The best recipe for Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies! Made with the simplest ingredients, these flavorful cookies come together quickly with no chill time! P.S. They are the perfect treat to give to friends and family!
First published in 2018. Updated & edited December 2019.
Everyone claims to have the best chocolate chip cookies, but have you tried brown butter?! I have been making these cookies at least once a month for the last two years and every time I give them to someone they are obsessed.
I kid you not, they are the perfect balance of chewy, sweet and salty. Just the fix that your sweet tooth needs!
Let's make some!
What is Brown Butter?
Brown butter is a French cooking technique made by cooking unsalted butter until the milk solids brown. This cooks out any water that is present in the butter creating a toasty, richer flavor than just melted butter. It is traditionally served over fish or vegetables, but creates a delectable boost in flavor when baked into sweet treats!
How Do You Brown Butter?
- Cut unsalted butter into small pieces and place into a small sauce pan.
- Turn heat to medium/high and allow the butter to melt. This should only take a few minutes so keep an eye on it as not to go from brown butter to burnt butter!
- Constantly stir the pan until the butter becomes a light brown color. It will make a crackle noise and create a slight foam. The butter should begin to smell kind of nut like during this process! This should only take about 2-4 minutes.
- Once you have brown butter, pour it into a separate bowl so that it doesn't continue to cook in the hot pan.
What You Need For Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
To make these brown butter chocolate chip cookies, you will need the following ingredients. See the full recipe card below for detailed amounts and instructions!
- Unsalted butter - The butter of choice for browning butter. Salted butter does not give the flavor you want when browning.
- Dark brown sugar - The secret to getting the perfect chewy cookie!
- Sea salt - I will admit I was hesitant at first, but one bite made me a lifetime fan of sea salt in cookies! It most definitely helps to bring out the chocolate!
- Vanilla extract - Required for the perfect chocolate chip cookie!
- Eggs - You will need two. One whole and only the yolk of the other.
- Flour - All purpose flour is great for this recipe. My favorites are King Arthur and White Lilly, but any will do!
- Baking soda - We don't want completely flat cookies. This adds just a little lift!
- Dark chocolate chips - My biggest cookie tip. Use a mix of chocolate chip flavors!
- Semisweet chocolate chips - A chocolate chip cookie staple!
How to Make Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
To make these brown butter chocolate chip cookies, simply:
- Brown the butter: In a medium sauce pan add 10 tablespoons of butter and melt over medium heat. Once melted, continue to whisk until the butter begins to crackle and create foam. It should begin to smell kind of nut like and turn golden. This should only take about 2-4 minutes. Remove the butter from the heat and add to a large mixing bowl. Add the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter to the mixing bowl and stir until the butter is fully melted.
- Make the cookie dough: Add brown sugar, sugar, sea salt, and vanilla to the butter and whisk until fully combined. Add egg and egg yolk and whisk until fully combined. In another bowl combine the flour and baking soda. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until it is just combined. Fold in the chocolate chips until they are even throughout the dough.
- Scoop the dough: For large cookies, roll about 3 tablespoons of dough into a ball and place on baking sheet. If making the large cookies, you should be able to get 6 per large cookie sheet. Top dough balls with a sprinkle of sea salt if desired.
- Bake: Bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes.
NOTES
Be sure not to over mix your batter. Especially the eggs.
Don’t over bake your cookies. You want to remove your cookies from the oven as soon as the edges are golden brown. The middle should remain a softer color.
Variations
- Add nuts
- Add caramel chips
- Add a candy, like M&Ms
How Do You Keep Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Fresh?
This rarely happens at our house, but if you aren't eating these cookies right away, store them in an airtight container. Keep them at room temperature and they should remain fresh for up to 3 or 4 days.
Tips
- Be sure not to over mix your batter. Especially the eggs.
- Don't over bake your cookies. You want to remove your cookies from the oven as soon as the edges are golden brown. The middle should remain a softer color.
More Cookie Recipes You'll Love!
- Easy Sprinkle Sugar Cookies
- Peppermint Dark Chocolate Cookies
- Pumpkin Spice Madeleines
- Lemon Lavender Cookies
- Lemon Sugar Cookies
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Made with the simplest ingredients, these flavorful Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies come together quickly with no chill time!
Ingredients
- 14 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ¾ cup dark brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Brown the butter: In a medium sauce pan add 10 tablespoons of butter and melt over medium heat. Once melted, continue to whisk until the butter begins to crackle and create foam. It should begin to smell kind of nut like and turn golden. This should only take about 2-4 minutes. Remove the butter from the heat and add to a large mixing bowl. Add the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter to the mixing bowl and stir until the butter is fully melted.
- Make the cookie dough: Add brown sugar, sugar, sea salt, and vanilla to the butter and whisk until fully combined. Add egg and egg yolk and whisk until fully combined. In another bowl combine the flour and baking soda. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix until it is just combined. Fold in the chocolate chips until they are even throughout the dough.
- Scoop the dough: For large cookies, roll about 3 tablespoons of dough into a ball and place on baking sheet. If making the large cookies, you should be able to get 6 per large cookie sheet. Top dough balls with a sprinkle of sea salt if desired.
- Bake: Bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes.
Notes
- Be sure not to over mix your batter. Especially the eggs.
- Don’t over bake your cookies. You want to remove your cookies from the oven as soon as the edges are golden brown. The middle should remain a softer color.
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Did you make this recipe?
I can’t wait to hear what you think of these Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies! When you make them, be sure to leave an amazing review in the comments below or tag #goingforgrace on social!
