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Copycat Cosmic Brownies

September 25, 2014 by thedomesticrebel | 22 Comments

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copycat cosmic browniesWhile in the grocery store check-out lane, I spotted some Grape Tic-Tacs.

Ever since I can remember, I was a grape fan for most things. I liked grape suckers. I loved grape juice. Grape popsicles were my jam, as was grape jam. So grape Tic Tacs? No brainer; that was in my cart faster than you can say “duh.”

And they were inhaled even faster. I have this thing with mints. ‘Savor’ and ‘mints’ do not go in the same sentence in my vocabulary. The second my jonesing paws get on a package of mints, I inhale them like candy. But that’s another story. Actually, that was the story. The end.

Anywho, the cashier rang up my grape mints and said, “grape?” so incredulously, I figured she was one of those grape haters who was judging me for my inferior liking of fruit-flavored mints.

I felt the need to explain myself and my childhood affinity for grape-flavored things and to my surprise, she agreed. She said grape Kool-Aid was her favorite. Instantly, I felt a lifelong sisterhood bond to the Walmart cashier for her preference to grape drinks. Finally, someone who got it. It’s like she was my soul sister, ya know?

Then later, I went home and on a completely unrelated-to-the-mints incident, I got sick. Or maybe it was related, since I downed the entire pack of mints in about 2 minutes. Whatever. Anyway, I went looking for some medicine to assuage my newfound illness when I realized something: all adult medicine tastes like junk, but kids medicine tastes so delicious.

What. Is up. With that.

As a kid, I hated getting sick — but the silver lining was A) staying home to watch TV all day; B) alternating Scooby Doo episodes with half-assedly playing Barbies; and C) taking fruity-flavored cough syrup. If I do recall, I was most a fan of the orange Triaminic cough syrup which made oranges taste bearable, but because the world hates me, it was only for allergies. So I pretty much spent my childhood concocting fake allergy sicknesses just so I could take it. My mom quickly quelled that soon-to-be-drug habit and thus I never had a taste of the sweet orange nectar again. But I digress.

Now as an adult, taking medicine is almost as worse as the sickness itself. Why can’t medicine companies make our cough syrups and pills flavored? Why does everything have a medicine taste? Is it really that much of an imposition to add some cherry extract to my cough syrup, or would that like, cause the world to cave in upon itself? When you reach adulthood, does that mean you’re somehow not worthy enough of a decent-tasting medicine? Like your life isn’t crap enough, what with going to work sick, not being able to stay home to play Barbies or watch Scooby Doo marathons, and pay bills, now you have to take garbage-tasting medication?

Kids don’t pay bills. Kids don’t have to go to a 9-5 office job while sniffing their brains out. Kids don’t deserve all the fruity flavored cough syrup. It’s an outrage, really, and one I don’t intend on letting off until my medicine tastes like grapes and heaven-kissed oranges. I’M A TAXPAYING AMERICAN, DANGIT, AND I DEMAND FLAVORED COUGH SYRUP!

Anyway. While this has nothing to do with Cosmic Brownies, it does kind of. Because as a kid I would snack on those heavenly morsels of chocolate-fudge-frosted brownies while watching Scooby Doo, and as an adult I still snack on them (but while watching worse TV programming). Cosmic Brownies don’t discriminate — they taste awesome no matter how old you are, and they’re equal opportunist. They aren’t ageist and mean like medicine. So basically, eat Cosmic Brownies all the time is what I’m saying.

copycat cosmic brownies up close on wood backgroundThese Copycat Cosmic Brownies taste identical to the prepackaged counterparts and come together in minutes. The thick fudge ganache layer is my favorite, topped with a sprinkling of rainbow-colored chocolate bits that bring back nostalgia hardcore.

While they’re not grape-flavored, they’ll do. And I’m not sharing them with medicine companies until my allergy syrup tastes like Skittles.

copycat cosmic brownies arranged on wood cutting board*recipe adapted from Life Made Simple Bakes’ recipe

5.0 from 2 reviews
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Copycat Cosmic Brownies
Author: Hayley Parker, The Domestic Rebel
Recipe type: Brownies, Bars
Prep time:  10 mins
Cook time:  18 mins
Total time:  28 mins
Serves: 24
 
Little Debbie's Cosmic Brownies were a huge part of my childhood and this copycat version brought back so many memories! They're simple to make and taste identical to the prepackaged brownies with the same fudgy texture and thick chocolate ganache. You won't be able to resist!
Ingredients
  • ¾ cup (1 & ½ sticks) butter, room temperature
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ⅔ cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 Tbsp heavy cream or milk
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • 1 Tbsp cornstarch
  • Pinch salt
  • 1 & ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • FOR FUDGE GANACHE:
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • ½ cup milk chocolate chips
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • Rainbow-Covered Chips or Mini M&M's, for garnish
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Liberally grease a 13x9" baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and brown sugar with a handheld electric mixer until creamy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, followed by the cream/milk and the vanilla. Meanwhile, in a separate large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, cornstarch and salt to combine.
  3. Gradually add the flour mixture into the butter mixture until a soft yet thick batter forms. The batter will be very thick! Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan using a greased rubber spatula to help keep it even. Bake for approx. 15-18 minutes or until the top is shiny and appears set. Do NOT over-bake! The brownies may appear slightly undone, but they will continue to set more as they cool. Cool the brownies completely in the pan.
  4. Once the brownies are cooled, make your fudge ganache. In a microwaveable bowl, combine the semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips and the heavy cream. Microwave for about 1 minute on HIGH power, then stir vigorously (careful not to burn yourself) to help melt the remaining chocolate clusters. Once the ganache is smooth, pour it over top of the brownies in an even layer. Immediately top with the rainbow covered chips.
  5. Allow the fudge ganache to set briefly, about 15 minutes, before cutting into squares. Serve!
  6. NOTE: You can find the authentic Cosmic Brownies Rainbow Chips at craft stores like Michael's, Jo-Ann, etc. They're Wilton Brand.
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copycat cosmic brownie with a piece on a pink glittery forkSuper rich, ultra fudgy and packed with chocolate flavor, these Copycat Cosmic Brownies are dare I say — out of this world! The combination of semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips in the ganache keeps it from being too sweet nor too bitter, and the fudge brownies have the perfect consistency. Dense, rich and chewy with that fudgy, stick-to-your-teeth consistency we all know and love. These are the ultimate!

