Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
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These Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies have everything you love in a bakery-style treat with perfectly chewy centers, crisp edges, tons of chocolate, and a rich, nutty flavor with notes of caramel.
Table of Contents
- Here’s Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- In Photos: How To Make Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
- More Cookie Recipes
Brown butter chocolate chip cookies are classic chocolate chip cookies made with butter that is cooked until the milk solids turn golden brown.
As the butter cooks, it develops a nutty aroma and a deeper flavor. When you mix it with brown sugar, vanilla, and chocolate, you get a cookie that tastes rich and complex.
That’s the secret to these cookies. The browned butter adds depth and richness, making these cookies taste extra special without any complicated steps.
You can make these cookies quickly, and they bake in less than 10 minutes. They are perfect for a cozy baking day. Add a little flaky sea salt on top for an irresistible finish.
This simple step makes a big difference in flavor.
Here’s Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- These cookies have a chewy texture, crisp edges, and soft, moist centers.
- Brown butter gives them a rich, toasty flavor, similar to caramel and hazelnut.
- You do not need to chill the dough, so you can make these cookies whenever you want.
- They are easy to make for everyday baking, but also special enough to share, give as a gift, or bring to a party.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The recipe card at the bottom of the post contains the full list with all of the amounts. Refer to that when you’re cooking.
- Unsalted butter: Browning the butter gives these cookies their nutty, toasted flavor. Using unsalted butter helps you control the saltiness.
- Light brown sugar: Adds moisture, chewiness, and a caramel-like flavor.
- Granulated sugar: Helps the cookies spread and gives the edges a slight crispness.
- Egg: Gives structure and helps bind the dough together.
- Egg yolk: Adds extra richness and makes the cookies soft and chewy.
- Vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste: Enhances the buttery flavor and adds warmth.
- All-purpose flour: Gives the cookies structure. Be sure to measure carefully so they do not turn out dry.
- Baking soda: Helps the cookies spread and gives them a tender texture.
- Kosher salt: Balances the sweetness and brings out the chocolate flavor.
- Chocolate chips: You can use semi-sweet, dark, milk chocolate, or a mix. Chopped chocolate also works well for melty spots.
- Flaky sea salt: This is optional, but it tastes great sprinkled on top after baking.
In Photos: How To Make Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Step 1: Preheat & Prep
Preheat your oven to 375°F and line your baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 2: Brown The Butter
Put the butter in a large, light-colored skillet over medium-low heat. Let it melt, then keep cooking as it bubbles and foams.
When the bubbling starts to slow down, swirl the pan now and then and watch carefully. The butter will turn golden brown and smell nutty.
Step 3: Make Cookie Dough
Pour the brown butter into a large heat-safe bowl. Add the brown sugar and granulated sugar, then stir until mixed.
Mix in the egg until blended.
Then add the egg yolk and vanilla and stir until smooth.
Add the flour, baking soda, and kosher salt. Stir until you have a soft cookie dough.
Fold in the chocolate chips.
Scoop about 3 tablespoons of dough for each cookie.
Place the dough balls on the baking sheets, leaving 1 to 2 inches between them.
Step 4: Bake
Bake for 7 to 9 minutes, until the edges are set, but the centers still look soft and moist.
If you are using flaky sea salt, sprinkle it on top, then let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheets.
Helpful Tips and Tricks
- Use a light-colored pan to brown the butter. This helps you see when the milk solids turn golden brown.
- Keep the heat at medium-low and swirl the pan often. Brown butter can burn quickly, so watch it closely.
- Do not overbake the cookies. The centers should look a little underdone when you take them out of the oven. They will finish setting as they cool.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet. This helps them finish baking and keeps the centers chewy.
- For a nice look, press a few chocolate chips onto each dough ball before baking.
More Cookie Recipes
- Brookie Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cookies
- Pistachio Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Raspberry Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Blueberry and Cream Cookies
- White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
- Skillet Cookie
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg, large
- 1 egg yolk, large
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, or vanilla bean paste
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 6 ounces chocolate chips
- 1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt, (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Melt the butter in a large, light-colored skillet over medium-low heat until bubbling.
- After the bubbling subsides, gently cook the butter until toasty brown and fragrant, swirling the pan occasionally to promote even heating.
- Pour the brown butter into a large, heat-safe mixing bowl, and stir in the brown sugar and granulated sugar.
- Stir in the egg until fully incorporated.
- Stir in the egg yolk and vanilla until smooth.
- Stir in the flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Fold in the chocolate chips, and use a trigger scoop to measure 3 tablespoons of dough at a time, placing the dough balls on the prepared baking sheets with about an inch or two in between for spreading.
- Bake until set around the edges but still very moist in the centers (approx. 7 to 9 minutes).
- Garnish with sea salt (if desired), and cool completely on the baking sheets.
