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    Gastronotherapy » Recipes » Cookies

    Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Published: Apr 22, 2021 · Modified: Feb 11, 2023 by MaryAnne · 19 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These unique cookies are thick and chewy, loaded with chocolate chips, and have a deep caramely flavor thanks to brown butter. Likely to become your go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe!

    five brown butter chocolate chip cookies arranged on parchment paper with chocolate chips.

    The hardest part of making this chocolate chip cookie recipe is trying not to eat all of the cookie dough before you bake them. But they are worth the wait!

    I always associate brown butter with eating popcorn in the summer as a kid. My small town had a popcorn stand in the liquor store parking lot, and my family and I would walk the mile or so uptown frequently to buy popcorn on warm summer nights. It always felt like an exciting event, and sometimes my sister and I would ask our parents if we could go without them.

    I'm not sure if the popcorn made it home on those particular outings; the enticing smell was overwhelming. I didn't know it at the time, but this popcorn was bathed in brown butter and salt. Whoever made the popcorn must have been re-melting butter in the same pan so the leftover bits would brown and take on a yummy nutty flavor.

    These drool-worthy cookies are an homage to the magic that is brown butter. They're thick and chewy, loaded with chocolate chips, and have a deep caramely flavor because of brown butter. Likely to become your go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe!

    For more cookie recipes, try my chocolate chip pecan cookies, chocolate chip marshmallow cookies, coffee cookies, and dairy free chocolate chip cookies.

    Jump to:
    • What Is Brown Butter?
    • Ingredients Needed
    • How To Make Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Expert Tips
    • Related Recipes
    • Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

    What Is Brown Butter?

    If you haven't had the pleasure of eating or making brown butter, you are in for a real treat with these cookies. Browning butter is the process of caramelizing the milk solids in butter, so it transforms the flavor into one that is more intense and slightly nutty (see picture above).

    If you think about the difference in taste between granulated sugar and caramel, it's similar with butter and brown butter in that you are changing the flavor by enhancing it and making it richer, with caramel-like flavor notes.

    In French, instead of calling it brown butter, they call it "beurre noisette" or hazelnut butter. When you make it, your kitchen will smell absolutely incredible.

    Brown butter has gained in popularity with chefs over the years, so more people are cooking and baking with it. This is a very good thing! It only takes a few minutes to make and you can store it in the refrigerator or freezer for later use.

    It can be used in sweet or savory preparations, so play around with it! It's fun to use it when you want to enhance a dish or recipe and make it a bit more sophisticated. It would be incredible used in this Strawberry Cornmeal Cake!

    plate of brown butter chocolate chip cookies with a glass of milk.

    Ingredients Needed

    • Unsalted butter
    • Brown sugar
    • Granulated sugar
    • Vanilla extract
    • Eggs
    • All-purpose flour
    • Baking soda
    • Salt
    • Dark chocolate chips (60% or higher)

    How To Make Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Brown the butter*: In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, swirl the pot a few times and cook for several more minutes, until mixture starts to get foamy and becomes a deep amber color. Scrape the bottom of pan a few times to gather brown bits (this is a good sign!). Remove from heat and transfer to a heat-proof bowl. Chill until solid, 2-3 hours.

    browned butter in a white bowl
    brown butter
    close up of chocolate chip cookie dough in a silver bowl with white rubber spatula.

    In the bowl of a stand mixer, add butter, sugars, and vanilla. Mix on medium speed until combined, 2-3 minutes. Turn off mixer, scrape down sides of bowl, and mix again for 2 minutes. Mixture should be light and fluffy.

    Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat for an additional 2 minutes until well incorporated.

    Add flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix on low speed at first, and when flour is almost absorbed, mix on medium until just combined.

    Remove bowl from stand mixer and, using a rubber spatula, mix in chocolate chips by hand. Chill dough mixture for at least 2 hours or up to 48 hours.

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a cookie scoop or rolling by hand, place 1-tablespoon balls onto baking sheet.

    cookie dough portioned out on a baking sheet with a cookie scoop next to sheet.
    cookies baked on a baking sheet with spatula resting next to it.

    Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges become a light golden brown. Let cookies rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.

    cookies resting on a cooling rack.

    Expert Tips

    • Make ahead: You can make the brown butter several days ahead of time. Just be sure to bring it to room temperature before using so that you can properly cream it when it's time to be mixed in.
    • Cool your brown butter. If you brown the butter the same day as making the cookies, be sure to let it cool after you make it. You want butter that is room temperature. If it's still warm when you use it, you could potentially cook the eggs and melt the chocolate chips - not a desired outcome!
    • Chill the dough. At the end of the dough-mixing process, chill the dough for at least 2 hours. This prevents the cookies from becoming flattened discs when you bake them. It's not a necessary step, but I recommend it.
    • Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

    Related Recipes

    • Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cookies
    • Dairy Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Easy Vegan Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Gooey Vegan Blondies

    Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with us through social media by following us on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.

    Subscribe to my email newsletter to get my FREE Guide on Money Saving Tips on Buying Groceries, and get new recipes delivered to your inbox!

    five brown butter chocolate chip cookies arranged on parchment paper with chocolate chips.

    Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

    Author: MaryAnne
    These unique chocolate chip cookies are thick and chewy, loaded with chocolate chips, and have a deep caramely flavor thanks to brown butter. Likely to become your go-to recipe for chocolate chip cookies!
    5 from 11 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 17 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 26 cookies
    Calories 173 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup unsalted butter
    • 1 cup brown sugar
    • ½ cup granulated sugar
    • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
    • 2 eggs, room temperature
    • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 2 cups dark (60% or higher) chocolate chips
    • coarse sea salt

    Instructions
     

    • Brown the butter*: In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, swirl the pot a few times and cook for several more minutes, until mixture starts to get foamy and becomes a deep amber color. Scrape the bottom of pan a few times to gather brown bits (this is a good sign!). Remove from heat and transfer to a heat-proof bowl. Chill until solid, 2-3 hours.
    • In the bowl of a stand mixer, add butter, sugars, and vanilla. Mix on medium speed until combined, 2-3 minutes. Turn off mixer, scrape down sides of bowl, and mix again for 2 minutes. Mixture should be light and fluffy.
    • Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat for an additional 2 minutes until well incorporated.
    • Add flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix on low speed at first, and when flour is almost absorbed, mix on medium until just combined.
    • Remove bowl from stand mixer and, using a rubber spatula, mix in chocolate chips by hand.
    • Chill dough mixture for at least 2 hours or up to 48 hours.
    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Using a cookie scoop or rolling by hand, place 1-tablespoon balls onto baking sheet.
    • Bake for 10-12 minutes, until the edges become a light golden brown.
    • Let cookies rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

    Notes

    *Can be done up to 2 days ahead of time. Store in refrigerator and when ready to use, bring to room temperature.
    • Make ahead: You can make the brown butter several days ahead of time. Just be sure to bring it to room temperature before using so that you can properly cream it when it's time to be mixed in.
    • Cool your brown butter. If you brown the butter the same day as making the cookies, be sure to let it cool after you make it. You want butter that is room temperature. If it's still warm when you use it, you could potentially cook the eggs and melt the chocolate chips - not a desired outcome!
    • Chill the dough. At the end of the dough-mixing process, chill the dough for at least 2 hours. This prevents the cookies from becoming flattened discs when you bake them. It's not a necessary step, but I recommend it.
    • Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
     
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 173kcal
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Cookie Recipes

    • Fudgy Dairy Free Brownies (no butter)
    • Creamy Oreo Dip (5 ingredients)
    • Chocolate Chip Coffee Cookies
    • Chewy Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Barbara J Haner

      April 22, 2021 at 9:16 am

      5 stars
      OMG! The pictures of these cookies are amazing! It seems you can reach in and grab one to eat! I will be making these cookies!

      Reply
      • Gastronotherapy

        April 22, 2021 at 10:26 am

        Thank you! 🙂 Let me know what you think!

        Reply
    2. Andrea

      April 27, 2021 at 8:32 am

      5 stars
      Wow! These cookies look absolutely scrumptious! Love using brown butter in baking.

      Reply
      • Gastronotherapy

        April 27, 2021 at 10:34 am

        Thanks, Andrea!

        Reply
    3. Jill

      April 27, 2021 at 8:36 am

      5 stars
      I'm certain the only way to improve a chocolate chip cookie is by adding brown butter. Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Gastronotherapy

        April 27, 2021 at 10:35 am

        You are welcome, Jill!

        Reply
    4. Gina

      April 27, 2021 at 8:53 am

      5 stars
      It's amazing how transformative brown butter can be. This is the most PERFECT chocolate chip cookie you'll ever eat!

      Reply
      • Gastronotherapy

        April 27, 2021 at 10:36 am

        Thanks, Gina!

        Reply
    5. Deirdre Gilna

      April 27, 2021 at 9:31 am

      5 stars
      I've actually never had brown butter, but running to the kitchen to try these out now!

      Reply
      • Gastronotherapy

        April 27, 2021 at 10:36 am

        Yay!!

        Reply
      • Barb+Haner

        April 27, 2021 at 11:35 am

        5 stars
        Just took these out of the oven. They look just like MaryAnne’s posted pics! They are delicious!!

        Reply
    6. Michelle

      April 28, 2021 at 8:12 am

      5 stars
      Chocolate chip cookies are the best. I love the extra flavor from the browned butter in these

      Reply
      • Gastronotherapy

        April 28, 2021 at 9:54 am

        Thanks, Michelle!

        Reply
    7. Barbara J Haner

      May 21, 2021 at 6:35 pm

      5 stars
      I am making these again tomorrow! I don't think I will ever make another chocolate chip cookie again! I plan on putting in the freezer so we have some for our road trip in June!

      Reply
      • Gastronotherapy

        May 22, 2021 at 7:20 am

        They would be perfect for a road trip! 🙂

        Reply
    8. Barb Haner

      August 25, 2022 at 2:35 pm

      5 stars
      I talked to my friend in Minnesota last night and she was making these to take up to the state fair today - to feed her relatives that show horses in the arena. She said they just love these cookies!

      Reply
      • MaryAnne

        August 25, 2022 at 5:12 pm

        So glad that they're a hit with so many! 😍

        Reply
    9. Barb Haner

      November 25, 2022 at 10:52 am

      5 stars
      I made these cookies again yesterday to take to an outdoor gathering today. I know they will get rave reviews from the people that will be trying them for the first time. Thanks so much for this recipe. It is a winner!

      Reply
      • MaryAnne

        November 25, 2022 at 12:54 pm

        So happy to hear that you love them as much as I do! 😊

        Reply

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    MaryAnne from Gastronotherapy

    Hi, I'm MaryAnne! Gastronotherapy is where I create easy recipes that are mainly vegetarian and vegan. And I have a huge sweet tooth, so dessert is never far behind.

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