Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Introduction

There’s something magical about brown butter. It transforms ordinary baked goods into something rich, nutty, and utterly crave-worthy. These Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies take your classic chocolate chip cookie to the next level by using browned butter for deeper flavor and a perfectly chewy texture with crispy edges. Whether you’re baking for a special occasion or treating yourself to a midnight snack, this recipe delivers bakery-quality cookies from your home oven.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to brown butter, mix your dough, and bake up cookies that get rave reviews every time.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• Optional: flaky sea salt for topping

Preparation

Step 1: Brown the Butter

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until it foams and you see golden brown bits forming at the bottom (about 5–7 minutes). It will have a nutty aroma. Immediately pour the browned butter into a heat-safe bowl and let it cool for 10–15 minutes.

Step 2: Mix Wet Ingredients

Once the butter has cooled slightly, add the brown sugar and granulated sugar to it. Whisk until combined. Then add in the eggs and vanilla extract, beating until smooth and glossy.

Step 3: Add Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined.

Step 4: Fold in Chocolate Chips

Gently fold in the chocolate chips until evenly distributed.

Step 5: Chill the Dough

Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours. Chilling helps deepen the flavor and prevents cookies from spreading too much during baking.

Step 6: Bake

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop 1 ½ to 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie and place on the sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until edges are golden brown but centers are still soft.

Step 7: Cool and Serve

Let the cookies cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt if desired, and serve warm or store in an airtight container.

Variations

• Nutty Crunch: Add ½ cup of chopped pecans or walnuts for extra texture.
• Double Chocolate: Swap ½ cup of flour for cocoa powder and use dark chocolate chunks.
• Gluten-Free: Substitute your favorite 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.

Cooking Notes

• Don’t skip the chilling step—it enhances the flavor and texture.
• Use high-quality chocolate for the best taste. Chopped chocolate bars create lovely melted pockets.
• Browned butter solidifies slightly as it cools, so let it return to a warm, pourable consistency before mixing.

Serving Suggestions

Serve these cookies with a glass of milk, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or crumbled over yogurt for a sweet and crunchy twist.

Tips

• Make Ahead: Freeze scooped dough on a tray, then store in a zip-top bag. Bake straight from frozen—just add 2 minutes to the baking time.
• Crispier Cookies: Flatten the dough slightly before baking.
• Soft and Chewy: Remove cookies from the oven when the center still looks a bit underbaked; they’ll set as they cool.

Prep Time:

20 minutes (plus chilling time)

Cooking Time:

10–12 minutes per batch

Total Time:

1 hour (includes chill time)

Nutritional Information (Approx. per cookie)

• Calories: 200
• Protein: 2g
• Sodium: 90mg

FAQs

Q: Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?
A: Yes, but reduce the added salt to ¼ teaspoon.

Q: Why is my cookie dough greasy?
A: If you didn’t let the brown butter cool enough before adding sugar, it may separate. Let it sit for 10–15 minutes before mixing.

Q: Can I skip the chilling time?
A: You can, but the cookies may spread more and be less chewy.

Conclusion

These Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies bring everything you love about the classic treat—with the bonus of deep, toasty flavor from brown butter. They’re simple to make but taste like you bought them from an upscale bakery. Once you try them, you might never go back to regular cookies again!

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