These homemade cosmic brownies taste just like the real deal but with way more chocolate flavor! They’re fudgy, rich, and sprinkled with their signature candy coated chocolates. These brownies are also so easy to make and do not require any special equipment. Just mix, bake, and enjoy!

close up on the top view of scattered homemade cosmic brownie slices

close up on a bite taken from a homemade cosmic brownie

What are cosmic brownies?

They basically taste like childhood. I remember cosmic brownies being one of my FAVORITE Little Debbie treats, next to star crunch and oatmeal cream pies. But cosmic brownies are a pre-packaged brownie with a really dense and fudgy brownie topped with a soft and creamy chocolate icing.

So what makes them “cosmic”? Surprisingly, they were inspired and named after the Cosmic Bowling trend that started in the late 90s. The bright candy coated sprinkles against the dark chocolate brownies are to resemble the bright neon contrasts in cosmic bowling, like what you would see under a black light.

I never knew this until doing my research for this post, but now it definitely makes sense and makes me feel even more nostalgic when I think of cosmic brownies!

pouring melted chocolate into a bowl of whipped eggs and sugar

folding brownie batter using a rubber spatula

How to make fudgy brownies

Cosmic brownies are so dang good because they have that delicious dense, fudgy and chewy texture. So in order to recreate that same richness, I pulled out all the stops to create a brownie just like the real deal. Here’s how to achieve that same texture:

Use a mix of light brown sugar and granulated sugar. Light brown sugar adds some chewiness to these brownies, while granulated sugar easily dissolves into the batter. Combining the two will give you a chewy brownie with a really smooth finish.
Whip the sugar with the eggs. Doing so will help dissolve the sugar, giving you a really creamy texture and crackly and glossy brownie top.
Use both chocolate and cocoa powder. Melted chocolate is what gives these brownies their fudginess. As the brownies cool, that chocolate will slowly start to to solidify, giving you a really dense but soft texture. This is why I love using chocolate alongside cocoa powder, not only to help with the texture but also to boost that chocolate flavor.
Slightly under bake the brownies. 20-25 minutes is the sweet spot to get the perfect bake. The center will still be a bit underdone, but will set up as it cools. Otherwise, if you over bake the brownies, you’ll be left with a more dry and cakey texture.

The chilling process seals the deal. If you dig right into these brownies when they’re still warm, they’ll be a soupy mess. Chilling will help tighten up their texture, giving you a dense but soft and fudgy brownie.

a pool of chocolate ganache poured on top of baked brownies

chocolate coated candies sprinkled on top of a layer of chocolate ganache

What is on top of a cosmic brownie?

To pair with that delicious fudgy brownie base, cosmic brownies are topped with even more chocolate. True cosmic brownies are topped with chocolate icing, but for my recipe I opted for chocolate ganache. It gives you a creamier finish and much more chocolate flavor. Plus, the brownies are already sweet enough and don’t need even more sugar on top.

Chocolate ganache is also very easy to make and only takes a couple minutes to whip up. Oh, and it only requires 2 ingredients; chocolate and heavy cream.

The heavy cream is heated until boiling, then gets poured over the chocolate. The cream slowly heats and melts the chocolate for about 30 seconds, then it’s ready to whisk into a smooth consistency.

In the end you’re left with a glossy, smooth, and rich ganache that’s poured over the chilled brownies. Once leveled out, you can top with your rainbow candy sprinkles.

top view of scattered slices of homemade cosmic brownies

How to slice homemade cosmic brownies

Cosmic brownies always come in a pack of two in a large rectangular shape. So to stay true to the original, I opted to slice these brownies into 8 bars. But you can also slice these brownies into 16 even squares.

To slice, I recommend working with the bars when they’re completely set and chilled. Each slice should also be one quick motion, so use a very large and sharp knife. Never drag the knife along the brownie as the brownie will stick to the sides of the knife and drag all down that slice, give you very uneven edges.

Also make sure to wipe off the knife between each cut to prevent any sticking and dragging.

How to store homemade brownies

I recommend keeping these in the refrigerator as they are best served when chilled. Store in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Can I make these gluten free?

I haven’t tested it, but you can try swapping the all purpose flour with a good 1-to-1 gluten free baking flour with xanthan gum in the mix. I recommend this one by Bob’s Red Mill.

For more brownie recipes, check out my:

Make sure to tag me @butternutbakery on Instagram and comment below if you make these Cosmic Brownies. To pin this recipe and save it for later, you can use the button on the recipe card or on any of the photos above. Happy baking!

Watch how to make these homemade cosmic brownies:

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