By Becky Hardin
Updated May 22, 2025
Cosmic Brownies are just like the childhood treats you loved, but even better! Homemade fudgy brownies are topped with a layer of sweet chocolate frosting and speckled with colorful candies.
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Cosmic Brownie
These homemade brownies are chewy and thin, just like the Little Debbie snacks you know and love. The frosting on top is so smooth, chocolatey, and perfectly sweet! Of course, what really makes these brownies cosmic in appearance is the sprinkle of rainbow candy-coated chocolate chips on top.
This cosmic brownie recipe closely follows the iconic snack, but you can also make it your own with some simple modifications. Add a few drops of peppermint, coconut, or almond to the batter, or swirl in peanut butter, Caramel Sauce , Nutella, Cookie Butter , marshmallow fluff, or even cream cheese. You could also add some of the rainbow candy-coated chocolate chips into the batter for more fun color, or stir in chocolate chips or nuts. The options are endless!
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ ¾ cup all-purpose flour 90 grams, for gluten-free use a 1-1 flour
- ▢ ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder 56 grams
- ▢ 12 tablespoons unsalted butter 170 grams, melted (1½ sticks), salted works too, if using omit the kosher salt
- ▢ 1 cup granulated sugar 200 grams, or use brown sugar
- ▢ ½ cup brown sugar 107 grams
- ▢ 2 large eggs 50 grams, room temperature
- ▢ 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 4 grams
- ▢ ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ 1 cup chocolate chips 170 grams, milk, semisweet, or dark chocolate chips all work
- ▢ ½ cup heavy cream 114 grams
- ▢ ¼ cup rainbow candy-coated chocolate chips 43 grams, for topping, use mini M&M’s or rainbow sprinkles instead
Video
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray a 9×9-inch baking pan with nonstick spray and line it with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the flour and cocoa powder together. ¾ cup all-purpose flour, ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- In a separate larger bowl, whisk the butter and sugars together. 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, ½ cup brown sugar
- Add in the eggs, vanilla extract, and salt. 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined. Do not overmix the batter; otherwise, your brownies may come out tough.
- Pour the batter into the pan, and use a spatula to spread it out.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out nearly clean. Allow brownies to cool.
- While the brownies are baking, place 1/2 cup of heavy cream in a pot and add 1 cup of chocolate chips. Heat, stirring until the chocolate is melted and smooth. 1 cup chocolate chips, ½ cup heavy cream
- Spread the frosting out over the brownies. Then, sprinkle rainbow chips over the frosting. ¼ cup rainbow candy-coated chocolate chips
- Refrigerate or freeze to let the frosting set before enjoying!
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- 9×9-inch Baking Pan
Becky’s Tips
- You can use a neutral oil, such as vegetable, canola, or coconut oil, in place of the butter, but your brownies may not turn out as soft.
- Do NOT skip lining your pan. A parchment paper sling will help you to remove the brownies from the pan.
- To cut these brownies cleanly, dip a knife in hot water, then wipe it off between slices.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Cosmic Brownies Step by Step
Get the oven going and prepare a baking pan : Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray a 9×9-inch baking pan with nonstick spray and line it with parchment paper. Set aside.
Combine the flour and cocoa : In a medium bowl, whisk 3/4 cup of flour and 2/3 cup of cocoa powder together.
Cream the butter and the sugar : In a separate larger bowl, whisk 12 tablespoons of butter , 1 cup granulated sugar, and ½ cup brown sugar.
Stir in the remaining ingredients : Add 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 3/4 teaspoon of salt.
Combine the wet and dry ingredients: Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined.
Pour into the pan: Pour the batter into the pan, and use a spatula to spread it out.
Bake and cool: Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out nearly clean. Allow brownies to cool.
Make the ganache: While the brownies are baking, place 1/2 cup of heavy cream in a pot and add 1 cup of chocolate chips. Heat, stirring until melted and smooth.
Frost the brownies: Spread the chocolate ganache over the brownies and sprinkle 1/4 cup rainbow chips over the frosting.
Refrigerate and enjoy: Refrigerate or freeze to let the frosting set before enjoying!
Storage
Store leftover cosmic brownies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Although they are safe to store at room temperature, I do not recommend it, as the frosting tends to melt off in warmer temperatures. Bring the brownies to room temperature for about 10 minutes before serving.
You can bake these up to 1 day in advance and frost them on the day you plan to serve them. Store the unfrosted brownies in an airtight container at room temperature until ready to frost and serve.
Freeze cosmic brownies cut into individual slices and wrapped in 2 layers of plastic wrap and 1 layer of aluminum foil for up to 2 months. Let thaw at room temperature before serving.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these with a scoop of Red Velvet Ice Cream or creamy White Chocolate Mousse . You can also pair the brownies with these No-Bake Cheesecake Cups , or Chocolate Pots de Creme for an even more indulgent dessert.
more chocolate brownies we love
Ferrero Rocher Brownies
Gluten Free Brownies Recipe
Cream Cheese Brownies
Brownie Cupcakes
Cosmic Brownies Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- 9x9-inch Baking Pan
Ingredients
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour 90 grams, for gluten-free use a 1-1 flour
- ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder 56 grams
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter 170 grams, melted (1½ sticks), salted works too, if using omit the kosher salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar 200 grams, or use brown sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar 107 grams
- 2 large eggs 50 grams, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 4 grams
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup chocolate chips 170 grams, milk, semisweet, or dark chocolate chips all work
- ½ cup heavy cream 114 grams
- ¼ cup rainbow candy-coated chocolate chips 43 grams, for topping, use mini M&M’s or rainbow sprinkles instead
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Spray a 9x9-inch baking pan with nonstick spray and line it with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the flour and cocoa powder together. ¾ cup all-purpose flour, ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- In a separate larger bowl, whisk the butter and sugars together. 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 cup granulated sugar, ½ cup brown sugar
- Add in the eggs, vanilla extract, and salt. 2 large eggs, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined. Do not overmix the batter; otherwise, your brownies may come out tough.
- Pour the batter into the pan, and use a spatula to spread it out.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out nearly clean. Allow brownies to cool.
- While the brownies are baking, place 1/2 cup of heavy cream in a pot and add 1 cup of chocolate chips. Heat, stirring until the chocolate is melted and smooth. 1 cup chocolate chips, ½ cup heavy cream
- Spread the frosting out over the brownies. Then, sprinkle rainbow chips over the frosting. ¼ cup rainbow candy-coated chocolate chips
- Refrigerate or freeze to let the frosting set before enjoying!
Video
Notes
- You can use a neutral oil, such as vegetable, canola, or coconut oil, in place of the butter, but your brownies may not turn out as soft.
- Do NOT skip lining your pan. A parchment paper sling will help you to remove the brownies from the pan.
- To cut these brownies cleanly, dip a knife in hot water, then wipe it off between slices.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
