Copycat Cosmic Brownies Recipe

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Our copycat cosmic brownies are LEGIT. Fudgy brownies, loaded with chocolate flavor, and topped with ganache glaze and colorful sprinkles.

You might also like some of our other favorite dessert recipes: cosmic brownie cookies, Texas sheet cake cookies, or copycat Hostess cupcake recipe.

What makes these brownies so delicious? Just like Little Debbie's Cosmic Brownie treats, they are moist and fudgy, not cake-like at all. This gives them a smooth texture and soft bite. Once upon a time, Chick-fil-A also sold brownies similar to these, and they were amazing! Their current brownies simply don’t compare, but no worries, now you can make this classic chocolate treat at home.

Why I Like This Recipe

Rich chocolate flavor. These brownies are extra rich because I use a 50/50 blend of Hershey's special dark baking cocoa and regular baking cocoa. Rich flavor, without being overpowering. I love that I can use baking cocoa to achieve this flavor vs. melting down baking chocolate.
Chocolate ganache. The glaze is truly what sets Cosmic brownies apart from the rest. This glaze is not to be confused with frosting. It sets up so that you can pick up the brownies without your fingers getting sticky.
Soft brownies. These Cosmic brownies are ridiculously soft and fudgy, and they'll stay soft for days, becoming even better on day 2.

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Why I Like This Recipe
Tips and Tricks
Ingredients
How To Make Cosmic Brownies
Cosmic Brownies FAQs
More Brownie Recipes To Make
Copycat Cosmic Brownies

Tips and Tricks

Use parchment paper in the baking pan. This is a trick for any recipe that needs to be cut into squares and removed from the pan. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper, with at least an inch hanging over each side. Once the brownies cool, it's easy to peel off the paper and remove the entire pan of brownies at the same time. Transfer to a cutting board and slice into squares.
Do not overbake the brownies. The brownies might seem done when they come out of the oven, but they will continue to bake as they sit in the hot pan. Do not overbake the brownies. 23-25 minutes is perfect.
Chill the brownies. These brownies need to chill in the refrigerator for an hour or two. This step is critical for creating the fudge brownie base and allowing the top to set properly.

Ingredients

Bowls of flour, sugar, brown sugar, salt, coco powder, 2 eggs, bottle of milk, bottle of sprinkles, chocolate chips, jar of honey, bowl of brown sugar, bottle of vanilla and stick of butter.

Brownies

Butter: I prefer salted, but you can use unsalted butter too.
Sugar: I use a combination of granulated sugar and brown sugar for moisture and texture.
Eggs
Vanilla extract
All-purpose flour
Baking cocoa (cocoa powder): I like using a 50/50 blend of Hershey's special dark and regular baking cocoa for a rich, but not overpowering flavor.
Salt

Glaze

Semi-sweet chocolate chips
Butter
Honey (or light corn syrup)
Milk

Decorations

Rainbow chip sprinkles: The cosmic sprinkles are rainbow-colored candy-coated chocolate chips. You can sometimes find them in stock at Walmart, but I ordered mine on Amazon. You only need a few tablespoons for this recipe, but the rest won’t go to waste! I keep them in the pantry and add them to the top of Texas sheet cake or Cosmic brownie cookies.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How To Make Cosmic Brownies

Mixing bowl of melted butter, sugar and brown sugar.

Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, mix melted butter, sugar, and brown sugar. Mix until creamed and smooth. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix.

Mixing bowl with flour and baking cocoa poured over butter and sugar mixture.

Step 2: Add flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Mix.

Rubber spatula spreading brownie batter in baking pan.

Step 3: Pour brownie batter into parchment-paper-lined baking dish. Spread with a rubber spatula. Bake brownies for 23-25 minutes. Let brownies cool for 30 minutes.

Step 4: Combine ganache ingredients and melt on the stovetop over med-low heat OR in the microwave in 15-20 second intervals, stirring in between each interval until melted and smooth.

Glaze being spread over brownie with metal spatula.

Step 5: Pour ganache over brownies and spread until smooth. Let brownies sit for 1 hour at room temperature to cool completely, then chill for 1 hour in the refrigerator.

Cosmic brownies coated in ganache and rainbow sprinkles.

Step 6: Sprinkle the brownies with rainbow candy-coated sprinkles. Let brownies sit for 1 hour at room temperature to cool completely, then chill for 1 hour in the refrigerator.

Step 7: Lift the brownies from the pan, using the parchment paper, and set them on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to trim the edges and slice them into bars.

Cosmic Brownies FAQs

What baking cocoa is best for copycat Cosmic brownies?

I always use a 50/50 blend of Hershey's Special Dark baking cocoa and regular baking cocoa. It gives brownies a rich chocolate flavor without being overpowering.

What kind of sprinkles are on Cosmic brownies?

The cosmic sprinkles are rainbow-colored candy-coated chocolate chips. You can sometimes find them in stock at Walmart, but I ordered mine on Amazon. You only need a few tablespoons for this recipe, but the rest won’t go to waste! I keep them in the pantry and add them to the top of Texas sheet cake or Cosmic brownie cookies.

What is the best way to remove brownies from the pan?

Line the baking sheet with parchment paper, with at least an inch hanging over each side. Once the brownies cool, it's easy to peel off the paper and remove the entire pan of brownies at the same time. Transfer to a cutting board and slice into squares.