Cosmic Brownies
My copycat Cosmic brownies are thick, fudgy, and topped with a silky smooth chocolate ganache. This easy 30 minute recipe disappears in minutes!
Remember ripping the cellophane off cosmic brownies after school as a kid? These taste like that only better! They're made with butter, chocolate and M&Ms instead of unidentified candy bits. Love brownies? Try our praline brownies, cherry brownies, Nutella Brownies or mug brownies next. These are great for school lunch, potlucks, and picnics alike. Wash it down with a class of ice cold milk or a big scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.
Rich and indulgent just like good brownies should be!!★★★★★
Review From Julia
Why This Recipe Works: A Sprinkle of Food Science
- Blooming Cocoa: Melted butter blooms the cocoa for a deep chocolate flavor and aroma.
- Butter Not Oil: We also like butter vs. oil as it gives a fudgier melt in your mouth texture. This is because unlike oil butter is not a liquid at room temperature.
- High Cocoa Powder To Flour Ratio: This keeps our brownies fudgy not cakey.
Ingredient Notes and Shopping Tips
- Cocoa Powder: Because we're not using a leavening agent like baking soda you can use regular or Dutch process cocoa powder. I like the darker color and deeper fudgier flavor of Dutch process.
- Flour: Measure your flour by scooping it into the measuring cup, and then leveling off with a table knife. Never dip your measuring cup into the flour, as this will give you too much.
- Brown Sugar: This retains more moisture than white and helps keep our brownies soft for days. Pack it in the cup when you measure it.
- Egg: Bring to room temperature to help everything come together smoothly.
- M&MS: I'm not a big fan of the candies on top of store-bought cosmic brownies so I used rainbow M&Ms. However, if you want an authentic look, Wilton sells Rainbow Crunch Chips that look very similar.
- Chocolate Chips: Use good quality chocolate chips for a smooth melt. I like Ghirardelli.
How To Make Cosmic Brownies
- Mix Batter: Combine butter, eggs, sugars, and vanilla. Then add in cocoa powder and flour.
- Bake: Pour batter into pan and bake for 25-30 minutes.
- Ganache: Heat oven cream. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour over brownies.
Krystle's Tips: Steal My Culinary School Secrets
- Bake in a pan lined with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Cool Butter: Cool butter slightly so you don't accidentally scramble your eggs.
- Don't overmix: Overmixing can lead to tough dense brownies. Mix until the flour is just combined and the white streaks disappear.
- Mom Hack: My Mom taught me always cut brownies with a plastic knife since they are naturally nonstick. Wipe the knife down in between cuts for best results.
- Don't Overbake: Insert a toothpick in the center. If the toothpick comes out with a few crumbs, your brownies are done. If you still see raw batter on the toothpick bake for 2-3 more minutes at a time.
More Copycat Desserts I Love
Cracker Barrel Chocolate Coca Cola Cake
Copycat Maple Butter Applebees Blondie
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📖 Recipe
Copycat Cosmic Brownies
Thick, fudgy brownies smothered in silky smooth chocolate ganache, and topped with M&M candies.
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Servings: 12 Brownies
Calories: 419kcal
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Ingredients
For the Brownies
- ¾ Cup Unsalted Butter (1 ½ Sticks) ,Melted
- 2 Eggs
- 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
- ⅔ Cup Light Brown Sugar Tightly Packed
- 2 Tablespoons Milk
- 2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- ¾ cup Un-Sweetened Natural Cocoa Powder
- ¾ cup All-Purpose Flour
For the Topping
- 1 ½ Cups Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
- ½ Cup Heavy Cream
- 1 Cup M&M Minis
Don't lose this recipe. Pin for later!
Instructions
For the Brownies
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9x9 inch pan with foil. Spray with non stick spray.
- In a large bowl, melt butter in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
- Whisk in sugars, eggs, milk, and vanilla. Then whisk in cocoa powder until smooth.
- Add flour gradually, until combined.
- Spread batter in prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely.
For the Ganache
- Heat heavy cream in a medium sauce pan. Add chocolate chips. Stir occasionally until smooth.
- Pour ganache over brownies. Smooth with an offset spatula.
- Sprinkle with M&Ms. Refrigerate until the ganache has set.
Notes
Ingredient Notes
- Cocoa Powder: like the darker color and deeper fudgier flavor of Dutch process cocoa powder.
- Flour: Measure your flour by scooping it into the measuring cup, and then leveling off with a table knife. Never dip your measuring cup into the flour, as this will give you too much.
