Description
These homemade Cosmic Brownies are a rich, chewy chocolate treat topped with glossy ganache and colorful candy sprinkles. They’re a nostalgic favorite made even better from scratch.
Ingredients
Nonstick cooking spray
½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter
¼ cup (28 g) Dutch-process cocoa powder
2 tablespoons neutral oil (canola or vegetable)
5 ounces (142 g) bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
⅔ cup (145 g) granulated sugar
⅓ cup (72 g) packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup (32 g) all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt
3 ounces (85 g) bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped (for ganache)
Pinch kosher salt (for ganache)
6 tablespoons heavy cream
Candy-coated chocolate chip sprinkles, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray an 8×8-inch baking pan with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper, allowing overhang. Spray again.
- Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat and whisk in cocoa powder and oil. Stir in chopped chocolate until smooth. Cool slightly.
- In a large bowl, whisk together granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla for about 2 minutes until well-combined. Stir in the cooled chocolate mixture.
- In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to the chocolate mixture and fold until just combined.
- Spread batter into prepared pan and smooth top. Bake 25–28 minutes until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs. Cool in pan on wire rack for 1 hour.
- To make ganache: combine chopped chocolate and pinch of salt in a bowl. Heat cream until simmering and pour over chocolate. Let sit 1 minute, then stir until smooth.
- Lift cooled brownies from pan and place on a cutting board. Spread ganache evenly over top and sprinkle with candy-coated sprinkles. Chill for 30 minutes to set ganache.
- Cut into 8 bars or 16 squares. For classic look, lightly score center of each bar. Clean knife between cuts for neat edges.
Notes
- Use Dutch-process cocoa for rich flavor and color.
- For a sweeter profile, substitute semisweet or milk chocolate.
- Ganache is essential for authentic Cosmic Brownie texture—don’t skip it!
- Refrigerate before cutting for clean, sharp brownie edges.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 28 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square (of 16)
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
