Gourmet Cosmic Brownies

GOURMET COSMIC BROWNIES

4/10/2023

Looking for the perfect cosmic brownie recipe that will satisfy your sweet tooth? Look no further than these Gourmet Cosmic Brownies that are sure to take your taste buds on a cosmic journey!

When you were little, who didn't love finding a Little Debbie Cosmic Brownie tucked into their lunchbox? Now that your tastes have grown up, you've got to try Gourmet Cosmic Brownies! With simple ingredients and so quick and easy to whip up, these decadent treats are ultra rich, fudgy and chewy - the perfect brownies, topped with a silky chocolate glaze and sprinkled with colorful rainbow candy-coated chocolate chips.

Every bite is a heavenly experience that will leave you wanting more. Trust me, once you try these Gourmet Cosmic Brownies, you'll never want to settle for ordinary brownies again!

Gourmet Cosmic Brownies

WHAT MAKES A BROWNIE A "GOURMET" BROWNIE?

TEXTURE: A perfect brownie should have a crispy, flaky top and a moist, fudgy interior. Achieving this balance requires precise measurements of ingredients and careful baking time and temperature.

QUALITY CHOCOLATE: High-quality chocolate is key to achieving the rich, chocolatey flavor that makes brownies so irresistible. Using premium chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa solids can make a big difference in the taste and texture of your brownies.

FLAVOR ADDITIONS: While classic brownies are delicious on their own, adding other flavors can take them to the next level. Pure vanilla extract, nuts, dried fruits, spices, and even espresso can add depth and complexity to the chocolate flavor.

PRESENTATION: The way your brownies look can be just as important as how they taste. A perfectly cut brownie with a beautiful, shiny top and a dusting of powdered sugar or topped with fudgy frosting and colorful sprinkles can make them look as irresistible as they taste.

PERSONAL TOUCH: Finally, what makes your brownies the best is your personal touch. Whether it's a secret ingredient, a unique twist on a classic recipe, or the love and care you put into every batch, your brownies are a reflection of your creativity and passion for baking.

RECIPE TIPS & TRICKS FOR EASY GOURMET COSMIC BROWNIES:

If I can only share one baking secret with you, always use a DIGITAL KITCHEN SCALE. You can use measuring cups and spoons for most recipes, but using a digital scale makes for the more consistent and efficient baking. Take this from someone that bakes A LOT!
For a rich and robust chocolate flavor, I recommend using only high-quality chocolate for this recipe. Since there are only a few ingredients, each one really shines through! I prefer Ghirardelli or Lindt dark chocolate bars - each with at least 70% chocolate for the melted chocolate, and Guittard or Ghirardelli chocolate chips, or Callebaut Dark Bittersweet Chocolate Callets.
Don't overbeat your brownie batter! Mix your dry ingredients in with a spatula just until blended for a perfectly shiny, crispy, and crackly top - the way a brownie should be!
Baking brownies low and slow is the way to go! 325 degrees is usually the perfect temp for baking the best brownies.
Be sure you don’t overbake the brownies! They should not be liquidy or jiggly when you pull them out of the oven. The brownies will firm up as they cool. Over-baked brownies will be dry and won’t be chewy or fudgy.

After removing from the oven, I suggest you place brownies on a wire rack and cool completely before topping with filling or frosting. They usually come to room temperature within a few hours - and although waiting for this may be the hardest part, they are worth the wait!
Don’t use glass baking dishes for brownies or blondies – the baking times and results will vary wildly, and the heat retention of glass can lead to overbaking and dryness.

Gourmet Cosmic Brownies

FOR PERFECT BROWNIES, USE THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS:

For gourmet brownies, in addition to using premium chocolate and cocoa, only the best ingredients will give you the texture, richness and depth of flavor we all crave. Make sure to use fresh ingredients for the best results! I’ve made so many cakes, cookies and brownies through the years, and these are my recommendations:

Butter: Land O Lakes Unsalted Butter. Avoid generic/bargain brands of butter, which often contain water, which will strip your brownies of a perfect shiny sheen on top – and we LOVE a brownie with the perfect sheen!
Flour: King Arthur All Purpose Unbleached Flour is my favorite (it contains more gluten than other brands). Pillsbury All Purpose is my back-up, but weighs differently – make sure to adjust as necessary. (For reference, King Arthur is 120g per cup, Pillsbury is 129g per cup.)
Granulated Sugar: Domino Pure Cane Sugar
Baking Powder: Make sure that you use “aluminum-free” baking powder to avoid a tinny flavor. Rumford is one of the oldest and trusted brands.
Salt: To avoid a tinny flavor, never use iodized salt in brownies. Morten Non-Iodized Table Salt is my preferred brand for cooking and baking. For sea salt flakes, I use Maldon Sea Salt Flakes.
Vanilla: Neiman Massey and Rodelle are my preferred brands for Pure Vanilla Extract and Vanilla Bean Paste - both are made with the highest-quality Bourbon vanilla beans from Madagascar.
Espresso Powder: If your brownie recipe calls for it, don’t skip the espresso powder! It helps enhance the flavor of chocolate without adding an intense coffee flavor. King Arthur Espresso Powder is my favorite! If you don’t have time to order, DeLallo brand is also good and available at most grocery stores.
Other Extracts & Flavorings: Neiman Massey (neimanmassey.com), Rodelle (rodellevanilla.com), Cooks (cooksvanilla.com) and Amoretti (amoretti.com) brands make my favorite extracts and emulsions. Keep in mind that extracts and emulsions have different strengths, so watch your measurements and use recommended amounts.

