Guys, I’m obsessed with these brown butter chocolate chip cookies. Literally can’t stop making them. When I first tried brown butter chocolate chip cookies, I was like “why didn’t anyone tell me about this sooner?!” The flavor is next level – nutty, caramelly, and so much more complex than regular chocolate chip cookies.
Trust me, once u try these brown butter chocolate chip cookies, you’ll never go back to regular ones. They’ve got this ridiculous depth that makes regular cookies seem boring. Not kidding – everyone who tries them asks for the recipe immediately.
Why You’ll Seriously Love These Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
These brown butter chocolate chip cookies are total game changers. First off, they solve that annoying problem of bland cookies – the brown butter adds this incredible nutty flavor that makes every bite interesting.
I remember making these for my sister’s birthday last month, and even my brother-in-law (who claims he doesn’t have a sweet tooth) ate like four of them. He kept saying “these taste different…but in a good way!”
What’s awesome is you can customize these brown butter chocolate chip cookies however you want. Add nuts, different chocolate types, or even a sprinkle of sea salt on top. They work great for gifting, potlucks, or just treating yourself on a random Tuesday.
Now let’s get to the good stuff!
What You’ll Need for Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Main Ingredients:
- Unsalted butter: This is what we’re browning! Use good quality butter here – it really makes a difference in brown butter chocolate chip cookies
- All-purpose flour: Regular flour works great, but you can substitute bread flour for chewier cookies
- Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness and helps with texture
- Brown sugar: The molasses in brown sugar pairs amazingly with the brown butter flavor
- Eggs: Bring to room temp for best results
- Vanilla extract: Try to use real vanilla if u can afford it
- Baking soda: For perfect rise
- Salt: Enhances all the flavors, especially the brown butter!
- Chocolate chips: I prefer semi-sweet, but dark chocolate works amazingly with brown butter chocolate chip cookies too
Optional Add-ins:
- Chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans pair great with brown butter)
- Flaky sea salt for sprinkling on top
- Extra chocolate chunks for more texture
How to Make Perfect Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Step 1: Brown That Butter
- Cut your butter into even pieces and place in a light-colored pan (makes it easier to see the color changing)
- Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally
- The butter will foam up – that’s normal!
- Keep cooking until butter turns amber and smells nutty (about 5-8 mins)
- Watch carefully at the end – it can burn fast
- Pour immediately into a heatproof bowl and let cool 10 mins
Pro tip: The brown bits at the bottom are flavor gold! Make sure to scrape them into your bowl.
Step 2: Make the Cookie Dough
- Mix cooled brown butter with both sugars until combined
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each
- Stir in vanilla
- In separate bowl, whisk flour, baking soda and salt
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet, mixing just until combined
- Fold in chocolate chips gently
- Dough will be slightly softer than regular cookie dough – totally normal when making brown butter chocolate chip cookies!
Step 3: Chill & Bake
- Cover dough and chill for at least 2 hours (overnight works even better)
- Preheat oven to 350°F when ready to bake
- Scoop dough using ice cream scoop or spoon (about 2 tbsp each)
- Place on parchment-lined baking sheet with 2 inches between cookies
- Bake 10-12 mins until edges are golden but centers look slightly underdone
- Let cool on baking sheet for 5 mins before moving to cooling rack
Remember: They’ll continue cooking on the hot sheet after removing from oven!
Awesome Variations to Try
Nutty Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Add 3/4 cup toasted walnuts or pecans – the nuttiness enhances the brown butter flavor even more.
Sea Salt Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top before baking – this creates an amazing sweet-salty combo that’s addictive.
Triple Chocolate Brown Butter Cookies
Use mix of milk, semi-sweet and dark chocolate chips or chunks for serious chocolate lovers.
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Add 1 cup rolled oats for extra texture and slight chewiness. You might wanna check out my Oatmeal Cream Pies recipe too if you love oats!
Spiced Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Add 1/2 tsp cinnamon and pinch of nutmeg to complement the nutty brown butter flavor. If you love cinnamon, my Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookies might be up your alley too!
Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Equipment
- Light-colored saucepan
- Mixing bowls
- Whisk
- Spatula
- Hand or stand mixer
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Ice cream scoop (optional)
- Cooling rack
Ingredients
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsalted butter for browning
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Optional Add-ins:
- ¾ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- Flaky sea salt for topping
- Extra chocolate chunks
Instructions
Step 1: Brown the Butter
- Cut butter into pieces and place in a light-colored saucepan.
- Heat over medium, stirring occasionally.
- Allow it to foam and continue cooking until amber in color with a nutty aroma (5–8 mins).
- Remove from heat and pour into a bowl, scraping brown bits. Let cool for 10 minutes.
Step 2: Make the Dough
- Mix cooled brown butter with both sugars until well combined.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well. Stir in vanilla.
- In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Gradually combine dry with wet ingredients.
- Fold in chocolate chips (and optional nuts). Dough will be softer than usual.
Step 3: Chill & Bake
- Cover and chill dough for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Scoop about 2 tbsp dough per cookie onto parchment-lined sheet, spaced 2 inches apart.
- Bake 10–12 mins until edges are golden and centers are slightly underdone.
- Cool on sheet 5 mins, then transfer to wire rack.
Notes
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
What does browned butter do to cookies?
Browning butter gives cookies this amazing nutty, caramel-like flavor that regular butter just doesn’t have. It also makes brown butter chocolate chip cookies chewier because some moisture evaporates during the browning process. The milk solids in butter toast up and create tiny flavor bombs throughout your cookies. It’s basically a free flavor upgrade!
Why won’t my brown butter cookies spread?
If your brown butter chocolate chip cookies aren’t spreading, probably too much flour or the dough is too cold. Make sure you measure flour correctly (spoon and level, don’t pack it). Also, if coming straight from fridge, let dough sit at room temp for 10-15 mins before baking. Brown butter has less moisture than regular butter, so these cookies naturally spread a bit less anyway.
Why did my brown butter cookies get hard?
Hard brown butter chocolate chip cookies usually means they’re overbaked or there’s too much flour. Remember, they should look slightly underbaked in centers when u take them out! The residual heat will finish them perfectly. Also, store them in airtight container with slice of bread to keep them soft.
Are brown butter cookies always flat?
Nope! Brown butter chocolate chip cookies aren’t naturally flatter than regular cookies if the recipe’s balanced right. If yours are too flat, try chilling the dough longer, adding a bit more flour (1-2 tbsp), or your baking soda might be old. Fresh baking soda makes a huge difference.
Should you chill cookie dough with brown butter?
Absolutely yes! Chilling brown butter chocolate chip cookie dough is super important. The brown butter needs time to solidify and the flavors need time to develop. I recommend at least 2 hours, but overnight is even better. Trust me, it’s worth the wait – the flavor is SO much better!
Final Thoughts
These brown butter chocolate chip cookies have become my signature recipe. Every time I make them, people ask what my secret is. The brown butter creates this depth that makes them special without being complicated.
I brought these to my last family gathering and my cousin who “doesn’t like sweets” ate four of them! If you’re looking to explore more amazing cookie recipes, check out my Peanut Butter Brownie Swirl Cookies or Tiramisu Cookies for something different.
Give these brown butter chocolate chip cookies a try – they might become your new favorite too! They’re easy enough for beginners but special enough to impress anyone. And feel free to make them your own – that’s what cooking’s all about!