Our homemade gluten-free Cosmic brownies recipe is a DELICIOUS from-scratch take on a childhood favorite. With their chewy, fudgy texture, rich chocolate flavor & signature colorful sprinkles, these gluten-free brownies are even better than the original!

gluten-free cosmic brownie squares next to a bottle of milk and a bowl of colorful sprinkles

I love a good gluten-free copycat recipe, whether it’s Gluten-Free Oatmeal Cream Pies, Gluten-Free Levain Bakery Cookies or Gluten-Free Magnolia Banana Pudding, but these brownies might just take the cake. (The brownie?) Why? Because…

This Classic Childhood Favorite Has Never Tasted Better

Our gluten-free cosmic brownie recipe is like turning up the volume on Little Debbie cosmic brownies. MORE chocolate flavor, BETTER texture, and higher quality ingredients. The only thing we’re removing is the gluten!

🥣 EASE: Made from simple ingredients, this homemade version doesn’t require any fancy equipment or skills, but you do need to follow the directions, for best results. Whisk, stir & bake as directed, and you’re good to go!

🍫 FLAVORS: They’re the real deal! While the store-bought version can taste a bit weak or flat, our homemade cosmic brownies recipe is PACKED with deep chocolate flavor in both the brownie and the smooth chocolate ganache frosting. They have a fudgy chewy texture that tastes like heaven. YUM! . YUM!

👍🏼 TOP TIPS: Weigh your dry ingredients for best results (or use the scoop & level method to avoid packing extra flour into the recipe). Then, make sure you let the brownies cool before frosting & set before slicing.

Happy baking! xo, Emily

Gather Your Ingredients

ingredients for gluten-free cosmic brownies

Chocolate Chips. You’ll need semisweet chocolate chips for both the gluten-free brownie base and the rich chocolate ganache on top of the brownies. We like brands like Guittard or Enjoy Life that don’t have added stabilizers (which can prevent them from melting smoothly). You *can* use dark chocolate chips for a deeper flavor, but they’re plenty chocolatey as it is!
Butter. TBH I use salted butter most of the time here, but unsalted butter also works.
Sugar. Regular granulated sugar (white sugar) sweetens the brownies and helps create that glossy, shiny crust on the top that makes brownies look so inviting.
Eggs. We’ll use these to add fudginess and to dissolve the sugar (which helps make those glossy tops!)
Vanilla extract always.
Gluten-Free Flour. We highly recommend King Arthur Measure-For-Measure Gluten-Free Flour blend for these homemade brownies. If you use another 1:1 gluten-free flour blend, be sure it has xanthan gum, or the brownies won’t turn out properly. Do not substitute alternative flours, like almond flour, coconut flour, or oat flour into this recipe.
Unsweetened Cocoa Powder. I recommend natural cocoa powder (like Hershey’s or Ghirardelli) rather than Dutch processed cocoa (dark cocoa powder) for these brownies. It’ll give them a classic look and a more classic flavor.
Salt helps balance and enhance the flavors. It’s a must!
Heavy Whipping Cream. For the simple ganache, you’ll need some heavy cream to melt with the chocolate. Don’t have any? You can use half butter and half milk, but the ganache will set softer and be thinner in texture.
Rainbow Chips Sprinkles. Cosmic brownie sprinkles go by many names–confetti chips, rainbow candy-coated chocolate chips, rainbow bit chips, etc.–but, in essence, you’re looking for candy coated chocolate sprinkles, or candy coated chocolate chips. I get gluten-free rainbow bit sprinkles at Sweetapolita. (Get 15% off when you shop my page or use code SWEETSANDTHANKYOU at checkout!)

How To Make Gluten-Free Cosmic Brownies, Step By Step

As always, you can find the full recipe, with ingredient amounts, detailed instructions, and tips in the recipe card below.

