This recipe for cosmic brownies bites is a fudgy delight coated in a thick chocolate ganache then sprinkled with mini M&M’s! Can you say yum? This is a fun way to celebrate the kids going back to school this year. This would be a great dessert to go with my Instant Pot Cheesy Ziti (Johnny Marzetti).
What are cosmic brownies?
Cosmic Brownies were introduced under the Little Debbie snack cake brand owned my McKee Foods in the early 1960s. Little Debbie is actually a real person, the granddaughter of company founder O.D. McKee, and current executive vice president of this corporation. The cosmic cupcake a cousin to the cosmic brownie was actually sent to space in 2014 by weather balloon!
Prep the batter for cosmic brownie bites
In a large bowl combine the brownie box mix, chocolate syrup, eggs, oil (I used olive oil), chocolate chips, and milk. Stir by hand to combine well.
Cooking the cosmic brownie bites
Grease the inside of a silicone egg bite tray very well. I used olive oil and a brush. Fill each cup leaving about 1/4″ of space at the top. Cover lightly with foil.
Put one cup of water into the Instant Pot. Place the rack with the egg bite mold on top of it into the pressure cooker. Seal and cook on high pressure for 20 minutes followed by a 10 minute natural pressure release. Remove and cool completely on a wire rack. This recipe should make about 12 brownie bites. Repeat this process for the remaining cosmic brownie bites.
Frosting and finishing the cosmic brownie bites
Once cooled completely remove from the silicone egg bite trays. To make them have a flat bottom if they are curved or domed on top just slice that little bit off, and have a quick snack!
For the chocolate ganache topping combine the remaining chocolate chips, and the heavy whipping cream in a small saucepan over low heat stir with a small whisk or spoon until melted and creamy. If needed you can thin by adding additional heavy cream or thicken if needed with additional chocolate chips. The perfect time to do this would be while the brownie bites are baking.
If you want the brownie bite completely covered with ganache you can spread the ganache on the plate then set each one on top. Pour the ganache on top to cover each bite.
You can sprinkle the mini M&M’s or any other candy coated chocolate pieces or you get the kids so they can have fun decorating them too!
Cool and harden in the fridge or eat immediately. If they last that long store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week!
If you enjoyed this recipe you’ll probably really like Instant Pot Omelette Bites or Instant Pot French Toast Bites!
Instant Pot Fudgy Cosmic Brownie Bites
Ingredients
Brownie Batter Mix
- 16 ounces brownie mix or one box
- 1/3 cup oil I used olive oil, use what the box recipe calls for
- 2 eggs or twice the number called for on the box
- 1/4 cup chocolate syrup
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 3 tbsp milk or substitute the same amount of water for milk called for on the box
Chocolate Ganache
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 5 tbsp heavy whipping cream
Toppings
- 1/2 cup candy coated chocolate pieces use your discretion, decorate as much as you find yummy
Instructions
- Mix together in a large bowl all of the ingredients in the Brownie Batter Mix Group. Grease the silicone egg bite tray very well, and fill leaving about 1/4" at the top. Cover loosely with aluminum foil.
- Add one cup of water to the pressure cooker, and put the silicone egg bite tray in on top of your rack. Seal and cook on high pressure for 20 minutes then follow up with a 10 minute natural pressure release.
- Remove to a wire rack, and cool completely then remove. Put the remainder of batter in another egg bite tray and repeat the process.
- For the ganache topping, combine all ingredients in a small saucepan then stir until melted.
- Remove brownie bites from trays and frost with chocolate ganache frosting, and then decorate with candy. Cool in fridge for a few minutes to harden.
- Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for up to one week. These are great on their own or served with ice cream.
I’m the writer, photographer, recipe developer, and one of the many taste tester’s at Monday is Meatloaf. I live in a sleepy Florida town on the out-skirts of the Tampa Bay metro area. Growing up I got the opportunity to see a lot of great family cooks in action, but I didn’t delve into the culinary world until later. My blog focuses on simple cooking techniques that maximize flavor across a variety of cooking disciplines that are totally do-able for the home cook.
Well I know where I am passing this recipe along to. My daughter!! She has an Instant Pot, I also bought them the molds for a gift….and she has 2 kids!! Sounds like a winner for them.
I love stories of iconic American desserts. I didn’t know little Debbie was a real person. That must be some proud Grandpa. Thanks for this recipe and the backstory. This is great!
Oh my goodness!! I haven’t had a cosmic brownie since high school. I used to eat them instead of lunch LOL! I want these so badly, I love that they’re IP!
How clever to make these in the instant pot, I would never have thought to do that! Big hit around here, so fudgey!
OMG….birthday party heaven. The kids will go wild over these! So fun to have those candies on the outside. AND I love how easy these are to make in the insta pot.
I saw this post and I just had to make the fudgy treats. I have got to tell you that they were a huge hit with the grandsons. They may not appreciate Little Debbie’s history, like I do, but they sure did chow down on the bites. Will be making them again.
I really need to get my hands on some more InstantPot equipment! These look delicious. I can imagine there are so many variations you can make, too. These look so chewy 🙂
Totally genius! I’ve got to get myself one of those molds for the Instant Pot so I can make these for me and my toddler. 🙂
I have a question. Is there a reason they can’t be stacked and cooked at the same time?
I think you could definitely try it and see. They don’t rise and puff up like egg bites or cake. I have not tested it, but definitely worth trying.