- Egg: Bring to room temperature to help everything come together smoothly.
- Chocolate Chips: Use good quality chocolate chips for a smooth melt. I like Ghirardelli.
- Bake in a pan lined with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Cool Butter: Cool butter slightly so you don't accidentally scramble your eggs.
- Don't overmix: Overmixing can lead to tough dense brownies. Mix until the flour is just combined and the white streaks disappear.
- Don't Overbake: Insert a toothpick in the center. If the toothpick comes out with a few crumbs, your brownies are done. If you still see raw batter on the toothpick bake for 2-3 more minutes at a time.
Nutrition
Calories: 419kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 23mg | Potassium: 178mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 556IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 2mg
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these look over-the-top! I've got to adapt this recipe for our dietary needs - it just looks too scrumptious!
Thanks Alisa! Would love to see your adaptation!
Whoah, this is my kind of dessert!! I'm such a chocaholic and these brownies look like my perfect dessert! Yum!
Great for chocoholics for sure. Thanks Lisa!
Oh my gosh! I've got to try this right away. So chocolatey and yummy!! I think you are making all your readers very hungry. 🙂 I have pinned this. Thank you for such a fantastic recipe!
Thanks so much Angie <3
Thanks Judy!
Was wondering if I could double this recipe, or make it twice and bake it in a jelly roll pan? And if I could would I need to adjust the baking time? Thanks.
Hi Jenny,
Of course doubling won't be a problem. I wouldn't suggest a jelly roll pan as that will give you a really thin as opposed to thick brownie.
If you double the recipe in 2 different pans baking time shouldn't need to be adjusted. As long as a tooth pick inserted in the center comes out with a few crumbs and not brownie batter they are done. Hope this helps. Let me know how they turn out!
I'm going to preface my comment with two things:
1. I realize I'm a bit late to the game but wanted to share if someone else stumbled across this recipe
2. I have never had a cosmic brownie so my mods may not produce a TRUE cosmic brownie experience
I double the brownie recipe and baked in a jelly roll pan for about 30 minutes (started at 25 then had to add a few minutes) and used just one batch of the frosting and topped with mini M&M's and they. were. uh-may-zing. Rave reviews from everyone at the birthday party I made them for! Super fudgy and delicious, thanks for a great recipe!
So glad you enjoyed them Rachel! LOVE the idea of using a jelly roll pan!
These brownies are right up my alley! Thanks for linking up with What's Cookin' Wednesday!
Thanks Karly!
hi thanks for sharing love the brownies my boys eat these all time and if I can make them at home even better visiting from freedom fridays have a great day
Thanks Lorraine!
I've never had an actual cosmic brownie, but i know I'd love one of these
Hi Heather really? That is crazy! You need to try these! 😀
My son loves these! Seriously! I can not wait to surprise him with this home made recipe. Thanks!
Kathleen
Charm Bracelet Diva {at Home}
I'm so glad to hear that Kathleen! Thanks for your feedback! 🙂
When I find a copycat recipe I expect it to taste like what it's copycating.
This recipe is not it. Too cakey. Followed the recipe exactly.
Hi Shannah,
I'm sorry that the recipe was not what you were expecting.
In the future, you may want to try adding an extra egg yolk or 2 for a fudgier brownies. Thanks for your feedback! 🙂
OMG !!
These look HEAVENLY
I should not have seen these incredible brownies so early in the morning... 🙂
Pinning
Thanks so much Winnie! Nothing wrong with wanting chocolate in the morning in my opinion 😀
Holy moly do these look so incredible??!!!
Thanks Jocelyn! 🙂
wow my chocolate cravings have definitely kicked in after seeing these mouthwatering images. amazing brownies!
Thanks so much Thalia!!
Wow, they look fudge on top of fudge! I love the addition of M&Ms! Pinned and bookmarked!
They taste like it too Memoria! Thanks so much for pinning!
Hi! Nice photos. I want to try this tonight but i noticed you didn't mention anything about milk in your dorections. Also, there are a lot of typs so you might want to proofread your material before posting it. Thanks!
Thanks for your feedback Diana. I updated the directions to include the milk.
May want to proofread your comment.
Typo* if you are going to Grammar Nazzi someone and make a fool out of your self ..make sure you Grammar Nazzi correctly... On a side note love the recipe
lmaooo Are you kidding by correcting someone about typo's when your comment is full of them? Wow, hypocrite much? it's DIRECTIONS not DORECTIONS lol