These Copycat Cosmic Brownies Might Be Even Better Than the Original

Real talk: who among us is actually able to resist a delicious Little Debbie snack cake? We know we can’t. When we see an oatmeal creme pie or Christmas tree cake, we can’t stop ourselves from digging in.

Even though we know Little Debbie bakes each cake for us with love and care, there’s no denying that homemade recipes are always that much better. That’s why the geniuses in our test kitchen took everything you know and love about a Cosmic Brownie—from the fudgy brownie to the sweet ganache and candy pieces—and made it just a little bit better. Yes, that’s actually possible.

Because our mouth is already watering looking at the gooey, chocolatey brownies, here’s how to make them yourself.

How to Make Copycat Cosmic Brownies

These copycat Cosmic Brownies are made completely from scratch with a handful of essential ingredients, like bittersweet chocolate, cocoa, brown and granulated sugars, and cornstarch.

However, our recipe developer, Amanda Holstein, assures that this recipe can be made with a box of brownie mix, too.

Once you bake your brownies, you’ll want to chill them so that they slice more cleanly, like a real Cosmic Brownie would. After chilling, you can make a ganache with semisweet chocolate, heavy cream, butter, and salt.

Then, it’s time for the fun part: decorating. You’ll add an even layer of ganache to each brownie, then top them with the iconic rainbow candy-coated chocolate pieces, which are available on Amazon or Oh! Nuts.

After you’ve created your brownie masterpiece, you will have to practice some patience because the ganache needs to set in the fridge for a bit. About five minutes should be enough time before you can dig in!

What Makes Copycat Cosmic Brownies So Good?

The key to this Cosmic Brownie copycat is making the brownie extra thick and fudgy. The richness and fudginess—coupled with the ganache and bit of crunch from the candy pieces—is what makes these the “most perfect brownie ever,” according to our recipe tester Julia Levy.

What Makes a Brownie Fudgy?

To create the ideal fudgy brownie, you’ll need a higher ratio of fat to flour, according to Holstein. That’s why if you’re using a box mix, you’ll want to use butter and milk instead of oil and water.

If you’re making the brownies from scratch, “using chocolate bars instead of cocoa powder creates a fudgy brownie,” says Holstein. “Since chocolate contains cocoa butter, [it] will create a firmer brownie, [while] still incorporating fat.”

Using both brown sugar and granulated sugar also adds a touch of moisture that gives the brownies their gooey texture.

How to Store Copycat Cosmic Brownies

If you even have any brownies left over, you can store them covered in the refrigerator for up to four days.

You can also make both the brownies and ganache ahead of time. To store the baked brownies without the ganache topping, leave them covered at room temperature. The ganache, however, should be stored covered in the fridge. Then, when you’re ready to decorate, you can reheat it in the microwave in 15-second increments until shiny and smooth.