Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies get a healthy homemade makeover, and it couldn’t be easier! This cosmic brownie recipe involves a fudgy brownie base and topped with a rich, chocolate ganache and sugar free chocolate buttons! 

Healthy Homemade Cosmic Brownies Recipe

We love our healthy chocolate recipes here. We’ve had flourless brownie cookies, chocolate fudge, and even flourless brownie bites. 

When it comes to uber-chocolatey treats, Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies are my absolute favorite. The combination of fudgy brownie, thick frosting, and the chocolate chip candy was just magical. 

Granted, the store-bought Cosmic Brownies aren’t something I’ve eaten in a while. It’s been on my bucket list to give the infamous Little Debbie brownies a healthy makeover.

My version had to not only be keto and low carb but also eggless. Making them eggless made them suitable for a paleo, vegan and gluten-free diet!

Let’s do a little comparison between traditional Cosmic brownies and my homemade copycat version. 

How many calories in a Cosmic Brownie?

Traditional Cosmic Brownies have the following nutritional statistics and calories. 

There are 290 calories in a Little Debbie’s Cosmic Brownie. Each brownie contains 13 grams of fat, 3 grams of protein and 39 grams of carbs. As there is only 1 gram of fiber, the net carbs are 38 grams. 

My homemade version has the following nutritional breakdown- 202 calories, 16 grams of fat (0 saturated fats!), 10 grams of carbs (4 grams net carbs!!!) and 5 grams of protein. 

Are Cosmic Brownies Good for you?

As with any food, eaten in moderation, Cosmic Brownies can be part of a healthy diet. However, nutritionally speaking (and taking into account various diets), they aren’t particularly great for you.

They are high in processed carbs, saturated fats and have barely any fiber. They also aren’t really suitable for any major diet.

Homemade healthy cosmic brownies are different. They are made with no refined sugar and no dairy. This means they are keto-friendly, low carb and sugar free. They are also made without eggs and without grains, perfect for those following a vegan and gluten-free diet. Provided you use dairy free chocolate chips, these homemade Cosmic Brownies are also paleo-friendly. 

What are the ingredients in Cosmic Brownies? 

The ingredient list in Cosmic brownies involves bleached flours, additives, several forms of sugar (brown AND white), along with various sticky sweeteners. 

Homemade Cosmic Brownies Ingredients

For the brownies

• Pumpkin puree- The mashed starch replaces any need for oil or butter. If you don’t follow a strict ketogenic diet, you can replace it with banana or sweet potato. 
• Almond Butter- Use smooth almond butter to ensure there are no clumps. You can substitute it with peanut butter, but it will no longer be paleo. 
• Cocoa Powder- Unsweetened and sifted, to avoid clumps. 
• Liquid stevia- To add sweetness, without needing sugar. Adjust accordingly- I used 5-10 drops per batch. 

For the frosting

• Chocolate Chips of choice- Sugar free chocolate chips or dairy-free chocolate chips work best. 
• Coconut Milk- Ensure it is full-fat and chilled. Do not substitute this with coconut cream or it will be thick and dense.

For the chocolate candy buttons

• Candy buttons of choice- I used sugar free chocolate buttons. For my vegan and gluten-free friends, use these candy buttons. Paleo readers use dairy free chocolate chunks. 

How to make healthy homemade cosmic brownies

Making homemade healthy cosmic brownies is so easy, and follows the process below. I’ve also included a similar recipe video, showing how to make these brownies below!

• Firstly, you will preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Line an 8 x 8-inch pan with parchment paper and set aside.
• In a high-speed blender or food processor, add all your brownie ingredients. Blend until a smooth batter remains. Be sure to taste it, to make sure it is sweet enough. If not, add extra liquid stevia.
• Transfer the brownie batter into the lined pan. Bake the brownies for around 20 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean. 
• Allow the brownies to cool in the pan completely.
• While the brownies are cooling, prepare your chocolate ganache frosting. In a saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, add your coconut milk and heat until warm. Stir in your chocolate chips and whisk very well, ensuring the warm milk melts the chocolate.
• Pour the frosting over the brownies and spread out in an even layer. Allow sitting for about 10 minutes.
• Then, you’ll add your chocolate candy buttons of choice on top.
• Refrigerate until the frosting has firmed up, before slicing into pieces. 

Storing homemade Cosmic Brownies

Refrigerator- Store cosmic brownies in the fridge. Place the brownies in a sealed container, or on a plate covered in plastic wrap.

Refrigerated brownies will keep fresh for up to 2 weeks. 

Freezer- Cosmic Brownies are freezer-friendly, and can be stored in the freezer to enjoy at a later date. Wrap the brownies in parchment paper and place in a shallow container or individually in ziplock bags.

To enjoy brownies from the freezer, allow thawing completely at room temperature. 

More delicious Brownie Recipes

• Zucchini Brownies
• Almond Flour Brownies
• Strawberry Chocolate Brownies
• Chocolate Cherry Brownies
• Raspberry Brownies

Paleo Vegan Cosmic Brownies (Keto)

Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies get a healthy homemade makeover, and it couldn't be easier! This cosmic brownie recipe involves a fudgy brownie base and topped with a rich, chocolate ganache and sugar free chocolate buttons! 

4.82 from 11 votes

Print Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: brownies

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 16 Pieces

Calories: 202kcal

Author: Arman

Ingredients

For the fudgy brownies

• 2 cups pumpkin puree
• 1 cup almond butter can use any smooth nut butter of choice
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1 serving liquid stevia
• 1/2 cup candy buttons of choice See post for options

For the chocolate frosting

• 1 cup canned coconut milk chilled
• 1 1/4 cups keto chocolate chips any chocolate chips of choice

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Line an 8 x 8-inch pan with parchment paper and set aside.
• In a high-speed blender or food processor, add pumpkin, almond butter, cocoa powder and liquid stevia and blend until fully combined and smooth.
• Transfer your brownie batter into the lined pan. Bake for 20 minutes, or until a skewer comes out just clean.
• Remove brownies from the oven and allow to cool in the pan completely.
• Prepare your chocolate ganache by adding your coconut milk into a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl. Heat on low until warm. Once warm, stir through your chocolate chips until the warm milk melts it completely.
• Allow the frosting to cool until thick and spreadable. Spread over the brownies and top with chocolate candy buttons.
• Refrigerate Cosmic Brownies until the frosting has firmed up. Slice into 16 pieces.

Notes

Homemade Cosmic Brownies should be stored in the fridge, in a sealed container or covered completely. Brownies will keep for up to 14 days.

Healthy Cosmic Brownies are freezer friendly and can be stored in the freezer. They will keep fresh for up to 6 months. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1Brownie | Calories: 202kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 16g | Fiber: 6g | Vitamin A: 4% | Vitamin C: 5% | Calcium: 2% | Iron: 4%