Have a delish day!

xo, Hayley

Chocolate Cravings? Check out these other chocolate-packed treats!

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Kiss of Death (Death by Chocolate) Cupcakes

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3-Ingredient Nutella Croissants

 

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Comments

  1. Kayle (The Cooking Actress) says

    September 25, 2014 at 3:22 am

    ooooooooooooh these cosmic brownies look A MILLION times better than storebought!

    Also-ick. I hated that liquid medicine. I started taking pills when I was 4 because blech

    Reply
  2. Lisa | Sweet 2 Eat Baking says

    September 25, 2014 at 7:29 am

    We don’t get them over here, but I had to look them up, and I have to say; I agree with Kayle. Yours look so much more fudgy and indulgent than the store-bought version.

    And OMGosh, are those coloured mini chocolate chips? Whyyyyy can’t we get them, they’re almost as happy as sprinkles!

    Reply
  3. Karly says

    September 25, 2014 at 7:51 am

    Cosmic Brownies are the best! I like to warm them in the microwave for 5-10 seconds. Oh Lord.

    Must make these!

    Reply
  4. Lindsay @ Life, Love and Sugar says

    September 25, 2014 at 8:00 am

    I totally hear you on digging grape and fruit flavored things. Grape Fanta? The best of the flavors. I’ve never had grape tic tacs, but I can totally down a box of orange ones in no time. My brother and I totally fought over those babies as kids. Just like candy. 🙂

    And these brownies look amazing! I’ve never seen those amazingly colored chocolate chips before but I need them!

    Reply
  5. Sophia @ NY Foodgasm says

    September 25, 2014 at 9:21 am

    Woah these are sooooo totally fudgetastic! LOOOOVE! Yes adult meds are gross agreed, we pay for shit, make US happy!

    Reply
  6. Faith @ Pixie Dust Kitchen says

    September 25, 2014 at 10:09 am

    I always loved the taste of cough syrup too, to the point where if I sneezed I would ask for some. I wish adults had flavored syrup too! Holy yum these look good! Cosmic Brownies were always a special treat for me at school, so I love being able to make them at home!

    Reply
  7. Jennie @themessybakerblog says

    September 25, 2014 at 1:51 pm

    I can’t take my eyes off of the screen. So much chocolate, sprinkles, and ooey goodness. Pinned.

    Reply
  8. Lindsey @ American Heritage Cooking says

    September 25, 2014 at 3:03 pm

    What is UP with all the adult medicine tasting like death itself?! Triminic (uh spelling) was awesome! I also used to get super excited when ever I got to take the pink stuff. So yum. Except that to get that you had to have strep throat or something…quite the tradeoff.

    I’ve never seen a Cosmic brownie and I thought about searching them out for about a nanosecond and then realized yours are probably 1000x better. I’m on it!

    Reply
  9. Kasidy Belle says

    September 25, 2014 at 5:36 pm

    I LOVE cosmic brownies!
    Can’t wait to make them!

    http://kasidybelle.blogspot.com

    Reply
  10. Teresa says

    September 25, 2014 at 8:19 pm

    These brownies look amazing – as does all your stuff. I love drooling over all your creations.

    Reply
  11. Laura @ Laura's Culinary Adventures says

    September 26, 2014 at 4:38 am

    I feel the same way about watermelon flavored things. My mom wasn’t a fan of this kind of snack food, and I was always envious of kids with cosmic brownies in their lunch bags. These look better than the ones I remember!

    Reply
  12. Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction says

    September 26, 2014 at 9:30 am

    I can’t stand adult cough syrup! I just buy the children’s and take the adult dosage!
    These look amazing! So rich and fudgy!

    Reply
  13. Liz says

    September 27, 2014 at 5:51 am

    How come I’ve never eaten these fabulous brownies??? All I remember from my childhood was banana Dramamine…it was HORRIBLE. I dont even want to think about it…instead I’ll focus on cosmic brownies 🙂

    Reply
  14. Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says

    September 28, 2014 at 6:08 pm

    I can’t stand grape, but I have those same feelings about cherries. 🙂 LOVE these, obvi!

    Reply
  15. Jess @ On Sugar Mountain says

    September 29, 2014 at 2:37 pm

    OMG Hayley my family freakin loves cosmic brownies. As in “my dad loves them so much we had to hide them from him”. If I make these for him for his birthday he will FLIP OUT! 😀 Pinning!

    Reply

Trackbacks

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About me

Welcome to The Domestic Rebel! My name is Hayley and I am the 31-year old writer, photographer, recipe developer, taste-tester and creator of this blog. I’m so glad you’ve stopped by my little slice of sprinkly, butter-laden heaven on the interwebs. If it wasn’t apparent, I like to bake… a lot. Read More…

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