Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Once you try these brown butter chocolate chip cookies, you’ll likely never want to go back to ordinary cookies. The nutty, caramel-like notes from browned butter combine with crisp edges and a soft, chewy center to create an unforgettable cookie.

This recipe was originally published on April 6, 2016 and updated with new recipe information on January 23, 2024.

Ingredients

• Unsalted butter. Brown the butter by heating it in a saucepan until the milk solids turn golden-brown. Use unsalted to avoid overly salty cookies.
• All-purpose flour. Plain all-purpose flour gives the ideal chewy texture.
• Salt. Fine sea salt or fine Himalayan pink salt both work well.
• Baking soda. Helps the cookies spread and develop a tender crumb.
• Sugar. A mix of granulated and brown sugar adds flavor and chewiness.
• Eggs. One whole egg plus extra yolks provide richness and structure.
• Vanilla. Pure vanilla extract or vanilla paste enhances the flavor.
• Chocolate chips or chunks. Semisweet is suggested, though dark or milk chocolate work too. Chunks give a more rustic bite.
• Optional mix-ins. Toasted hazelnuts pair beautifully with chocolate and add crunch.
• Flaky sea salt. A light sprinkle of flaky salt on top balances the sweetness and intensifies flavor.

How to Make Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Step 1: Prep. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2: Brown the butter. Place cubed unsalted butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring, until the butter turns golden and the milk solids brown on the bottom. Remove from heat and pour the browned butter, including the browned bits, into a large bowl with the sugars; stir to combine.

Step 3: Mix dry ingredients. While the butter cools slightly, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, and fine sea salt in a separate bowl.

Step 4: Add eggs and vanilla. Whisk the whole egg and yolks into the cooled butter-sugar mixture, one at a time. Stir in the vanilla extract.

Step 5: Combine and add mix-ins. Fold the flour mixture into the wet ingredients with a spatula or wooden spoon. When most of the flour is incorporated but a few streaks remain, add the chocolate and any nuts. Fold only until the flour is no longer visible—avoid overmixing.

Step 6: Scoop and bake. Use a cookie scoop (about 4 teaspoons) to portion dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Press a few extra chocolate pieces on top and sprinkle with flaky sea salt if desired. Bake for 6–8 minutes until the edges are set but the centers still look slightly soft. Let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheet to finish setting.

Recipe Pro Tips

• Room temperature ingredients. Bring eggs and other refrigerated ingredients to room temperature so they blend smoothly.
• Measure accurately. A kitchen scale gives the most consistent results, especially for flour and butter.
• Avoid overmixing. Mix until just combined to keep cookies tender and avoid toughness.
• Customize mix-ins. Swap chocolate types, add toffee, nuts, or even a few salty chips for texture and flavor variations.
• Top with extra chocolate. Pressing a few chips on top before baking yields attractive, melty pockets of chocolate.
• Don’t overbake. For soft, gooey centers, remove the cookies when edges are set but centers still look slightly underbaked.
• Freeze dough balls. Reserve some scooped dough in a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Bake from frozen, adding a minute or two to the bake time.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Cookie Recipes

• If you want a richer chocolate experience, try a double chocolate or fudgy double chocolate cookie.
• For a cookie loaded with mix-ins, try a kitchen-sink style cookie with chocolate, toffee, pretzels, and chips.
• If you need a dairy-free option, seek recipes for dairy-free peanut butter cookies that remain chewy and satisfying.

I hope you enjoy these browned butter chocolate chip cookies. They’re a simple upgrade to a classic favorite and worth the little extra step of browning the butter for the flavor boost.