for up to 7 days in an airtight container or in the freezer for up to 3 months. To thaw place them in the fridge overnight. If you prefer hot brownies, heat them in the microwave or the oven (at 350) until warmed all the way through.
How will I know when the brownies are done?
Insert a toothpick in the middle of the brownies, and if it comes out with several moist crumbs, then you can take them out because they will continue to bake once removed from the oven. However, if the toothpick comes out clean, then they will most likely be overdone and dry.
Why did my brownies not cut into neat squares?
If you cut your brownies while they are still hot, you will be left with crumbs all in the frosting, and uneven pieces. For best results, wait until the icing is set, and the brownies are completely cool before cutting them.
Variations of this recipe:
If you don’t want to bake the traditional copycat cosmic brownies, here are a couple of variations you could try!
- nuts- Adding some nuts such as walnuts will add an extra tasty crunch.
- different sprinkles- Instead of the regular rainbow chocolate chips, perhaps you could try, rainbow sprinkles, M & M’s, or even crushed up Oreos!
Other Dessert Recipes:
- Chocolate Chip Cookies with Self-Rising Flour
- Southern Buttermilk Pie Recipe
- Cookies & Cream Brownies
How to Make Cosmic Brownie Recipe
Cosmic Brownie Recipe {Easy & Delicious}
Ingredients
Brownie
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 stick butter melted
- 1 1/3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 1/4 cup self-rising flour
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
Glaze
- 4 tbs butter softened
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 1 1/3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Topping
- 1/4 cup rainbow chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F. Spray a 9-by-13 inch pan with baking spray.
- Combine granulated sugar, light brown sugar, vanilla, whole eggs and yolks in a large bowl.
- Place chocolate and butter in a microwave-safe bowl, and begin to microwave in 30-second intervals. Stir in between each one until the mixture is fully melted.
- Pour the chocolate mixture into the sugar mixture and stir until it is fully combined.
- Add in flour and sugar and gently stir until fully combined.
- Pour the brownie batter into the prepared pan and bake 30-35 minutes.
Glaze
- Place the chocolate chips into a medium-sized bowl and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine your sweetened condensed milk and butter. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir, and repeat.
- When the butter is fully melted, add in the chocolate ads stir until melted. If needed, microwave another 15 seconds until the frosting is smooth.
- Pour the frosting over the brownies and sprinkle the top with rainbow chips.
- Let cool completely before serving.
- Enjoy!