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Cosmic Brownies are a nostalgic treat that so many of us remember fondly from childhood lunchboxes. This homemade version is everything you love about the original Little Debbie classic—fudgy, chocolatey, and topped with colorful candy-coated chocolates—but made entirely from scratch. No preservatives, no complicated steps, just rich chocolate flavor in every bite. Perfect for sharing or indulging on your own, these homemade cosmic brownies with a rich chocolate ganache are sure to delight kids and adults alike!
Make the most delicious homemade cosmic brownies and enjoy all those wonderfully rich chocolate flavors and of course the cute and crispy rainbow sprinkle topping.
Love brownies? You might also like tiramisu brownies, s’mores brownies, this brownie batter dip, or these melt-in-the-mouth cream cheese brownies.
Why You’ll Love It
Just like Little Debbie brownies: If you have fond memories of Little Debbie cosmic brownies, you’re going to love this recipe because they’re just as delicious!
Colorful and fun: Not only do these taste great but they look good too.
Simple to whip up: The recipe is made in stages – first you make the brownie batter and bake the brownies and then you add a homemade chocolate ganache, and finally you get to sprinkle as many colorful sprinkles or rainbow candy coated chocolate pieces as you like.
Copycat Cosmic Brownie Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
All-purpose flour: A Little Debbie brownie recipe staple.
Sugar: I used both brown sugar and white granulated sugar for added depth of flavor.
Corn syrup: Also for sweetness.
Vanilla extract: Use 100% pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
Unsweetened cocoa powder: For a rich chocolate flavor.
Heavy cream: To make the ganache frosting rich.
Dark chocolate: To flavor the ganache chocolate frosting.
How to Make Cosmic Brownies
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Prepare the brownie batter: Mix the butter, oil and sugar. Add the eggs, corn syrup and vanilla extract and mix again. Add the cocoa powder and flour and gently fold them in without overmixing. Pour the brownie batter into a greased or parchment paper lined baking pan and smooth it out evenly.
Bake the brownies: Bake the brownies until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and then set them aside to cool.
Prepare the ganache: Warm the butter, cream and sugar in a pan over a low heat, stirring until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves. Take the pan off the heat and continue stirring until thick.
Assemble the brownies: Spread the ganache over the cooled brownies and then add sprinkles or rainbow candy coated chocolate chips on top. Leave the brownies to set until the ganache is firm and then slice and serve.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version of this copycat cosmic brownies recipe, use gluten free flour and gluten free sprinkles.
Vegetable oil: Use olive oil, canola oil or melted coconut oil instead.
Corn syrup: While corn syrup helps with the texture and moisture of the brownies, you can omit it. You may need to adjust the sweetness level slightly.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Begin your meal with an antipasto farro salad or Bloody Mary deviled eggs.
Main dishes: Next up, how does creamy marry me surf ‘n turf sound? Or you might prefer this French onion chicken.
Desserts: Finish dinner with a cosmic brownie (or two!) and a scoop of ice cream for added indulgence.
How to Store Homemade Cosmic Brownies
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Freeze: Tightly wrap them in plastic wrap and then foil and put them in an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Defrost the brownies in the refrigerator overnight.
Top Tips
Line the baking dish: Line your pan with parchment paper so the brownies don’t stick to it. If you don’t have any, grease it well instead.
No overmixing: When adding the flour and cocoa powder to the brownie batter, gently fold it in. Overmixing at this stage will result in dense brownies with an overly chewy texture.
Checking for doneness: When a toothpick inserted inserted into the middle of the brownies comes out clean (or with just a few moist crumbs) it’s time to take them out the oven.
Let the ganache cool: Let it cool before pouring over the brownies for a better consistency.
Thicken the ganache: Adjust the amount of chocolate and butter to get the ganache to your preferred consistency.
Colorful sprinkles on top: These round rainbow candy-covered chocolate bits are ideal, but these colorful sprinkles would work too.
Copycat Cosmic Brownie FAQs
Yes, you can double the ingredients to make a larger batch. Adjust the baking time accordingly and consider using a larger baking pan. Cosmic brownies taste so good you probably will want to make extra!
You can use mini semi sweet chocolate chips or dark chocolate chips, chopped nuts or any kind of sprinkles as alternative toppings for the ganache.
Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies Recipe
Cosmic Brownies Recipe
Equipment
- Baking Dish 8-Inch Square
- Saucepan Small
Ingredients
For the Brownies:
- ¼ Cup vegetable oil
- ¾ Cup all-purpose flour
- 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ¾ Cup white sugar
- ½ Cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 Tablespoon corn syrup
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¾ Cup cocoa powder
For the Ganache:
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ Cup white sugar
- 4 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ¾ Ounces heavy cream
- 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 ½ ounces dark chocolate
To Decorate the Brownies:
- rainbow-colored candy-coated chocolate bits, or sprinkles
Instructions
Make the Brownie Batter:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper or grease lightly.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the butter, oil, white sugar, and brown sugar. Mix until smooth and creamy using a whisk or a spatula.
- Crack in the eggs, add the corn syrup and vanilla extract and mix well until fully incorporated.
- Add the cocoa powder.
- Sift the flour directly into the bowl and fold gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs (not wet batter).
Make the Ganache:
- In a small saucepan, add the butter, heavy cream and sugar and stir over a low heat until the sugar dissolves and the butter melts, just for a few seconds.
- Add the chocolate, cocoa powder and vanilla and stir over a medium heat for about 3 minutes until the chocolate starts to melt.
- Remove the pan from the heat and continue stirring until the ganache thickens and all the ingredients are incorporated. Remember that it will thicken a bit more as it cools, but if you want a thicker consistency you can add a little more butter and a bit more chocolate until you reach the desired consistency.
Assemble the Brownies:
- Once the brownies are done baking and have cooled slightly, pour the ganache over the top of the brownies and spread it out evenly.
- Sprinkle the rainbow chocolate pieces or sprinkles on top of the ganache.
- Allow the ganache to set at room temperature for about 30 minutes or until firm.
- Cut the brownies into squares with a sharp knife and serve.
Notes
No overmixing: When adding the flour and cocoa powder to the brownie batter, gently fold it in. Overmixing at this stage will result in dense brownies with an overly chewy texture.
Checking for doneness: When a toothpick inserted inserted into the middle of the brownies comes out clean (or with just a few moist crumbs) it’s time to take them out the oven.
Let the ganache cool: Let it cool before pouring over the brownies for a better consistency.
Thicken the ganache: Adjust the amount of chocolate and butter to get the ganache to your preferred consistency.
Colorful sprinkles on top: Round rainbow candy-coated chocolate bits are ideal, but colorful sprinkles work too.
Nutrition
This Little Debbie brownie recipe is just like the Little Debbie brownies you can get from the store, except they have a fresher, better flavor. The soft, fudgy brownies are topped with a rich, creamy chocolate ganache and then you have cute and colorful rainbow sprinkles on top. Eating cosmic brownies is one of life’s sweetest pleasures.
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
