Copycat Cosmic Brownies Recipe: Best Homemade Brownies posted by Ashton on May 12, 2026 Pin Share Tweet Email Jump to Recipe Copycat Cosmic Brownies Recipe Oh my goodness, you guys — this Copycat Cosmic Brownies Recipe is truly one of the best things I have ever made in my kitchen, and I am not being dramatic! 😍 If you grew up tucking Little Debbie brownies into your school lunches, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Those original cosmic brownies with their dense, fudgy brownie layer and that signature melted chocolate ganache frosting covered in rainbow chips? Childhood favorite doesn’t even begin to cover it. This homemade cosmic brownie recipe is the real deal — a spot-on copycat recipe that honestly might beat the grocery store version. Make it as written for an authentic thin-and-dense vibe, or bake in an 8×8 for thick, chewy brownies. Your call! Related Recipes: Copycat Hostess Cupcakes Lofthouse Sugar Cookies Copycat Recipe Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies This post has been sponsored by Dixie Crystals, but all opinions are 100% my own. This post may contain affiliate links. Ingredients Brownie Base unsalted butter, melted Dixie Crystals granulated sugar brown sugar vanilla extract whole eggs plus one extra egg yolk all purpose flour unsweetened cocoa powder baking powder salt Chocolate Ganache Topping heavy cream semi-sweet chocolate chips corn syrup (just a touch — trust me!) rainbow candy-coated chocolate chips for topping How to Make This Copycat Cosmic Brownies Recipe Step 1 — Mix the brownie batter and bake. In a large mixing bowl, whisk your melted butter with granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, whole eggs, and that extra egg yolk (hello, best fudgy texture! 🙌). Stir in your dry ingredients — all purpose flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, and baking powder. Pour into your prepared pan lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy removal. If you follow the recipe as written, the brownies should be thin and a little dense — just like the Little Debbie version. I wanted to mimic the real thing as closely as possible, and this recipe is seriously spot on! Step 2 — Make the simple ganache while the brownies cool. Warm your heavy cream in a heatproof bowl or medium bowl until it’s just about to simmer, then pour it over your semi-sweet chocolate chips. Let it sit for a couple of minutes, then stir with a rubber spatula until you have a glossy, smooth ganache. Tap the bowl gently on the counter to release any air bubbles — such a satisfying little step! If you’re new to ganache, this post walks you through everything. It’s super do-able, I promise! Step 3 — Spread the melted chocolate ganache frosting on top of the brownies. Use an offset spatula to spread the chocolate frosting evenly over the cooled brownies — even and beautiful, just like the fudgy cosmic brownies you remember from your lunchbox. 😍 Step 4 — Add the rainbow chips and let it set. Scatter those rainbow chocolate chips (also called rainbow sprinkles or cosmic brownie sprinkles — whatever you can find!) over the top of the brownies while the ganache is still tacky. Then let it cool completely. Pop it in the fridge to firm things up faster if you literally cannot wait. I feel you. Tips for the Best Homemade Cosmic Brownies Can we talk about the little details that take this homemade version from good to absolutely ah-mazing? First — use a ceramic pan or a light-colored metal pan for even baking. Dark pans overbake the edges fast! Line your prepared baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil (overlap the sides!) for easy removal. Make sure your eggs are at room temperature before you mix them in — it really does make a difference in how the brownie batter comes together. And on the off chance you don’t have rainbow candy-coated chocolate chips, mini M&M pieces work perfectly as a substitute for those signature little rainbow chips. Little Debbie cosmic brownies lovers will know the difference, but honestly everyone else will just be obsessed. You only need simple kitchen tools and the following equipment: a large bowl, a heatproof bowl, a rubber spatula, and an offset spatula. That’s it! Questions Answered: Brownies How do you make easy brownies? If you’re looking for a dump-everything-in-one-bowl kind of recipe, my Fudgy Chocolate Chunk Brownies is perfect — no melting chocolate, no million steps. And if you want a comprehensive list of brownies to work through (yes please!), check out my Better than Box Mix Brownies Recipe too. So many easy brownie options, so little time! How do you make fudgy brownies from scratch? The secret to truly fudgy brownies is melted butter (or melted chocolate!), the right fat-to-flour ratio, and skipping or minimizing leavening agents. Using egg yolks adds richness — it’s why this copycat version calls for whole eggs PLUS an extra egg yolk. Also: no baking soda, limited baking powder, and mixing chocolate chips into the brownie batter for those gorgeous crackly tops. For a fun variation that leans into chewy territory, my Brownie Mix Cookies Recipe is genuinely life-changing. How do you make boxed brownies better? A few ideas for doctoring up packaged brownies: Top the brownie batter with cookie dough pieces before baking to make Brookies! Add mix-ins to the batter before baking — chocolate candies, nuts, whatever you love. ✔️ Top the cooled brownies with something dreamy! I love making Salted Caramel Brownies with Mrs. Richardson’s caramel sauce — THE BEST. Store bars and packaged brownies are a fun shortcut, but once you go homemade, it’s really hard to go back. If you love copycat snack cakes as much as I do, you also have to try my Copycat Little Debbie Jelly Creme Pies Recipe — SO good. Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to four days. That’s assuming they last that long. 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Make the recipe as written if you want a truly authentic copycat. But if you prefer thick and chewy brownies, level up by baking the brownies in an 8x8 baking dish and increasing the baking time to 30 minutes. Print Ingredients Brownie Base melted butter Dixie Crystals Extra Fine Granulated Sugar vanilla extract eggs all purpose flour Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa powder baking powder salt Chocolate Ganache Topping heavy whipping cream semisweet chocolate chips Rainbow chip candy for topping Instructions CLICK HERE to view the entire recipe on the Dixie Crystals website. Nutrition Information: Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1 Amount Per Serving: Calories: 109Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 117mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 2g
