You’ll love this heavenly cosmic brownie ice cream, that is loaded with a luscious chocolate custard ice cream base, full of cosmic brownie pieces, and colorful cosmic chocolate sprinkles. This is a decadent dessert that is going to take you straight back to your childhood.
Cosmic Brownies are a nostalgic dessert from so many of our childhoods, and Little Debbie line based on some of their classic treats, so I just knew I had to coming up with a homemade version of this ice cream flavor would be such a fun idea.
The brownies are so fudgy and delicious, and the ice cream is too. It’s a rich custard based chocolate ice cream made with two types of chocolate, and loaded with chewy brownie pieces and cosmic-colored candy chips, just like you’ll find on top of the Little Debbie’s treats.
This rich chocolate ice cream is silky smooth and delicious, and every time you take a bite with a piece of those fudgy brownies it’s like heaven.
This ice cream recipe does take some planning because you need to freeze your ice cream maker bowl. The ice cream base is cooked to slowly cook the eggs (which make it extra rich and creamy), and then needs to be cooled down for a couple hours. And the ice cream is best after freezing for several hours to get it scoopable like you’d get from your favorite ice cream shop. But you only need about 30 minutes or less of active time making the recipe, and the results are well worth it!
Ingredients needed:
This is a quick overview of the ingredients you’ll need for this Cosmic Brownie Ice Cream Recipe. Specific measurements and full recipe instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
- heavy cream – you can use heavy cream or heavy whipping cream for this recipe, this keeps the ice cream super rich and creamy with the right amount of fat content.
- whole milk – this gives the ice cream the best fat levels for the best creamy ice cream.
- cocoa powder – this gives the ice cream a nice chocolate base
- semi sweet chocolate bar – double the chocolate for an extra rich chocolatey ice cream base.
- egg yolks – help to make this custard based ice cream extra rich and creamy.
- granulated sugar – this sweetens the ice cream base
- vanilla extract – helps add a little flavor to the ice cream base.
- salt – just a little to balance the flavor.
- Cosmic Brownies – actual brownie pieces to give the ice cream the perfect chunky texture and brownie like flavor. You can use homemade cosmic brownies if you have them
- rainbow candy coated chips
How to make Cosmic Brownie Ice Cream?
- Add the eggs and 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar to a small bowl and whisk them together until combined. Set the mixture aside until needed.
- Add the remaining sugar, 1 cup of the heavy cream, milk, cocoa powder and salt to a medium sauce pan and whick them together. Heat the mixture over medium, stirring regularly until the mixture just starts to simmer, or bubble around the edges.
- Add the chopped chocolate pieces into the cream mixture and stir it into the mixture until the chocolate is totally melted.
- Add about one half cup of the cream mixture to the eggs slowly, whisking it into the eggs as you pour it in. Then add in another half cup. Return the mixture back to the sauce pan and stir it all together.
- Heat the mixture back over medium for a few minutes until it starts to get thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the remaining cream, and the vanilla extract. Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl to remove any egg pieces, thick chocolate pieces, etc. Place the bowl of chocolate cream on top of a bowl of ice. Stir it every couple minutes as it starts to cool down, for about 10-15 minutes. Cover the container and transfer it to the fridge to cool for a couple of hours.
- Run the ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s directions, and pour the cooled and thickened chocolate mixture into the running ice cream maker. Let it run until the ice cream is thickened into a soft serve like consistency. Add in most of the brownie pieces, and candy-coated chocolate chip pieces and let it run for another 5 minutes until mixed in evenly.
- Transfer the ice cream into a 1.5 quart container, top with additional brownie pieces and mini rainbow chips to make it look extra pretty and cover the ice cream to place it in the freezer for several hours until frozen solid.
Tips and Tricks:
- Don’t forget to pre-freeze your ice cream machine bowl. Mine takes at least 12 hours to be frozen solid in a very cold deep freezer so it will churn my ice cream, some might take 24 hours. Leave it in your freezer to use whenever you’re ready if you have extra room.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How to store cosmic brownie ice cream?
