Ultimate Cosmic Brownie Cookies: Your Guide to Fudgy, Sprinkled Perfection
These Cosmic Brownie Cookies are super thick, incredibly soft, and utterly decadent chocolate cookies, crowned with a rich chocolate ganache and vibrant rainbow sprinkles. They capture the beloved essence of the classic Cosmic Brownies, reimagined in a sensational cookie form! Prepare for a truly fudgy, chewy, and nostalgic dessert experience that outshines any store-bought version.
As a devoted chocolate enthusiast, it’s no secret that chocolate is my ultimate dessert indulgence, almost every single time. Growing up, those iconic Cosmic Brownies were a frequent and much-anticipated treat in my lunchbox. The combination of dense, fudgy chocolate and those distinctive candy-coated sprinkles was pure joy. Fast forward to today, and you’ve likely encountered various “Cosmic Brownie Cookies” on the menus of popular cookie shops, attempting to recreate this nostalgic magic.
While I appreciate the effort, I often found myself less than impressed with many of these commercial interpretations. They frequently missed the mark on that perfect fudgy texture and intense chocolate flavor I remembered and craved. This sparked a determination in me to create an even better version right in my own kitchen! After much experimentation, I’m thrilled to share a recipe that delivers cookies so supremely decadent and delicious, they easily surpass any store-bought rendition. These are the cookies that bring back all the fond childhood memories, but with a grown-up level of gourmet satisfaction.
I recently had an experience that further fueled my mission. My son, knowing my love for all things chocolate, brought home a Cosmic Brownie Cookie from Crumbl. While it wasn’t terrible, it definitely wasn’t my favorite. The cookie itself was quite dark chocolate, leaning towards dry rather than fudgy, and lacked the gooey richness I associate with a truly great brownie or brownie-inspired cookie. It simply didn’t deliver the nostalgic satisfaction I was hoping for.
That’s when I decided it was time to take matters into my own hands and perfect this recipe. And let me tell you, the result is absolutely phenomenal! These homemade Cosmic Brownie Cookies are intensely chocolatey, wonderfully fudgy, unbelievably rich, wonderfully decadent, and perfectly gooey in the center. Every bite is an explosion of flavor and texture that will transport you back to childhood while offering a superior, homemade quality. Get ready to bake a batch of pure bliss that will impress everyone!
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Cosmic Brownie Cookies
Crafting these extraordinary cookies requires a handful of common pantry staples, plus a few special touches to achieve that signature Cosmic Brownie flavor. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need, along with some tips for best results:
- Butter: Use unsalted butter for better control over the saltiness in your cookies. Melting it and mixing with cocoa powder creates a rich, smooth chocolate base.
- Brown Sugar: Light brown sugar adds moisture and a lovely caramel note, contributing to the cookies’ chewy and fudgy texture.
- Cocoa Powder: For an intense chocolate flavor, opt for a high-quality unsweetened cocoa powder. Dutch-processed cocoa can yield a darker color and milder taste.
- Milk Chocolate: Melting milk chocolate into the dough enhances the overall richness and provides a smoother, creamier chocolate flavor profile, distinct from just cocoa powder.
- Eggs: Large eggs bind the ingredients, add structure, and, when whisked correctly, contribute to the cookies’ light yet chewy texture.
- Vanilla Extract: Pure vanilla extract is crucial for deepening the chocolate flavor and adding a warm, aromatic dimension. Don’t skip it!
- Baking Powder: This leavening agent helps the cookies rise slightly, preventing them from becoming too dense, while maintaining that perfect soft center.
- Salt: A pinch of salt balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors, particularly the chocolate.
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: These are for the luscious ganache topping. Choose good quality chips for a smooth, rich melt.
- Heavy Cream: Essential for creating a silky, pourable ganache. The high-fat content ensures a glossy, decadent topping.
- Rainbow Chips: The iconic topping! These candy-coated chocolate chips provide the classic colorful look and a delightful textural contrast.
Finding Those Iconic Rainbow Chips
The number one question I get asked whenever I share a “cosmic” inspired recipe is about the signature topping: the rainbow chips. These aren’t your ordinary sprinkles; they’re small, candy-coated chocolate chips that provide that authentic Cosmic Brownie aesthetic and a delightful little crunch. While they might seem elusive, they’re actually quite accessible once you know where to look. They are often labeled as “rainbow chips,” “candy-coated chocolate chips,” or sometimes simply “decorating sprinkles” (but look for the chocolate chip shape!).