Gourmet Cosmic Brownies

GOURMET COSMIC BROWNIES

Looking for the perfect cosmic brownie recipe that will satisfy your sweet tooth? Look no further than these Gourmet Cosmic Brownies that are sure to take your taste buds on a cosmic journey! With simple ingredients and so quick and easy to whip up, these decadent treats are ultra rich, fudgy and chewy - the perfect brownies, topped with a silky chocolate glaze and sprinkled with colorful rainbow candy-coated chocolate chips. Every bite is a heavenly experience that will leave you wanting more!

Gourmet Cosmic Brownies

INGREDIENTS:
BROWNIE BASE:
6 large eggs (room temperature)
1 cup (170g) 100% cacao bittersweet chocolate bar or chips (Ghirardelli or Guittard Extra Dark Chocolate)
1-1/2 cups (255g or 9 ounces) 60% cacao bittersweet chocolate chips (Ghirardelli or Guittard Extra Dark Chocolate Baking Chips)
1-1/2 cups (12 ounces or 3 sticks) unsalted butter
1-1/2 cups (300g) granulated sugar
1-1/2 cups (319g) light brown sugar
1-1/2 cups (187g) King Arthur All-Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1-½ teaspoons salt
1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoons espresso powder

CHOCOLATE GLAZE:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup (170g or 6 ounces) 60% cacao bittersweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon light corn syrup

GARNISH:
½ cup rainbow candy coated chips or mini M&M’s

HOW I MAKE THESE:

Remove eggs from refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature.
Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with foil or parchment paper, leaving about a one-inch overhang on all sides. Lightly grease the foil in the pan, or spray with nonstick cooking spray.
PREPARE BROWNIES: In a small heavy saucepan, cut the butter into pieces and melt over low heat. While the butter is melting, chop the dark chocolate bar into ¼-inch pieces. Add the chopped baking chocolate and bittersweet chocolate chips to the melted butter, along with the espresso powder, whisking together until melted and smooth. Remove pan from stove and set aside – you will use this same pan later on.
In a large mixing bowl, lightly whisk the eggs.
Place the granulated sugar and brown sugar in a separate small bowl, then whisk into the eggs just until blended.
Briefly stir the melted chocolate mixture, then gradually drizzle into the egg mixture, whisking constantly just until combined.
Whisk in the vanilla extract.
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder. Sift through a fine mesh strainer directly into the batter. Stir with a silicone spatula just until blended.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly with a small offset spatula (or for individual brownie pan, fill each parchment liner ½ full).
Bake for 36 minutes (16-18 minutes for individual brownie pan) or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Remove from oven and cool to room temperature, then chill pan in refrigerator for 1 hour.
PREPARE CHOCOLATE GLAZE: In reserved saucepan, melt the butter and corn syrup over low heat. When totally melted and combined, remove from heat and add the chocolate chips. Stir with a small silicone spatula until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
Drizzle melted chocolate on top of the cooled brownies.
Let the decorated slab sit at room temperature for 15 minutes, then evenly sprinkle candy coated chocolates on top of Chocolate Glaze. The individual chocolates bits will adhere to the top as the Chocolate Glaze cools.
Refrigerate brownie slab for at least 8 hours before slicing and serving. (Refrigerate individual brownies in an airtight container until ready to serve.)
Brownies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

YIELD: 24 brownies, or 12 individual brownies.

RECIPE TIPS & TRICKS FOR THE BEST GOURMET COSMIC BROWNIES:

If I can only share one baking secret with you, always use a DIGITAL KITCHEN SCALE. You can use measuring cups and spoons for most recipes, but using a digital scale makes for the more consistent and efficient baking. Take this from someone that bakes A LOT!
For a rich and robust chocolate flavor, I recommend using only high-quality chocolate for this recipe. Since there are only a few ingredients, each one really shines through! I prefer Ghirardelli or Lindt dark chocolate bars - each with at least 70% chocolate for the melted chocolate, and Guittard or Ghirardelli chocolate chips, or Callebaut Dark Bittersweet Chocolate Callets.
Don't overbeat your brownie batter! Mix your dry ingredients in with a spatula just until blended for a perfectly shiny, crispy, and crackly top - the way a brownie should be!
Baking brownies low and slow is the way to go! 325 degrees is usually the perfect temp for baking the best brownies.
Be sure you don’t overbake the brownies! They should not be liquidy or jiggly when you pull them out of the oven. The brownies will firm up as they cool. Over-baked brownies will be dry and won’t be chewy or fudgy.

After removing from the oven, I suggest you place brownies on a wire rack and cool completely before topping with filling or frosting. They usually come to room temperature within a few hours - and although waiting for this may be the hardest part, they are worth the wait!
Don’t use glass baking dishes for brownies or blondies – the baking times and results will vary wildly, and the heat retention of glass can lead to overbaking and dryness.

Original recipe created November 2015; revised and reposted April 2023.

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