Gluten Free Cosmic Brownies

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BETTER THAN the original, Gluten Free Cosmic Brownies, thin fudgy brownies with an equally fudgy glaze, will bring back all the nostalgia.

cosmic brownies scattered out on a piece of white crumpled parchment paper.

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I have to be very honest and tell y'all that I may have only had the actual (original) Little Debbie's cosmic brownie just once or twice in my life. But rest assured, for those of you who are all about that nostalgic treat from your gluten-eating days, I've tested this with those gluten-eating peeps in my family and they agree, they're so much like the original it's crazy. But one thing is a little bit different. They're BETTER. WAY better! Like blow-the-original-out-of-the-water better!

My take on this brownie might be a little controversial. I searched and searched for a copycat recipe out there that wasn't topped with ganache. If you've ever had a cosmic brownie, you'll know that they're NOT topped with ganache. The "frosting" is much more similar to a cooked fudge frosting, something you might see on an old-fashioned chocolate sheet cake (but a little firmer).

While I adore ganache of all sorts, I really wanted to make these brownies as true to the original as possible (albeit better). So in this recipe you'll find that old-fashioned chocolate glaze versus ganache. Feel free to swap them out if you'd prefer ganache, but do yourself a favor and at least try the glaze. You might like it better!

Ingredients needed

Brownie batter

Kim's gluten-free all purpose flour blend - a store bought blend should work, but please note that one has not been tested by me.
Unsweetened cocoa powder - you can use either regular or Dutch-process cocoa powder.
Melted butter - I prefer to use salted butter in nearly everything I bake because I like the way the salt balances out the sweetness. That doesn't mean I don't also add salt to the batter. It does not make my bakes taste salty, it just makes them taste good.
Brown sugar - I use both white and brown sugar in this recipe to achieve the best flavor and texture possible.

Chocolate glaze

Powdered sugar - this is not the typical chocolate ganache that other recipes make. The basis of this glaze is powdered sugar, which creates a glaze that's similar to a cooked fudge (but easier).
Boiling water - adding boiling water to the mixture is what creates that texture similar to fudge. It melts the butter, sugar, and cocoa powder together quickly so it can be poured. Without it, you'd just have a buttercream. You CAN sub the boiling water with boiling coffee if you want to bring out even more of the chocolatey goodness.

Make the brownies

Step 1: Combine melted butter and cocoa powder in a large bowl and beat until smooth.

adding eggs to bowl in white stand mixer.

Step 2: Add sugars, eggs, vanilla extract and salt and mix well.

Step 3: Sift flour over bowl.

Step 4: Stir until the flour is well incorporated.

brownie batter spread in rectangular pan.

Step 5: Spread into prepared baking pan.

Step 6: Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until just set and toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.

Make the glaze

powdered sugar and cocoa powder in sieve set over bowl.

Step 1: Sift powdered sugar and cocoa into a large bowl.

pieces of butter on top of light brown powdered mixture in glass bowl.

Step 2: Add pieces of butter and toss to combine.

pouring boiling water into a glass bowl.

Step 3: Pour boiling water over ingredients in bowl.

stirring shiny chocolate glaze in glass bowl.

Step 4: Whisk until smooth.

spreading shiny chocolate glaze on brownies in rectangular pan.

Step 5: Quickly spread over warm brownies.

sprinkling colored candies on top of shiny glaze.

Step 6: Sprinkle colored candies over the glaze and refrigerate until brownies are firm.

Slicing brownies

The best way I've found to slice bars in general, including brownies, is to make sure they're chilled well. If that means they sit in the fridge for a few hours, that's what I do for perfect slices. However, if you're not concerned about perfect slices and want your brownies right away, I would at least let them chill for an hour before digging in.

This is how I like to slice them and make them look just like the original cosmic brownies!

Step 1: Take a very long, sharp knife (a long-bladed chef's knife is what I use). Make lengthwise cuts every 2 inches (wiping the knife off between cuts if necessary).

Step 2: Then make cuts widthwise every 3 ½ inches (again, wiping the knife as necessary).

placing wooden skewer in between cut brownies.

Step 3: For the divot (like in the Little Debbie version), first mark a line in the brownies. Use a wooden skewer and press down in the middle of the brownies widthwise, and then spin it carefully before pulling it up.

Cosmic brownies FAQs

Is the frosting just chocolate ganache on cosmic brownies?

No, it is a fudge frosting, per the box of Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies.

What is the colorful candy on top of cosmic brownies?

They are essentially mini chocolate chips with a colored candy coating.

Can cosmic brownies be made dairy free?

Yes! To make dairy-free brownies, sub all of the butter in the recipe with a dairy-free butter alternative, such as Earth Balance, Country Crock, or Miyoko's. Make sure to use sticks and not the tub form.

More gluten free brownie recipes

3 brownies stacked on top of each other.

Whether you're a kid or a kid-at-heart, you'll love these Gluten Free Cosmic Brownies! They're easy to make and even easier to enjoy.