I typically find the ones I use from brands like Betty Crocker or Wilton at my local grocery store, both Safeway and Kroger stores consistently carry them. However, if your local supermarket doesn’t stock them, don’t despair! There are plenty of other options available:
- Hobby Lobby: Often has a great selection of baking and decorating supplies, including various types of sprinkles and candy chips.
- Oh! Nuts: An excellent online resource for bulk baking ingredients and specialty confectionery items.
- Amazon: Your go-to for almost anything, Amazon carries several brands of rainbow chips, often with convenient delivery.
- Walmart: Look in the baking aisle; their Great Value brand or other national brands may carry them.
If you’re in a pinch and can’t find these specific rainbow chips, you could alternatively use mini M&M’s for a similar pop of color and chocolatey crunch. Or, if all else fails, regular rainbow sprinkles will still add that festive touch, though the texture will be slightly different. The key is to add that vibrant, cheerful burst of color that makes these cookies instantly recognizable as their “Cosmic” counterpart!
Crafting Your Own Cosmic Brownie Cookies: A Step-by-Step Guide
One of the best things about this recipe is its simplicity and ease. You don’t even need an electric mixer, making it perfect for bakers of all skill levels. Just a few bowls and a whisk are all it takes to create these fudgy masterpieces. Let’s dive into the process:
- Prepare the Chocolate Base: In a medium mixing bowl, melt the butter (you can do this in the microwave or a saucepan). Once melted, add the cocoa powder and whisk vigorously until the mixture is completely smooth and free of any lumps. This ensures a rich, even chocolate flavor throughout the cookie.
- Whisk Eggs and Sugar: In a separate, larger bowl, combine the eggs, light brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Whisk these ingredients together diligently for about 1-2 minutes. The goal is to incorporate enough air into the eggs so the mixture becomes noticeably pale and fluffy. This aeration is key to achieving that desirable light yet chewy texture in your cookies.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: Gently fold the melted milk chocolate and the butter-cocoa mixture into the egg mixture. Mix until everything is just combined, ensuring no streaks of egg or chocolate remain. Be careful not to overmix at this stage.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to the wet mixture. Using a spatula or wooden spoon, fold these dry ingredients in until they are just combined. The moment you no longer see any flour streaks, stop mixing. Overmixing flour develops gluten, which can lead to tough, dry cookies instead of the soft, fudgy texture we’re aiming for.
- Chill the Dough: Using a cookie scoop (approximately 3 tablespoons per cookie for a generous size), scoop large balls of dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. This chilling step is vital! Place the baking sheet with the dough balls into the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes. Chilling helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much in the oven, ensuring they maintain their thick, chewy shape.
- Preheat and Prepare for Baking: While your dough is chilling, preheat your oven to 350º F (175º C). Once the dough is chilled, lightly flatten each cookie dough ball with the palm of your hand or the bottom of a glass. This slight flattening encourages a better shape and more even baking, as the dough won’t spread significantly on its own during baking.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake the flattened cookies for 11-12 minutes. The cookies are done when they are completely set around the edges and just appear dry on top. It’s crucial not to overbake them! Overbaking will result in hard, dry cookies that lose their signature fudginess. They might still look slightly soft in the middle when you take them out, but they will continue to set as they cool.
- Cooling Process: Once out of the oven, allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. This brief resting period helps them firm up without breaking. After 5 minutes, carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents the bottoms from becoming soggy and ensures an even cool.
- Prepare the Ganache: While the cookies cool, prepare your chocolate ganache. Place the semi-sweet chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl. In a separate microwave-safe bowl, heat the heavy cream for about 30 seconds, or until it’s simmering but not boiling. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate chips and let it stand undisturbed for 1 minute. This allows the heat from the cream to melt the chocolate.
- Finish the Ganache: After 1 minute, stir the cream and chocolate mixture until it is completely melted, smooth, and glossy. If there are any stubborn lumps, you can gently microwave it for another 10-15 seconds and stir again.