Store this homemade cosmic brownie ice cream in a freezer safe container with a lid for up to 1 month for the best results. If you keep the ice cream sealed tightly in the coldest part of your freezer it will stay good for longer periods of time. After a longer time the ice cream texture may become grainy, and may get ice crystals on top.
Can you make this without the eggs?
It’s actually super easy to convert a custard based ice cream recipe to be no cook, and egg free. (At least for all our custard bases). You will just leave the eggs out and make a Philadelphia style chocolate ice cream base. Add the cream, milk, sugar, cocoa powder and salt to a sauce pan and cook over medium until the sugar is dissolved.
Add one cup of the cream mixture over the top of the chopped chocolate pieces and stir it together until the chocolate is melted. Then pour the mixture back with the base. Chill over an ice bath, and in the fridge for 2 hours and continue as directed.
Pour the chocolate ice cream base into the ice cream maker, and add the chunks when needed. The ice cream will not be as rich and creamy, but this should work if you’re nervous about making a custard based ice cream.
Where can I buy Little Debbie ice cream?
Little Debbie ice cream flavors are sold exclusively at Walmart stores. You should be able to find Little Debbie Cosmic Brownies Ice Cream at your local Walmart, and there are several other Little Debbie flavors available based on classic Little Debbie treats including Nutty Bars Ice Cream, Oatmeal Creme Pies Ice Cream, Honey Buns Ice Cream, Swiss Rolls Ice Cream, Zebra Cake Ice Cream and more. So let us know which other flavors we should try replicating at home.
Was Little Debbie a real person?
Little Debbie is based off a real person named Debbie McKee-Fowler, who was the granddaughter of O.D. and Ruth Mckee, the founders of the company McKee Foods Corporation, which is the maker of Little Debbie Snacks.
The Little Debbie logo is based off of a black and white photo of Debbie, and she is now an Executive VP for the companies board of directors.
This chocolate cosmic brownie ice cream is the perfect treat for chocolate lovers! With the rich chocolate ice cream, crunch of candy-coated chocolates, and fudgy brownie pieces – it’s a total out of this world dessert!
More ice cream recipes:
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream
- Blueberry Pie Ice Cream
- Raspberry Ice Cream
- Cookies and Cream Ice Cream
- Blackberry Ice Cream
- Cookie Monster Ice Cream
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Cosmic Brownie Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 4 egg yolks
- 3/4 cup sugar (divided)
- 2 cups heavy cream (divided)
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder (sifted)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 4 oz semi sweet chocolate (chopped)
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 5 Cosmic Brownies (about 1 1/2 cups chopped)
- 1/3 cup rainbow chocolate coated candy chips
Equipment
- Large Mixing Bowl
Instructions
- Add the egg yolks and 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar to a medium sized bowl and whisk them together for a couple of minutes until well combined. Set the eggs aside.
- Add the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar, 1 cup of the heavy cream, milk, cocoa powder, and salt to a large sauce pan.
- Heat the mixture over medium, stirring often until the mixture starts to bubble, around the edges, or lightly simmer.
- Add in the chopped chocolate, and stir it into the mixture
- Slowly pour 1/2 cup of the chocolate cream mixture into the egg yolks while whisking vigorously. Add another 1/2 cup of the chocolate cream mixture, slowly into the mixture until combined.
- Pour another 1 cup of the chocolate cream mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, while whisking the whole time.
- Pour the egg mixture back into the sauce pan and continue to heat for another few minutes until the mixture starts to thicken enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the remaining 1 cup of cream, and the vanilla extract.
- Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl.
- Put the large bowl over another bowl of an ice bath and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Cover the bowl and place it in the fridge for at least 2 hours, up to overnight until chilled.
- Run the ice cream maker, and pour the chocolate cream mixture into the machine. Let it run according to manufactures instructions until it is a soft serve consistency(about 25-30 minutes).
- Add in most of the brownie pieces and rainbow chocolate coated candy chips and let it run for another few minutes until they are mixed evenly throughout.
- Transfer the ice cream into a 9×5 loaf pan, or other 1.5 quart pan and sprinkle with a few additional brownie pieces and candy.
- Cover container with a lid or foil and place it in the freezer to freeze for at least 6 hours, up to overnight to freeze solid.
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