Fudgy Cosmic Brownie Cookies are rich, chewy, and loaded with chocolate in every bite. Inspired by the nostalgic childhood treat, these cookies deliver that dense, brownie-like texture I love, with a smooth chocolate glaze and rainbow candy-coated chips on top. They’re indulgent, fun, and perfect for satisfying my sweet tooth or sharing with fellow chocolate lovers.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I love how these cookies bring together the fudginess of a brownie and the ease of a drop cookie. The soft centers, crackly tops, and colorful candy topping make them look just as good as they taste. They’re perfect for bake sales, lunchbox treats, or anytime I want a decadent cookie that brings back those Little Debbie vibes—with a homemade twist.
ingredients
(Here’s a tip: Check out the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
For the cookies:
-
All-purpose flour
-
Unsweetened cocoa powder
-
Baking powder
-
Salt
-
Unsalted butter, melted
-
Brown sugar
-
Granulated sugar
-
Eggs
-
Vanilla extract
-
Semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks, melted
For the topping:
-
Semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips (for ganache)
-
Heavy cream
-
Rainbow candy-coated chips or sprinkles (like mini M&M’s or rainbow chips)
directions
-
I preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
-
In a medium bowl, I whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
-
In another bowl, I mix the melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth.
-
I add the eggs and vanilla, then stir in the melted chocolate until fully combined.
-
I fold in the dry ingredients until a thick dough forms.
-
I scoop the dough into balls and place them on the baking sheets, flattening slightly with my fingers.
-
I bake for 9–11 minutes, just until the edges are set and the centers look soft and slightly underdone.
-
I let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
For the topping:
9. I heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan or microwave until just hot, then pour it over the chocolate chips in a bowl.
10. I let it sit for a minute, then stir until smooth to make a ganache.
11. Once the cookies are fully cooled, I spread a spoonful of ganache on each cookie.
12. I sprinkle with rainbow chips or candy-coated chocolate pieces and let the topping set before serving.
Servings and timing
This recipe makes about 16 cookies. It takes 15 minutes to prep, 10 minutes to bake, and about 10–15 minutes for cooling and topping. I usually have them ready in under 45 minutes total.
Variations
Sometimes I swap the rainbow chips for crushed candy, mini marshmallows, or drizzle white chocolate over the ganache. For an extra fudge factor, I stir more chocolate chunks into the dough. If I want a richer taste, I use dark cocoa powder or espresso powder to deepen the flavor.
storage/reheating
I store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. The ganache stays soft, and the cookies remain chewy. If I want to reheat, I microwave one for about 8 seconds for a warm, gooey treat. They also freeze well—either plain or fully decorated.
FAQs
What makes these cookies fudgy like a brownie?
The combination of melted chocolate, cocoa powder, and brown sugar gives them that dense, moist brownie texture. I don’t overbake—leaving the centers soft helps lock in that fudgy bite.
Do I have to chill the dough?
Not for this recipe. I bake them right away and still get a thick, chewy cookie with crackly tops.
Can I use boxed brownie mix?
If I’m short on time, I’ve used brownie mix with some adjustments to make cookies. But I prefer the homemade version for better texture and flavor control.
What kind of chocolate chips work best for the ganache?
I usually use semi-sweet or milk chocolate, depending on how sweet I want the glaze. Dark chocolate adds more intensity if that’s what I’m after.
Can I make these cookies smaller?
Yes, I scoop smaller dough balls and reduce the baking time by 1–2 minutes. They bake faster but still have the same great flavor.
Conclusion
Fudgy Cosmic Brownie Cookies are pure chocolatey fun, combining everything I love about brownies and cookies in one sweet package. With their rich flavor, soft texture, and colorful candy topping, they’re a hit every time I make them. Whether I’m baking for nostalgia or just in the mood for something indulgent, these cookies always deliver big brownie energy.
PrintFudgy Cosmic Brownie Cookies
Fudgy Cosmic Brownie Cookies are dense, chewy chocolate cookies with a molten brownie‑like interior, topped with silky ganache and colorful rainbow candies for a fun, nostalgic twist.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 16 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 cup all‑purpose flour
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup melted semi‑sweet chocolate chips or chunks
- Topping: ½ cup semi‑sweet or milk chocolate chips
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ¼–⅓ cup rainbow candy‑coated chips (mini M&M’s or rainbow chips)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
- In another bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until smooth.
- Stir in eggs and vanilla, then mix in melted chocolate until uniform.
- Fold dry ingredients into wet until a thick cookie dough forms.
- Scoop dough into balls (~16) and place on prepared sheets, flattening slightly.
- Bake 9–11 minutes until edges set and centers are soft and crackly.
- Let cookies cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before topping.
- To make ganache, heat heavy cream until hot, pour over chocolate chips, let sit 1 minute, then stir smooth.
- Spread ganache on cooled cookies, sprinkle rainbow candies on top, and let set before serving.
Notes
- Use dark cocoa powder or add 1 tsp espresso powder for even deeper chocolate flavor.
- Mix in extra chocolate chunks or mini marshmallows into dough for texture variety.
- Substitute crushed candy or white chocolate drizzle for toppings.
- Cookies freeze well undecorated—add ganache and candies after thawing.
- For smaller cookies, reduce scoop size and bake 1–2 minutes less.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 130mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 45mg