- Chill the Ganache: Place the bowl of chocolate ganache in the fridge for about 5 minutes. You want it to cool down and slightly thicken so it’s spreadable but not too runny, ensuring it stays beautifully on top of your cookies without dripping off the sides.
- Decorate the Cookies: Once the cookies are entirely cool and the ganache has reached the perfect consistency, use a spoon or a small offset spatula to spread a generous layer of ganache over the top of each cookie. Immediately after spreading the ganache on each cookie, generously sprinkle it with the rainbow chips. The slightly soft ganache will help the sprinkles adhere.
- Set and Serve: Allow the ganache to set completely at room temperature or in the fridge for a few minutes. Once set, your delightful Cosmic Brownie Cookies are ready to be devoured!
Storage and Serving Tips for Peak Freshness
These Cosmic Brownie Cookies are truly at their best when enjoyed within a day or two of baking. Their fudgy texture and rich flavor are most prominent during this period. To keep them fresh, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. After that, while still edible, they tend to dry out a little bit and may not be quite as soft and decadent as when they were freshly baked. If you want to extend their freshness, you can also store them in the refrigerator for up to a week, though the ganache might firm up a bit more.
For longer storage, these cookies freeze beautifully! Once the ganache is completely set, place the cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid (about 1-2 hours). Then, transfer the frozen cookies to a freezer-safe airtight container or a heavy-duty freezer bag, separated by parchment paper to prevent sticking. They can be frozen for up to 2-3 months. To enjoy, simply thaw them at room temperature for an hour or two. This way, you can always have a stash of these delightful treats ready for any craving!
You might have noticed that popular cookie shops like Crumbl are known for serving impressively giant cookies! While that can be fun, I personally prefer to make slightly smaller cookies, allowing me to fully enjoy a whole one without feeling overwhelmed – or perhaps even indulge in two in one day! For this recipe, I used my medium-sized cookie scoop and slightly overfilled it to get a good, substantial cookie size. However, you absolutely have the flexibility to adjust the size to your preference.
If you opt for larger cookies, similar to those from a gourmet cookie shop, I recommend adding 1-2 minutes to the baking time. Conversely, if you choose to make smaller cookies, subtract 1-2 minutes from the suggested baking time. Remember, every oven is different and can have hot spots, so it’s always wise to keep a close eye on your cookies regardless of their size. The best indicator that they’re done is when their tops appear set and slightly dry. Avoid overbaking to preserve their wonderfully fudgy and soft centers!
Explore More Decadent Cookie Recipes
If you’re a fan of these Cosmic Brownie Cookies and love experimenting with homemade treats, be sure to check out some of my other favorite cookie recipes. There’s a perfect cookie for every occasion and craving!
- Classic Sugar Cookies
- Homemade Star Crunch Cookies
- Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Texas Sheet Cake Cookies
- Irresistible Nutella Cookies
- Gooey S’mores Cookies
- Copycat Chick-Fil-A Cookies
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Cosmic Brownie Cookies
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Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter, melted
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 2 whole large eggs
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup milk chocolate, melted
- 2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Chocolate Ganache
- 1 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup rainbow chips
Instructions
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In a small bowl mix together melted butter and cocoa powder until smooth and there are no lumps.
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In a separate bowl whisk the eggs brown sugar and vanilla extract until it is pale and fluffy. This will take a minute or two to incorporate enough air into the eggs for them to thicken and get a little bit fluffy.
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Add the melted chocolate and the butter mixture to the eggs and mix until fully combined.
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Fold in the flour, baking powder, and salt until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as soon as the flour streaks are gone, you are dong mixing.
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Scoop large balls for dough (about 3 Tablespoons) onto a baking sheet, and chill for 20 minutes.
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Preheat oven to 350º F.
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Slightly flatten the cookies as they will not spread much at all during baking. Bake for 11-12 minutes. The cookies will be completely set and just dry on the top. You do not want to over bake them or they will harden and dry out.
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Remove the cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
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Once the cookies are cooled, make the ganache by heating the heavy cream in a bowl for 30 seconds. Add the chocolate chips and let it stand for 1 minute. Stir until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth.
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Place the chocolate ganache in the fridge for 5 minutes before spreading it on the cookies. You want it to be cool enough it will not run off the cookies.
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Using a spoon, spread ganache over the top of each cookie and then sprinkle with the rainbow chips.
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Let the chocolate set up and serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
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