Remember those little cosmic brownies in your lunchbox? Yeah those ones with the rainbow chips on top. Well guess what – you can make cosmic brownies at home that are WAY better than those packaged ones. Trust me on this. Homemade cosmic brownies have that same nostalgic chocolate flavor but with real ingredients and no weird preservatives.
First time I made cosmic brownies from scratch my kids went crazy for them. They couldn’t believe something so good came from our kitchen and not a plastic wrapper! The fudgy brownie base topped with silky ganache and those colorful sprinkles just hits different when it’s homemade.
Why These Homemade Cosmic Brownies Are The Best
Store-bought cosmic brownies always look amazing but taste kinda meh right? That’s why making cosmic brownies at home is a total game-changer. You control the chocolate quality and can make them as fudgy as you want.
Last month I brought these to my daughter’s class party. The other parents kept asking where I bought them! When I said they were homemade everybody wanted the recipe. Even my mother-in-law who’s super picky about desserts asked for seconds.
These cosmic brownies stay fresh for days in an airtight container. Great for meal prep or when you need to make treats ahead for an event. Plus they freeze really well if you wanna make a big batch.
What You Need For Cosmic Brownies
Here’s everything you need to create amazing cosmic brownies at home:
For The Fudgy Brownie Base:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter – unsalted works best but salted is ok too
- 2 cups granulated sugar – provides perfect sweetness level
- 4 large eggs – room temp works better
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract – seems like a lot but trust me
- 1 cup all-purpose flour – don’t overmeasure this!
- 3/4 cup dark cocoa powder – regular works too but dark gives that cosmic look
- 1/2 teaspoon salt – skip if using salted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon espresso powder – optional but enhances chocolate flavor
For The Ganache Topping:
- 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips – semisweet or milk chocolate both work
- 1/2 cup heavy cream – don’t substitute this
- 1 tablespoon corn syrup – makes it shiny like the real thing
- Rainbow chip sprinkles – these are essential for cosmic brownies!
Got dietary restrictions? No problem. For dairy-free version use plant-based butter and coconut cream instead of heavy cream. Gluten-free? Try a 1:1 GF flour blend but the texture might be slightly different.
How To Make Perfect Cosmic Brownies
Let’s break down exactly how to make these awesome cosmic brownies:
- Get ready. Heat oven to 350°F and line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper. Make sure paper hangs over sides for easy removal later.
- Melt butter completely. Either microwave in 30-second bursts or use stovetop. Let it cool slightly so it doesn’t cook the eggs.
- Mix wet ingredients. Stir sugar into melted butter until combined. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Stir in vanilla.
- Add dry stuff. Dump in flour, cocoa powder, salt and espresso powder (if using). Fold gently just until no dry streaks remain. Don’t overmix or brownies get tough!
- Bake them right. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake 25-28 minutes. They’re done when edges look set but middle still looks slightly underdone. Don’t overbake! That’s the secret to fudgy cosmic brownies.
- Cool completely. This is super important! Brownies need to cool at least 1 hour before adding ganache. Otherwise ganache melts and runs off.
- Make ganache topping. Heat heavy cream until it just starts to simmer (tiny bubbles around edge). Pour over chocolate chips in bowl. Let sit 2 minutes then stir until smooth. Add corn syrup and mix well.
- Add the finishing touch. Pour ganache over cooled brownies and spread quickly with spatula. Immediately add rainbow chips before ganache sets. Press them in slightly so they stick.
- Let set up. Allow ganache to firm up about 1-2 hours at room temp or 30 minutes in fridge.
- Cut and enjoy! For clean cuts, use sharp knife wiped between slices. Store leftovers in airtight container up to 5 days.
Pro tip: if you want super defined slices, refrigerate brownies for 30 mins before cutting, then let come to room temp before eating for best texture.
Awesome Cosmic Brownies Variations
Wanna mix things up? Try these tasty spins on classic cosmic brownies:
- Nutty Cosmic Brownies – Add 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans to brownie batter. Gives amazing texture contrast!
- Cookies & Cream Cosmic Brownies – Mix crushed Oreos into batter and use white chocolate ganache on top. Love Oreos? Check out my Oreo Cheesecake Bars too!
- Peanut Butter Cosmic Brownies – Swirl 1/3 cup melted peanut butter through batter before baking. For more PB goodness, try my No Bake Peanut Butter Bars!
- Rocky Road Cosmic Brownies – Top ganache with mini marshmallows and chopped nuts. Speaking of marshmallows, my Marshmallow Brownies are killer too!