making gluten-free brownie batter, step by step

First, Make The Brownies

Preheat & Prep. To start, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a metal 8×8 pan with parchment paper and set aside.
Melt Chocolate & Butter. In a microwave safe bowl, combine 1 1/3 cups chocolate chips with the butter and melt in 15-20 second intervals until smooth. (If you have a low power or low heat setting, I recommend it here to avoid scorching the chocolate.) Let chocolate cool slightly while you work on the eggs and sugar.
Whip Sugar & Eggs. In a large mixing bowl (glass works best!), combine granulated sugar and eggs. Whip with a whisk or handheld electric mixer for 2-3 minutes, or until doubled in volume, much lighter in color, and the sugar is almost completely dissolved. Do NOT rush this step!
Combine Wet Ingredients. Add chocolate mixture to the egg mixture along with the vanilla and mix until smooth and evenly blended.
Add Dry Ingredients. Next, add gluten-free flour, cocoa powder, and salt and mix until just combined and no dry patches remain.
Bake & Cool Brownies. Smooth brownie batter into the prepared pan and bake in preheated oven 18-20 minutes, or until the top is set and glossy and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean with just a few moist crumbs. (It shouldn’t be full of wet batter.) Let the brownies cool completely before frosting. (You can speed this up by cooling on a wire rack 20 minutes at room temperature, then transferring to the fridge until cooled.)

baking and decorating gluten-free cosmic brownies step by step

Next, Make The Ganache & Decorate The Brownies

Heat Cream (and corn syrup, if using!) until nearly boiling (either on the stovetop or in a microwave-safe bowl).
Melt Chocolate. Add chocolate chips to steaming cream and let the mixture sit undisturbed for 5 minutes. Gently and slowly stir in one direction until the chocolate is melted, smooth, and glossy.
Frost Brownies. Pour the ganache over the cooled brownies and spread into an even layer with an offset spatula. If your ganache has small air bubbles, you can gently tap the pan on the counter or gently shake the pan back and forth to remove them.
Add Sprinkles & Set. Decorate the brownies with sprinkles, then let the brownies set completely before slicing. I recommend putting the brownies in the fridge for the neatest slices! Use a sharp knife to cut into slices & enjoy!
Store. Keep leftover brownies in an airtight container 1-2 days at room temperature or 3-4 days in the fridge. Or, freeze up to 2 months in a freezer-safe container.

holding up a gluten-free cosmic brownie with a bite taken out of it

Tips For The Prettiest Brownies

Consider Corn Syrup. I know it’s not everyone’s favorite ingredient, but corn syrup (which is different from high-fructose corn syrup!) adds a slight glossy sheen to the frosting that makes these homemade cosmic brownies GORGEOUS.
Tap Our Air Bubbles. If your ganache frosting gets small air bubbles in it (a common issue!), gently tap the pan on the counter, or gently shake the pan back and forth to help bring the bubbles up to the surface before adding the sprinkles. It’ll give you a much more level, even surface to work with.
Maybe Get Fussy? If you really want to go over the top, consider placing sprinkles on by color one at a time. Use a glove (or super clean hands!) and add one color evenly before adding the next. This is a food styling trick bloggers and bakeries use that can be worth it if these brownies are for a special occasion!
Chill Before Slicing. Last, but not least, I recommend chilling the brownies before slicing to help you get even cuts. Clean your knife off in between slices for best results!

gluten-free cosmic brownies cut into squares

FAQ + Tricks For The Best Cosmic Brownies

What Kind of Sprinkles Do You Use For Cosmic Brownies? If you’re making copycat cosmic brownies, you want to get the sprinkles just right! Look for rainbow bit chips–candy-coated chocolate sprinkles that are like colorful mini chocolate chips. It can be hard to find brands that are gluten-free, but we love these gluten-free rainbow bit chips from Sweetapolita! Can’t find any? Try using rainbow quins or your favorite rainbow sprinkles (or even mini m&m’s!) instead.

Don’t Rush The Eggs & Sugar! Make sure to beat the eggs and sugar the full 2-3 minutes to properly dissolve the sugar. It’s the key to the shiny, crinkly brownie tops we’re going for!

Your Pan Matters! I recommend a light-colored metal 8×8 pan, since brownies baked in a metal pan bake more evenly. If you use a glass or ceramic pan, the brownies may “climb” the sides during baking, then sink afterward, creating an uneven surface. Brownies baked in glass and ceramic pans also take longer to bake.

Can I Make Them Dairy-Free? I haven’t tested them, but using vegan butter, dairy-free chocolate chips, and coconut milk or coconut cream in the ganache topping would be a good place to start. (The sprinkles are probably not possible to get dairy-free, though!)

More Gluten-Free Copycat Recipes To Try

Gluten-Free Oatmeal Cream Pies

Gluten-Free Cosmic Brownie Cookies

gluten-free banana pudding in a small glass bowl

Gluten-Free Banana Pudding (Like Magnolia!)

Breaking a gluten-free Levain chocolate chip cookie in half, revealing its gooey center

Gluten-Free Levain Chocolate Chip Cookies

🌟 Did You Make This Recipe?

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