- Cream Cheese Swirl Cosmic Brownies – Swirl 8oz softened cream cheese mixed with 1/4 cup sugar through batter. For more cream cheese treats, try my Cream Cheese Brownies!
- Banana Cosmic Brownies – Add mashed ripe banana to batter for natural sweetness. If you like banana desserts, my Banana Blondies are a must-try!
More Amazing Brownie Recipes You’ll Love
If you’re obsessed with these cosmic brownies, don’t miss my other popular brownie recipes:
- White Chocolate Brownies – perfect when you want something different
- Cream Cheese Brownies – tangy cream cheese swirls in fudgy chocolate
- Marshmallow Brownies – gooey marshmallow layer that’s totally irresistible
Best Cosmic Brownies You’ll Ever Make
I still remember the first time I made these cosmic brownies for my kids’ space-themed movie night. They couldn’t believe we made “the real thing” at home! Now it’s our special tradition whenever someone aces a test or has a tough day.
What makes homemade cosmic brownies special is how they bring together childhood nostalgia with grown-up quality. They’ve got that familiar look but taste SO much better than anything from a box.
Give this recipe a shot – even if you’re not much of a baker. They’re pretty hard to mess up! Make them your own with different toppings or mix-ins. That’s the beauty of homemade cosmic brownies – totally customizable!
Tag @thecrispychef when you make these – love seeing your cosmic brownie creations!
Cosmic Brownies
Equipment
- 9×13-inch baking pan
- Parchment paper
- Mixing bowls
- Whisk
- Spatula
- Saucepan or microwave-safe bowl
- Knife for slicing
Ingredients
For The Fudgy Brownie Base:
- 1 cup 2 sticks butter (unsalted or salted)
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup dark cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt skip if using salted butter
- 1/4 teaspoon espresso powder optional
For The Ganache Topping:
- 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips semisweet or milk chocolate
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon corn syrup
- Rainbow chip sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal.
- Melt butter completely using the microwave or stovetop. Let it cool slightly.
- Mix wet ingredients: Stir sugar into melted butter. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well. Stir in vanilla.
- Add dry ingredients: Fold in flour, cocoa powder, salt, and espresso powder (if using). Mix until just combined.
- Bake: Spread batter in the prepared pan and bake for 25-28 minutes. The edges should be set, and the center slightly underdone.
- Cool completely before adding ganache (at least 1 hour).
- Prepare ganache: Heat heavy cream until simmering, then pour over chocolate chips. Let sit for 2 minutes, then stir until smooth. Mix in corn syrup.
- Assemble: Pour ganache over cooled brownies and spread evenly. Immediately sprinkle with rainbow chips and press slightly to stick.
- Let set for 1-2 hours at room temp or 30 minutes in the fridge.
- Slice and enjoy! For clean cuts, chill for 30 minutes before slicing with a sharp knife. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Notes
Nutrition
Cosmic Brownies FAQ
What are the ingredients of a cosmic brownie?
Cosmic brownies contain butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, cocoa powder and salt for the brownie base. The topping uses chocolate chips, heavy cream and rainbow chip sprinkles. Store versions have preservatives and stabilizers but homemade ones use simple ingredients. The rainbow chips on top are what make cosmic brownies instantly recognizable.
What makes cosmic brownies so good?
Cosmic brownies are so good because they combine dense fudgy brownie texture with smooth ganache topping. The ratio of ingredients creates that perfect chewy-not-cakey texture that makes them addictive. The colorful rainbow chips add fun crunch and visual appeal. Homemade versions taste even better because they use real butter and high-quality chocolate without preservatives.
Why are cosmic brownies so fudgy?
Cosmic-brownies are super fudgy because they use high ratio of fat to flour (typically 1 cup butter to just 1 cup flour). They also contain lots of eggs which add richness. The key is minimal mixing and slight underbaking – you want center still looking soft when removed from oven. The ganache topping also seals in moisture keeping brownies fudgy for days.
What are the 5 ingredients for chocolate brownies?
The 5 essential ingredients for basic chocolate brownies are: butter, sugar, eggs, cocoa powder and flour. That’s the bare minimum! Everything else enhances these basics. Cosmic-brownies add vanilla, salt, sometimes espresso powder, plus the chocolate ganache topping and rainbow chips that make them special.
What makes brownies cakey vs fudgy?
Brownies turn out cakey when recipe includes baking powder/soda, has higher flour ratio, or gets mixed too much (developing gluten). Fudgy brownies like cosmic-brownies use no leavening agents, less flour, more fat, and minimal mixing. Temperature matters too – overbaking makes any brownie more cakey. Fudgy brownies should come out with moist crumbs still clinging to toothpick.